Nature Awed

Kessler Swamp State Nature Preserve

Hocking County, Ohio

Our take written by Nature Awed

Kessler Swamp protects twenty acres of tributary swamp on Durbin Run in Hocking County, given by Dr. Francis and Mrs. Joyce Kessler, with buttonbush, bur-marigold and a beaver population.

ODNR describes waterfowl viewing during the spring and fall migrations, and the guide lists an observation deck. There are 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

Twenty acres of naturally developing tributary swamp on Durbin Run in Hocking County are now under the protection of ODNR, thanks to a gift from Dr. Francis and Mrs. Joyce Kessler. A variety of wetland-dwelling plants thrive in the swamp, including buttonbush and bur-marigold.
ODNR: Kessler Swamp State Nature Preserve · our check found this text on October 14
A healthy population of beaver also calls the swamp home. During the spring and fall migration period, the preserve offers excellent waterfowl viewing.
ODNR: Kessler Swamp State Nature Preserve · our check found this text on October 14

Visiting

ODNR's visitor notes
  • Open 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset
  • Stay on designated trails
  • Pets are not permitted
  • No restrooms
ODNR: Kessler Swamp State Nature Preserve · our check found this text on October 14

Verify current visiting hours and access restrictions with ODNR's page before relying on these hours.

In ODNR's preserve guide

Our table of the guide's row for Kessler Swamp (Hocking County). The row as printed is quoted below.
Address28749 Hide A Way Hills Rd., Sugar Grove, 43155
Trails (miles)no figure in the guide
Visitor informationObservation deck
The guide's row
Kessler Swamp Hocking 28749 Hide A Way Hills Rd. Sugar Grove, 43155 Observation deck
ODNR: Ohio State Nature Preserves & Natural Areas Guide (PDF) · our check found this text on October 14

Access permit

Kessler Swamp 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
Kessler Swamp State Nature PreserveHOCKINGDedicated Nature Preserve20.4Division of Natural Areas and Preserves
Our calculations from those features, re-computed at each check.
Mapped acres20.40 (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 land39.6433, -82.4740 (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: Kessler Swamp 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.