Adams 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).

Adams Lake (State Park)

• 14633 State Route 41, West Union, Ohio 45693
• Trail map
• Park size: 95 acres
• Total trail length: 0.75 miles
• Dog friendly
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)
• Restrooms
• Boating, swimming not permitted
• Park Map for Adams Lake

Adams Lake Prairie (State Nature Preserve)

• West Union, Ohio 45693
• GPS coordinates: N38.812500, W83.529717
• Location: Located within Adams Lake State Park, which is 1 mile north of West Union on State Route 41. The marked entrance to the preserve is at the far west end of the park road.
• Park size: 26 acres
• Total trail length: 0.25 miles

Brush Creek SF (State Forest)

• Location: See above link for driving directions and maps.
• Trail map
• Park size: 13,502 acres
• Total trail length: 3 miles + 15 miles bridle trail
• Bridle trails
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)
• Hunting when in season with license. Please visit park web site for details.
• Mushroom hunting
• Brochure

Chalet Nivale Preserve (Ohio Historical Society)

• Trail map
• Park size: 106 acres
• Dogs not permitted
• Paking lot capacity is 3 cars.
• TrekOhio photos and descriptions of Chalet Nivale Preserve

Chaparrel Prairie (State Nature Preserve)

• 209 Hawk Hill Rd., W Union, Ohio 45693
• GPS coordinates: N38.840367, W83.573783
• Park size: 67 acres
• Total trail length: 0.75 miles
• TrekOhio photos and descriptions of Chaparrel Prairie

Davis Memorial (State Nature Preserve)

• 2715 Davis Memorial Rd., Peebles, OH 45660
• GPS coordinates: N38.940083, W83.353533
• Park size: 168 acres
• Total trail length: 2 miles

Edge of Appalachia (Cincinnati Museum and Nature Conservancey)

• Visitors are encouraged to start their exploration at the George Rieveschl Jr. Creek’s Bend Overlook (near the trailhead for the Joan Jones Portman Trail). See our description of starting point. The address for the Eulett Center (which is a research center, not a visitors center) is 4274 Waggoner Riffle Road, West Union, OH 45693
• Park size: About 16000 acres
• Total trail length:
  • Joan Jones Portman Trail: 1.6 miles (trailmap)
  • Lynx Prairie Trail: 1.3 miles (trailmap)
  • Buzzard Roost Trail: 4.4 miles (trailmap)
  • Wilderness Trail: 2.4 miles (trailmap)
• Dogs not permitted
• Restrooms (There is a handicap-accessible restroom at the George Rieveschl Jr. Creek’s Bend Overlook near the Portman Trail.)
• Note that the mileage listed for each trail is the round-trip mileage. The Buzzard Roost Trail has an observation deck with a spectacular view of the surrounding territory. The Joan Jones Portman Trail also has a scenic overlook at Flood Point, but hikers will be taking in the view from a rocky promontory instead of a wood deck. The Lynx Prairie Trail has a beautiful display of summer flowers (and butterflies). The Wilderness Trail is perhaps the most primitive; in summer expect the woodland trail to be a bit overgrown by the lush, surrounding vegetation. However, the Wilderness Trail also features a small, opening with Indian paintbrush in bloom during the summer.
• TrekOhio photos and descriptions of Edge of Appalachia

Johnson Ridge (State Nature Preserve)

• 1754 Unity Rd., W Union, OH 45693
• GPS coordinates: N38.856833, W83.535050
• Park size: 208 acres
• Unimproved site

Serpent Mound (Ohio Historical Society)

• 3850 Ohio 73, Peebles, OH 45660
• Location: Serpent Mound is on State Route 73, six miles north of State Route 32 and 20 miles south of Bainbridge in Adams County.
• Park size: 63 acres
• Total trail length: 1 mile
• Dog friendly
• Restrooms
• Museum and nature trails. Native American serpent shaped mound on rim of ancient meteor impact crater.
• TrekOhio photos and descriptions of Serpent Mound

Shawnee (State Forest)

• 13291 U.S. 52 West Portsmouth, OH
• Trail map
• Park size: 63,747 acres
• Total trail length: 60 miles + 60 miles bridle trails
• Dog friendly
• Bridle trails
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)
• Hunting when in season with license. Please visit park web site for details.
• Camp sites
• Restrooms (Latrines)
• Horse camps
• Brochure and Map about doing an auto tour of Shawnee State Forest
• Brochure and Map about backpacking in Shawnee State Forest
• TrekOhio photos and descriptions of Shawnee

Shoemaker (State Nature Preserve)

• 165 Pine Gap Road Peebles, Ohio 45660
• Park size: 22 acres
• Total trail length: 1.5 miles
• Two natural arches

Strait Creek Prairie (State Nature Preserve)

• Park size: 515 acres
• Permit required

Tranquility Wildlife Area (State Wildlife Area)

• Park size: 4,254 acres
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)
• Firearms range
• Hunting when in season with license. Please visit park web site for details.
• Good site for bird watching
• Wildlife Area Map for Tranquility Wildlife Area

Whipple (State Nature Preserve)

• 1194 State Rte 247, Manchester, OH 45144
• GPS coordinates: N38.719317, W83.509200
• Park size: 270 aces
• Total trail length: 2 mile loop

Last Update: 2017-07-24 16:32:02