Nature Awed

Ka Ma Ma Prairie State Nature Preserve

Adams County, Ohio

Our take written by Nature Awed

Ka-ma-ma Prairie in Adams County holds several xeric limestone prairies with rattlesnake master, blazing-stars, false gromwell, American aloe and prairie gentian.

ODNR says the name is a Cherokee word for butterfly and the preserve has a high diversity of butterflies. The Arc of Appalachia owns and manages it, and three loop trails are named: Andy's Trail, Kamama Prairie Trail and Prairie Fire Trail.

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

Ka-ma-ma Prairie State Nature Preserve has several xeric limestone prairies with numerous rare prairie species such as rattlesnake master, blazing-stars (Liatris spp.), false gromwell, American aloe, prairie gentian and many other prairie species. Ka-ma-ma is a Cherokee word for butterfly. The preserve has one the highest diversity of butterflies in the state.
ODNR: Ka Ma Ma Prairie State Nature Preserve · our check found this text on October 14
The preserve is owned and managed by the Arc of Appalachia. For more information about the preserve visit https://www.arcofappalachia.org/kamama-prairie
ODNR: Ka Ma Ma Prairie State Nature Preserve · our check found this text on October 14

Trails

ODNR's trail notes
  • Andy's Trail - 0.4 mile loop trail
  • Kamama Prairie Trail - 2 mile loop trail
  • Prairie Fire Trail - 0.5 mile loop trail
ODNR: Ka Ma Ma Prairie State Nature Preserve · our check found this text on October 14

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

Ka Ma Ma Prairie 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

Field values as ODNR's GIS lands layer returns them (one row per mapped feature; our checker found them on October 14).
LANDS_NAMECOUNTYPROP_TYPESUM_CALC_ACRESMANAGING_AGENCY
Ka Ma Ma Prairie State Nature PreserveADAMSDedicated Nature Preserve84.85Highlands Nature Sanctuary
Our calculations from those features, re-computed at each check.
Mapped acres84.85 (our sum of the parcels ODNR's GIS layer maps under this name)
Access permitNo whole-preserve permit requirement identified in the sources we check; named-area or activity permits may still apply
Centre of mapped land38.8774, -83.3989 (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.
ODNR: Ohio State Nature Preserves & Natural Areas Guide page · our check found this text on October 14

Check before you go. Verify current hours, access and trail information on ODNR: Ka Ma Ma Prairie 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.