Drew Woods State Nature Preserve
Darke County, Ohio
Our take written by Nature Awed
Drew Woods is a 15-acre old-growth woods in Darke County, with a canopy of white, swamp white, bur and Shumard's oak, white ash and shagbark hickory.
ODNR documents pumpkin ash, grove sandwort and tiger salamanders there and describes a spring flora display. Darke County Parks leases the preserve, and it has no facilities.
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
Only 15 acres in size, Drew Woods is the best remaining old growth woods in this region. The canopy is dominated by very large white, swamp white, bur and Shumard's oak as well as by white ash and shagbark hickory.
A few rare species including pumpkin ash, grove sandwort and tiger salamanders have also been documented at this preserve. The woods has a fine display of spring flora.
Drew Woods State Nature Preserve is leased to Darke County Parks. The preserve has no facilities.
In ODNR's preserve guide
This preserve has no row in ODNR's printed guide. The guide says: Preserves not listed are either unimproved, or require a written permit to visit.
(ODNR: Ohio State Nature Preserves & Natural Areas Guide (PDF)).
Access permit
Drew Woods 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drew Woods State Nature Preserve | DARKE | Dedicated Nature Preserve | 14.58 | Darke County Park District |
| Mapped acres | 14.58 (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 | 40.2420, -84.6561 (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: Drew Woods 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.
- Goode Prairie State Nature Preserve · Miami County · about 14 miles
- Stillwater Scenic River - Greenville Falls Non-Dedicated Natural Area · Miami County · about 17 miles
- Baker Woods State Nature Preserve · Mercer County · about 18 miles
- Saint Mary's River Wetlands Non-Dedicated Natural Area · Mercer County · about 30 miles · permit
- Gross Memorial Woods State Nature Preserve · Shelby County · about 35 miles