Today, 136 State Nature Preserves and natural areas have been dedicated in Ohio. These diverse areas of land contain remnants of Ohio's pre-settlement past, rare and endangered species, and wondrous geologic features.
Most State Nature Preserves contain small parking lots and a trail system. Some contain no user access facilities. Restrooms, picnic facilities and areas for active recreation are generally not available.
Each preserve is managed to allow user access with the least amount of physical impact. To experience particularly fragile habitats like bogs and fens, boardwalks are often provided. Interpretive signage explaining the natural and cultural history of each site is present at many preserves.
Find a State Nature Preserve
Access Permits Required
The preserves listed below require an access permit. Nature Preserve Access Permit
| Preserve | County | Acreage | Managing Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boch Hollow- Robinson Falls | Hocking | 35 | DNAP |
| Carmean Woods | Crawford | 39 | Crawford Park District |
| William C. McCoy Preserve | Ashtabula | 107 | DNAP |
| Pallister | Ashtabula | 105 | DNAP |
| Rome | Ashtabula | 74 | DNAP |
| Emerald Hills | Belmont | 73 | DNAP |
| Crabill Fen | Clark | 31 | DNAP |
| Prairie Road Fen | Clark | 94 | DNAP |
| Stratford Woods | Delaware | 95 | Stratford Ecological Center |
| Spring Brook Sanctuary | Geauga | 72 | Geauga Park District |
| White Pine Bog Forest | Geauga | 375 | The Nature Conservancy |
| Travertine Fen | Greene | 21 | Greene County Parks & Trails |
| Zimmerman Prairie | Greene | 3 | DNAP |
| Greenbelt | Hamilton | 97 | Hamilton County Parks |
| Newberry | Hamilton | 50 | Hamilton County Parks |
| Trillium Trails | Hamilton | 22 | Hamilton County Parks |
| Warder-Perkins | Hamilton | 25 | Audubon Ohio |
| Crane Hollow | Hocking | 1285 | CHI |
| Little Rocky Hollow | Hocking | 259 | DNAP |
| Saltpetre Cave | Hocking | 14 | DNAP |
| Sheick Hollow | Hocking | 151 | DNAP |
| Bonnet Pond | Holmes | 16 | DNAP |
| Cranberry Bog | Licking | 10 | Greater Buckeye Lake Historical Society |
| Rothenbuhler Woods | Monroe | 44 | The Nature Conservancy |
| Forrest Woods | Paulding | 292 | Black Swamp Conservancy |
| Strait Creek Prairie | Pike | 75 | The Nature Conservancy |
| Beck, Evans Memorial | Portage | 101 | The Nature Conservancy |
| Flatiron Lake Bog | Portage | 68 | The Nature Conservancy |
| Gott Fen | Portage | 44 | DNAP |
| Mantua Bog | Portage | 98 | DNAP |
| Betsch Fen | Ross | 90 | The Nature Conservancy |
| Raven Rock | Scioto | 95 | DNAP |
| Karlo Fen | Summit | 14 | Summit Metro Parks |
| Myersville Fen | Summit | 27 | DNAP |
| Ladd Natural Bridge | Washington | 34 | DNAP |
| Mud Lake Bog | Williams | 74 | DNAP |