Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve
Fairfield County, Ohio · 4.5 trail miles in ODNR's guide
Our take written by Nature Awed
Christmas Rocks in Fairfield County centres on Jacob's Ladder, a Black Hand Sandstone formation about 250 feet above the valley of Arney Run, with a scenic vista from its summit.
ODNR also describes a dry chestnut oak ridge and a population of the state-endangered Bradley's spleenwort, and notes that birders come for the migrants in the oak stands. The preserve has 4.5 miles of hiking trails and no restrooms.
Our plain-language reading of the ODNR text quoted on this page. It adds no facts of its own.
Verify current visiting hours and access restrictions with ODNR's page for this preserve and ODNR's permit page before relying on this summary.
What ODNR says about it
Undoubtedly the most spectacular feature at Christmas Rocks is the scenic vista from the top of the formation known as Jacob’s Ladder. This Black Hand Sandstone formation towers some 250 feet above the valley of Arney Run.
The preserve also serves as home for several rare species including a population of the state endangered Bradley’s spleenwort (Asplenium bradleyi). Also present is an excellent example of a dry chestnut oak (Quercus prinus) ridge top with associated Appalachian species. This site has also been a favorite of birders due to the diversity of habitat and frequent use of the oak stands by neo-tropical migrants.
Visiting
Open 1/2 before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset
Stay on designated trails at all times
Pets are not permitted. Complete list of rules.
No restrooms
Verify current visiting hours and access restrictions with ODNR's page before relying on these hours.
Trails
4.5 miles of hiking trails
In ODNR's preserve guide
| Address | 2360 Meister Rd SW, Lancaster, 43130 |
|---|---|
| Trails (miles) | 4.5 |
| Visitor information | none printed |
Christmas Rocks Fairfield 2360 Meister Rd SW Lancaster, 43130 4.5
Access permit
Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve is not on ODNR's list of preserves that require an access permit, and its ODNR page as quoted here doesn't call for one. ODNR also says: An access permit is required to leave trails within a state nature preserve.
(ODNR: State Nature Preserves Access Permit).
The land on ODNR's map
| LANDS_NAME | COUNTY | PROP_TYPE | SUM_CALC_ACRES | MANAGING_AGENCY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve | FAIRFIELD | Dedicated Nature Preserve | 192.32 | Division of Natural Areas and Preserves |
| Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve | FAIRFIELD | Dedicated Nature Preserve | 357.58 | Division of Natural Areas and Preserves |
| Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve | FAIRFIELD | Dedicated Nature Preserve | 141.67 | Division of Natural Areas and Preserves |
| Mapped acres | 691.57 (our sum of the parcels ODNR's GIS layer maps under this name) |
|---|---|
| Access permit | No whole-preserve permit requirement identified in the sources we check; named-area or activity permits may still apply |
| Centre of mapped land | 39.6505, -82.6389 (our calculation; not an entrance or parking lot) |
Statewide rules
Ohio Administrative Code chapter 1501:17 sets rules for nature preserves and natural areas under ODNR's supervision or its designated custodian, on pets, drones, picnics, collecting and more. Can I…? quotes them rule by rule, with their exceptions.
Pets are prohibited at all state nature preserves, except Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve where leashed pets are only allowed on the multipurpose paved trail.
Check before you go. Verify current hours, access and trail information on ODNR: Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve and ODNR: State Nature Preserves Access Permit; our checker last found the quoted words there on October 14.
Nearest other preserves
Straight-line miles between the centres of mapped land (our calculation), not driving distance.
- Shallenberger State Nature Preserve · Fairfield County · about 3.1 miles
- Wahkeena Memorial State Nature Preserve · Fairfield County · about 3.9 miles
- Rhododendron Cove State Nature Preserve · Fairfield County · about 4.1 miles
- Kleinmaier Rhododendron Hollow State Nature Preserve · Fairfield County · about 4.4 miles
- Clear Creek State Nature Preserve · Fairfield and Hocking counties · about 4.5 miles