Licking 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.

Blackhand Gorge (State Nature Preserve)

• Official Site
• Brochure
• Posts at TrekOhio
• Location:
  • 2200 Gratiot Rd SE, Newark, Ohio 43056
  • GPS coordinates: 40.056067, -82.218333
  • View on Google Maps
• 956 acres in all
• Trail information:
  • 4.26 miles of paved, multi-use trail
  • 6 miles of nature trails
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
  • Handicap accessible
• Miscellaneous info: Remains of a lock and segments of tow path from the Ohio-Erie Canal. Remains of a tunnel from the defunct, interurban rail network. Former site of hand-shaped Indian petroglyph.

Buckeye Lake (State Park)

• Official Site
• Hunting Map
• Park Map
• Location:
  • 2905 Liebs Island Road, Millersport, Ohio 43046
  • GPS coordinates: 39.9047361, -82.5307596
  • View on Google Maps
• 3,100 acres lake
• Supported activities:
  • Fishing
  • Hunting
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Bringing your dog
  • Paddling
  • Boating with high horsepower motors
  • Ice skating
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
• Miscellaneous info: While construction is underway at the dam, the park’s beaches are closed.

Cranberry Bog (State Nature Preserve)

• Official Site
• Posts at TrekOhio
• The Greater Buckeye Lake Historical Society
• Contact info for the Buckeye Lake Historical Society
• 12 acres in all
• Facilities:
  • Boardwalk
  • Permit only
• Miscellaneous info: Boardwalk traverses the bog which consists of a floating bog mat within Buckeye Lake. Contact Greater Buckeye Lake Historical Society for additional information

Dawes Arboretum (Private botanical garden – open to Public)

• Official Site
• Posts at TrekOhio
• Gateway to maps of various segments of the arboretum
• Location:
  • 7770 Jacksontown Rd., Newark, Ohio 43056
  • GPS coordinates: 39.9801312, -82.4152905
  • View on Google Maps
• 1,800 acre in all
• 8 miles of total trail
• Supported activities:
  • Fishing
  • Bringing your dog
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
  • Handicap accessible
• Miscellaneous info: Catch-and-release fishing is allowed in Dawes Lake for members of the arboretum. Cycling is allowed, but do not ride bikes on the grass or dirt trails or in the Japanese Garden.

Denison Bioreserve (University Preserve)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• 350 acres in all
• Unspecified mileage of total trail
• Miscellaneous info: Study, research, hiking trails

Dillon Wildlife Area (State Wildlife Area)

• Official Site
• Wildlife Area Map
• 3,612 acres in all
• Supported activities:
  • Fishing
  • Hunting
  • Good site for bird watching
• Miscellaneous info: Two Native American burial mounds are located in the area.

Flint Ridge (State Memorial)

• Official Site
• Alternative Official Site
• Licking Valley Heritage Society
• Location:
  • 15300 Flint Ridge Rd., Glenford, Ohio 43739
  • GPS coordinates: 39.990322, -82.260004
  • View on Google Maps
• 1.5 miles of total trail
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
• Miscellaneous info: The museum that is open on the weekends from May through October except for holidays. There is a flint quarry with diorama inside the building. The trails pass some depressions in the woods that are the remains of old, Native American quarries. The grounds are open during daylight hours all year long. The site is managed by the Licking Valley Heritage Society.

Hebron Fish Hatchery (State Fish Hatchery)

• Official Site
• Location:
  • 10517 Canal Rd., Hebron, Ohio 43025
  • GPS coordinates: 39.9404827, -82.5172005
  • View on Google Maps
• 230 acres in all
• 2.5 miles of nature trail
• Supported activities:
  • Good site for bird watching
• Facilities:
  • Archery range
• Miscellaneous info: Open to public M-F 8am – 3pm

Infirmary Mound Park (County Park)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• Location:
  • 4351 Lancaster Road, Granville, Ohio 43023
  • GPS coordinates: 40.023889, -82.5248312
  • View on Google Maps
• 316 acres in all
• 7 miles of bridle, hiking and mountain biking trails
• Supported activities:
  • Fishing
  • Sledding
  • Horseback riding
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
  • Dog park
• Miscellaneous info: Native American mound

Lobdell Reserve (County Park)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• Location:
  • 3158 Mounts Road, Alexandria, Ohio 43001
  • GPS coordinates: 40.1035521, -82.6094955
  • View on Google Maps
• 210 acres in all
• 8 miles of hiking / mountain biking / bridle trail
• Supported activities:
  • Mountain biking
  • Horseback riding
  • Bringing your dog
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
  • Disc golf course
• Miscellaneous info: Hunting privileges with membership.

Morris Woods (State Nature Preserve)

• Official Site
• Location:
  • 7495 Dutch Lane, Johnstown, Ohio 43031
  • GPS coordinates: 40.1722868, -82.6444271
  • View on Google Maps
• 107 acres in all
• 1.5 miles of nature trail
• Supported activities:
  • Good site for bird watching
• Miscellaneous info: Nice display of spring wildflowers

Newark Earthworks (formerly known as ‘Moundbuilders’) (State Memorial)

• Official Site
• Posts at TrekOhio
• Location:
  • 455 Hebron Rd., Heath, Ohio 43056
  • GPS coordinates: 40.041185, -82.431001
  • View on Google Maps
• Miscellaneous info: Site of the Great Circle Earthworks and the Great Circle Museum; the circle is 1,200 feet in diameter with walls 8 feet high and surrounded by a 5-foot deep moat.

Octagon (State Memorial)

• Official Site
• Posts at TrekOhio
• Location:
  • N 33rd St., Newark, Ohio 43055
  • GPS coordinates: 40.052092, -82.448359
  • View on Google Maps
• Miscellaneous info: Located on the site of the Mound Builders Country Club

Ohio Canal Greenway (County Park)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• Location:
  • 101 Canal Road, Hebron, Ohio 43025
  • GPS coordinates: 39.9568877, -82.4965553
  • View on Google Maps
• 3.8 miles of multi-use trail
• Supported activities:
  • Fishing
  • Good site for bird watching
  • Horseback riding
• Miscellaneous info: Site has a wooden, covered bridge

Panhandle Trail (Bike Path)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• Nearly 10 miles of paved, multi-use trail
• Supported activities:
  • Bringing your dog
• Miscellaneous info: Extends from Newark, past Hanover and the Virtues Golf Club, to eastern Licking County

Riverview Reserve (County Park)

• Official Site
• Location:
  • 375 Ohio Street, Newark, Ohio 43055
  • GPS coordinates: 40.0534272, -82.3886377
  • View on Google Maps
• 110 acres in all
• Supported activities:
  • Fishing
  • Paddling

Taft Reserve (County Park)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• Location:
  • 10250 Flint Ridge Road, Newark, Ohio 43056
  • GPS coordinates: 39.9961778, -82.3551032
  • View on Google Maps
• 425 acres in all
• More than 8 miles of hiking / mountain biking / bridle trail
• Supported activities:
  • Mountain biking
  • Horseback riding
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
• Miscellaneous info: Hunting privileges with membership

TJ Evans Trail (Bike Path)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• 14.3 miles of paved, multi-use trail
• Supported activities:
  • Bringing your dog
• Miscellaneous info: Extends from Johnstown, through Alexandria and Granville, to Newark

Last Update: Jun 20, 2018