Wildlife encounters and habitats - trails and preserves featuring native animals including deer, birds, and woodland creatures
Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve in Jackson County hides two sandstone gorges, cool hemlock ravines, small waterfalls, and Ohio's rare bigleaf magnolias.
Ryan Jordan
Tar Hollow State Park is one of Ohio's most remote hikes: a climbable fire tower, the 15-mile Logan Trail, and miles of quiet ridge-and-hollow forest.
Ryan Jordan
Great Seal State Park near Chillicothe hides Ohio's most rugged ridge hiking. Climb Sugarloaf Mountain to the view that inspired the state seal.
Ryan Jordan
Lake Hope State Park in remote Vinton County: a quiet forest lake, the 1850s Hope Furnace ruins, a ghost town, dark night skies, and legendary Ohio fall color.
Ryan Jordan
Oak Openings Preserve near Toledo: a rare oak savanna of scattered oaks, sand dunes, wild lupine, and 50-plus miles of trails including the 16-mile Scout Trail.
Ryan Jordan
A guide to Gahanna Woods State Nature Preserve near Columbus, Ohio — spring vernal pools, buttonbush swamps, boardwalk trails, and rare wildflowers.
Ryan Jordan
King's Hollow Tunnel in Zaleski State Forest: a short, eerie half-mile walk along the old Moonville rail line to a 120-foot timber-lined railroad tunnel.
Lori Jordan
Wayne National Forest is Ohio's only national forest: 240,000+ acres of Appalachian foothills, 300 miles of trails, solitude, and historic iron furnaces.
Lori Jordan
Great Southern Metro Park: Columbus's newest 70-acre Metro Park on the Scioto, with trails, an obstacle course, river access, and canal history.
Ryan Jordan
A complete trail guide to Cuyahoga Valley, Ohio's only national park: more than 125 miles of trails between Cleveland and Akron, and no entrance fee.
Nate Calloway
Columbus is home to one of Ohio’s best urban park systems, featuring hundreds of parks, miles of scenic trails, and dozens of nature preserves to discover.
Lori Jordan
Rocky Fork Metro Park near New Albany: an easy 2.5-mile loop through woods, meadows, and wetlands along Rocky Fork Creek, with good birding.
Lori Jordan