Fairfield County Parks & Nature Preserves

The following list of parks and preserves includes those managed by federal, state, county, and non-governmental agencies (such as the National Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, various historical societies, etc.).

We have tried to collect information on the activities and facilities available at various parks, but things may change without us knowing about it. So please double-check the information at the official site (click on the park’s name to go there).

See our post: An Overview of Hiking Trails in Fairfield County

Alley Park (City Park)

• 2805 Old Logan Rd, Lancaster, OH
• Trail map
• Park size: 300 acres
• Total trail length: 6 miles
• Dog friendly
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)
• Restrooms
• Nature center, camp sites under development
• TrekOhio posts about Alley Park

Blacklick Creek Bike Trail (Bike Path)

• Transits: Three Creeks Park – Pickerington Pond – Blacklick Woods(currently incomplete)
• Trail map
• Total trail length: 12 miles
• Dog friendly
• At least some parts are handicap accessible
• Restrooms
• Paved multi-use trail

Blacklick Woods (Metro Park)

• 6975 E. Livingston Ave., Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
• Trail map
• Trail descriptions
• Park size: 643 acres
• Total trail length: 7.5 miles
• Dog friendly
• Good site for bird watching
• Cross country ski trails
• Restrooms
• Nature center, sledding, golf course
• TrekOhio posts about Blacklick Woods

Buckeye Lake (State Park)

• 2905 Liebs Island Road, Millersport, OH 43046
• Park size: 3,100 acre lake
• Dog friendly (Not on the beach)
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)

Chestnut Ridge (Metro Park)

• 8445 Winchester Road N.W., Carroll, OH 43112
• Trail map
• Trail descriptions
• Park size: 486 acres
• Total trail length: 2.4 miles
• Dog friendly
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)
• Good site for bird watching
• At least some parts are handicap accessible
• Mountain bike trails
• Cross country ski trails
• Restrooms
• TrekOhio posts about Chestnut Ridge

Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve (State Nature Preserve)

• GPS coordinates: N39.639748,W82.650034
• Location: The trail-head for Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserved is located at the intersection of Meister Rd SW, Oil Mill Hollow Rd SW, and Crooks Rd SW in Fairfield County just south of Lancaster. Park next to Mink Hollow covered bridge.
• Park size: 554 acres
• Total trail length: 4.75 miles
• TrekOhio posts about Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve

Clear Creek (Metro Park)

• 185 Clear Creek Road, Rockbridge, OH 43149
• Trail map
• Trail descriptions
• Park size: 5,260 acres
• Total trail length: 14 miles
• Dog friendly (Selected trails)
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)
• Good site for bird watching
• Restrooms
• Includes 4,769 acre Clear Creek (Allen F. Beck) State Nature Preserve
• TrekOhio posts about Clear Creek

Cross Mound (County Park)

• Location: US-33 to SR-159 to Sixteenth Rd. See map
• Park size: 29 acres
• Prehistoric X-shaped mound. Possibly from the Fort Ancient Native Americans. Accessed via WPA-built (1936) suspension foot-bridge
• Closed indefinitely due to vandalism

Fairfield Heritage Trail (Bike Path)

• Transits: See above link for driving directions and maps.
• Trail map
• Total trail length: 10 miles (8 miles paved)

Johns Trail (Amanda, OH) (Bike Path)

• Transits: See above link for driving directions and maps.
• Trail map
• Total trail length: 1.6 miles
• Gravel trail

Lockville Park (County Park)

• Location: Off of Pickerington Rd, south of US-33. See map
• Park size: 6 acres
• Three intact locks from Ohio Erie canal and a covered bridge
• TrekOhio posts about Lockville Park

Pickerington Ponds (Metro Park)

• 7680 Wright Road, Canal Winchester OH 43110
• Trail map
• Trail descriptions
• Park size: 1.600 acres
• Total trail length: 5.1 miles
• Good site for bird watching
• At least some parts are handicap accessible
• Restrooms
• TrekOhio posts about Pickerington Ponds

Rhododendron Cove (State Nature Preserve)

• Park size: 75 acres
• Total trail length: 2.25 miles
• Dogs not permitted
• TrekOhio posts about Rhododendron Cove

Rising Park (City Park)

• 1100 N High St, Lancaster, OH
• GPS coordinates: 39.726251,-82.593395
• Location: Take OH-22 through Lancaster, run left on OH-27. Just past the fairgrounds turn right into the Rising Park entrance
• Park size: 73 acres
• Dog friendly
• Hiking trail to sandstone bluff overlooking Lancaster
• TrekOhio posts about Rising Park

Rock Mill (County Park)

• Location: US-33 (Lancaster bypass) to Lithopolis Rd to Rockmill Rd. See map
• Large grist mill currently being restored. Located on upper falls of Hocking River. Rock Mill covered bridge nearby.
• TrekOhio posts about Rock Mill

Shallenberger (State Nature Preserve)

• Location: Located in Fairfield County, 4 miles southwest of Lancaster on U.S. Route 22; proceed 1/4 mile north on Beck’s Knob Road to the marked preserve parking lot and trail system.
• Trail map
• Park size: 88 acres
• Total trail length: 2.5 miles (approx)
• Dogs not permitted
• TrekOhio posts about Shallenberger

Wahkeena (Ohio Historical Society)

• 2200 Pump Station Rd SE, Berne, OH 43155
• Location: Located in Fairfield County. From Lancaster– Exit US Rt. 33 at Sharp Rd (Traffic light at Sugar Grove). Turn right if coming from the north, turn left if coming from south, cross the bridge and bear right and continue to Pump Station Road and turn left. Facilities include parking lot, visitors center and trails. Hours of operation are limited – check web site for details.
• Park size: 150 acres
• Total trail length: 2 miles (approx)
• Dogs not permitted
• Good site for bird watching
• Restrooms
• Nature center – many programs incl events for children. See web site for details
• TrekOhio posts about Wahkeena

Walter Tucker (State Nature Preserve)

• Location: Part of Blacklick Metro Park

Last Update: 04/02/2013 19:36:23

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