Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve
Jackson County, Ohio · 6 trail miles in ODNR's guide
Our take written by Nature Awed
Lake Katharine in Jackson County is a clear lake ringed by sandstone cliffs, with three deep ravines of magnolia, hemlock, sweet gum, birch and beech, and mountain laurel, Virginia pine and oak on the dry ridges.
ODNR names bigleaf and umbrella magnolia, both state-listed, and many native orchids. ODNR's trail notes state over 7 miles of hiking trails and list six named trails, ticks are common, and the guide says lake access for fishing or canoeing needs a permit.
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
Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve is a magnificent natural area in southeast Ohio's Jackson County. It was acquired by the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves through the foresight and generosity of two long-time business partners, Edwin A. Jones and James J. McKitterick. The focal point of this preserve is a clear water lake surrounded by towering sandstone cliffs. The lake was named after Edwin Jones' wife, Katharine.
The rich Appalachian forest is cut by three deep ravines in which are found magnolias, eastern hemlock, sweet gum, birch and beech. The dry ridge tops support an association of mountain laurel, Virginia pine and oak. The preserve has many native orchids as well as diverse spring flora. Lake Katharine harbors the state's largest and finest populations of both bigleaf and umbrella magnolia trees, both state-listed species.
Visiting
Open 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset
Stay on designated trails
Pets are not permitted
No public restrooms
Ticks are common in the preserve.
Verify current visiting hours and access restrictions with ODNR's page before relying on these hours.
Trails
Over 7 miles of hiking trails:
Calico Bush Trail - 0.5 miles
Lakeview Trail - 1.1 miles
Pine Ridge Trail - 2 miles
Salt Creek Short Loop - 0.6 miles
Salt Creek Spur - 0.1 miles
Salt Creek Long Loop - 1.1 miles
In ODNR's preserve guide
| Address | 1703 Lake Katharine Rd, Jackson, 45640 |
|---|---|
| Trails (miles) | 6 |
| Visitor information | Visit naturalareas.ohiodnr.gov for information on obtaining permit for lake access (fishing/canoeing) |
Lake Katharine Jackson 1703 Lake Katharine Rd Jackson, 45640 6 Visit naturalareas.ohiodnr.gov for information on obtaining permit for lake access (fishing/canoeing)
Access permit
Lake Katharine 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's guide row for it says: Visit naturalareas.ohiodnr.gov for information on obtaining permit for lake access (fishing/canoeing)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve | JACKSON | Dedicated Nature Preserve | 2189.93 | Division of Natural Areas and Preserves |
| Mapped acres | 2,189.93 (our sum of the parcels ODNR's GIS layer maps under this name) |
|---|---|
| Access permit | Not on the permit list; ODNR's guide says: Visit naturalareas.ohiodnr.gov for information on obtaining permit for lake access (fishing/canoeing) |
| Centre of mapped land | 39.0823, -82.6823 (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: Lake Katharine 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.
- White’s Gulch State Nature Preserve · Jackson County · about 3.1 miles
- Sylvan Deep State Nature Preserve · Jackson County · about 4.7 miles
- Glade Wetlands Dedicated Nature Preserve · Pike and Jackson counties · about 7.9 miles · permit
- Jefferson Ridge State Nature Preserve · Ross County · about 8.4 miles · permit
- Baker Swamp State Nature Preserve · Jackson County · about 9.8 miles