Zimmerman Prairie State Natural Area
Greene County, Ohio
Our take written by Nature Awed
Zimmerman Prairie in Greene County is a small remnant of a prairie fen in the outwash valleys of Beaver Creek, with queen-of-the-prairie, Riddell's goldenrod, prairie dock, big bluestem and Ohio goldenrod.
There are no trails or other improvements. ODNR says to park at Beavercreek Station Park and walk about 1/4 mile up the Creekside Bike Trail; the preserve lies between the trail and U.S. 35.
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
Zimmerman Prairie is a remnant of an extensive prairie fen which occurred in the outwash-filled valleys of Beaver Creek in western Ohio.
This small prairie boasts several species of rare and interesting prairie plants including queen-of-the-prairie, Riddell's goldenrod, prairie dock, big bluestem, Indian grass and Ohio goldenrod. Although small in size, Zimmerman Prairie is one of the southernmost fens known in Ohio.
Visiting
No trails or other improvements. Access to the preserve is from Creekside Bike Trail. Park at Beavercreek Station Park and walk up bike trail for about 1/4 mile. The preserve is located between the bike trail and U.S. 35.
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
Zimmerman Prairie State Natural Area 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zimmerman Prairie Non-Dedicated Natural Area | GREENE | Non-Dedicated Natural Area | 3.67 | Beaver Creek Wetlands Association |
| Mapped acres | 3.67 (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 | 39.7272, -84.0675 (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: Zimmerman Prairie State Natural Area 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.
- Travertine Fen State Nature Preserve · Greene County · about 8.2 miles
- Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve · Greene County · about 13 miles
- Caesar Creek Gorge State Nature Preserve · Warren County · about 17 miles
- Crabill Fen Non-Dedicated Natural Area · Clark County · about 23 miles · permit
- Gallagher Springfield Fen State Nature Preserve · Clark County · about 23 miles