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.
- Bowen Nature Preserve (County Park)
-
- Official Site
- Brochure
- Location:
- 11891 E. Co. Rd. 24, Republic, Ohio
- Area:
- 64 acres nature preserve
- 58 acres grassland, prairie
- 6 acres woodland
- 2.7 miles of bridle / hiking trails
- Supported activities:
- Horseback riding
- Collier (Howard) (State Nature Preserve)
-
- Official Site
- Posts at TrekOhio
- Location:
- 1655 W Twp Rd 38, Tiffin, Ohio 44883
- GPS coordinates: 41.00417, -83.20172
- View on Google Maps
- 115 acres in all
- 1.5 miles of total trail
- Miscellaneous info: Large trees, spectacular spring wildflowers
- Forrest Nature Preserve (County Park)
-
- Official Site
- Trail Map
- Brochure
- Location:
- 701 E. Co. Rd. 6, Tiffin, Ohio
- 17 acres grassland, meadow
- 2.65 miles of improved trails
- Supported activities:
- Fishing
- Paddling
- Facilities:
- Handicap accessible
- Miscellaneous info: 80 foot bluff overlooking Honey Creek
- Garlo Heritage Nature Preserve (County Park)
-
- Official Site
- Trail Map
- Brochure
- Location:
- 6777 S. SR 19, Bloomville, Ohio
- Area:
- 292 acres in all
- 37 acres shallow lake
- Trail information:
- 2.7 miles of hiking trail
- 4.7 miles of bridle / hiking trails
- Supported activities:
- Fishing
- Good site for bird watching
- Horseback riding
- Facilities:
- Handicap accessible
- Nature center
- Observation deck
- Boardwalk
- Miscellaneous info: Butterfly garden, catch-and-release fishing ponds, restored blacksmith shop
- Opportunity Park (County Park)
-
- Official Site
- Trail Map
- Brochure
- Location:
- 780 East CO Road 20, Tiffin, Ohio
- 4 acres in all
- 0.2 miles of paved trail
- Facilities:
- Handicap accessible
- Silver Creek (State Wildlife Area)
-
- Official Site
- Wildlife Area Map
- Location:
- East of OH-19 & E Township Rd 58, Bloom Township, Ohio 44818
- GPS coordinates: 41.0352083, -83.0155165
- View on Google Maps
- 42 acres in all
- Springville Marsh (State Nature Preserve)
-
- Official Site
- Location:
- 12250 West Twp Road 24 (Muck Road), Carey, Ohio 43316
- GPS coordinates: 41.006718, -83.405746
- View on Google Maps
- 201 acres in all
- Prohibited activities:
- Dogs not permitted
- Facilities:
- Handicap accessible
- Observation deck
- Boardwalk
- Miscellaneous info: Boardwalk (without kick rails), observation tower, and wildlife blind. This spring-fed wetland (fen) features many rare and unusual varieties of plants; Excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.
- Steyer Nature Preserve (County Park)
-
- Official Site
- Trail Map
- Brochure
- Location:
- 5901 N. Co. Rd. 33, Tiffin, Ohio
- 141 acres in all
- 4.17 miles of loop trails
- Supported activities:
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Paddling
- Miscellaneous info: One mile of river access; bridges over ravine; five loop trails
- Sugar Creek & Knobby’s Prairie (State Wildlife Area)
-
- Official Site
- Wildlife Area Map
- Official GPS Coordinates:
- GPS coordinates: 41.2008639, -83.1295748
- View on Google Maps
- Parking:
- NE of Township Rd 148 & N Township Rd 157, Pleasant Township, Ohio 44883
- GPS coordinates: 41.1967366, -83.1318252
- View on Google Maps
- 172 acres in all
- Tiffin University Nature Preserve (County Park)
-
- Official Site
- Park Map
- Brochure
- Location:
- 2375 W CO Road 26, Tiffin, Ohio (estimated using Google Maps)
- GPS coordinates: 41.1192451, -83.2148213
- View on Google Maps
- Area:
- 30 acres in all
- 2 acres wetland
- 1.23 miles of hiking trail
- Miscellaneous info: Wetland
- Zimmerman Nature Preserve (County Park)
-
- Official Site
- Park Map
- Brochure
- Location:
- 680 E. SR 18, Tiffin, Ohio
- 6 acres in all
- 0.2 miles of paved walkway
- Facilities:
- Handicap accessible
Last Update: Sep 24, 2018
© Deborah Platt, Robert Platt and TrekOhio.com 2012 to 2021
Today we visited Collier (Howard) State Nature Preserve which we discovered through your blog. Thank you very much!! We were happily surprised at the masses of toad shade trillium and nodding trillium. I had hoped to see red trillium which I haven’t ever seen but our most enjoyable sight was the many blue phlox. When we moved to SE Michigan almost 60 years ago there were blue phlox in the highway medians, sides of highways, and the remaining undeveloped forest areas. For some reason, climate change, development, they disappeared. We dug some up ahead of the bulldozers. They thrived in our backyard for a few years and then also disappeared. So we were delighted to find they still bloom in NW Ohio.
Thanks for your wonderful helpful blog!
Eva, so glad to hear that you were able to find blue phlox again. I still haven’t spotted red trillium myself; however, I belong to an Ohio Wildflower group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/524478670918857/), and I do see photos of them posted from time to time.