Protected area Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural or cultural values. Protected areas are those areas in which human presence or the exploitation of natural resources (e.g. firewood ...

s in the

U.S. State In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...

include

national forest National Forest may refer to: * National forest or state forest, a forest administered or protected by a sovereign state ** National forest (Brazil) ** National forest (France) ** National forest (United States) ** State Forests (Poland) ** The N ...

lands, Army Corps of Engineers areas,

state park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "Federated state, state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on accou ...

state forest A state forest or national forest is a forest that is administered or protected by a sovereign state, sovereign or federated state, or territory (country subdivision), territory. Background State forests are forests that are Administration (gov ...

s, state

nature preserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, funga, or features of geolog ...

s, state

wildlife management Wildlife management is the management process influencing interactions among and between wildlife, its Habitat, habitats and people to achieve predefined impacts. Wildlife management can include wildlife conservation, population control, gamekeepi ...

areas, and other areas.

Federal lands

Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail Section

National Park Service, Department of the Interior

Cuyahoga Valley National Park Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a List of national parks of the United States, national park of the United States in Ohio that reclaims and preserves the industrial, commercial, and rural landscape along the Cuyahoga River between Akron, Ohio, ...

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is a United States national historical park with earthworks and burial mounds from the Hopewell culture, indigenous peoples who flourished from about 200 BC to 500 AD. The park is composed of four s ...

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park in Dayton, Ohio that commemorates three important historical figures— Wilbur Wright, Orville Wright, and poet Paul Laurence Dunbar—and ...

U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture

Wayne National Forest The Wayne National Forest is located in the Appalachian part of the US state of Ohio, in the Unglaciated Allegheny Plateau. It is the first and only national forest in Ohio. Forest headquarters are located between The Plains and Nelsonville, ...

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex is a National Wildlife Refuge complex in the state of Ohio. Refuges within the complex * Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge * Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge * West Sister Island National Wildlife Refu ...

Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1964 when the owners of the Cedar Point Shooting Club donated the land to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge is now about of marsh that is divided into three pools. Th ...

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge of the United States, which is located in the state of Ohio. This refuge was established in 1961, under the Migratory Bird Conservation Act, the purpose of the refuge being created wa ...

West Sister Island National Wildlife Refuge West Sister Island is an island of the U.S. state of Ohio located in the Western Basin of Lake Erie. The island, jointly managed by the United States Coast Guard and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is Ohio's only designated Wilderness A ...

Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense

*Belleville Locks and Dam *

Caesar Creek Dam Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war. He ...

(at

Caesar Creek State Park Caesar Creek State Park is a public recreation area located in southwestern Ohio, five miles (8 km) east of Waynesville, in Warren, Clinton, and Greene counties. The park is leased by the State from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, w ...

) *Tom Jenkins Dam (at

Burr Oak State Park Burr Oak State Park is a public recreation area located northeast of Glouster in the U.S. state of Ohio. The park sits mostly in Morgan County, with part extending into Athens County. The state park is centered at Burr Oak Lake. The dam for t ...

)

State lands

State parks

State memorials

* Adena State Memorial * Buckeye Furnace State Memorial * Campbell Mound State Memorial *

Flint Ridge State Memorial Flint Ridge Ancient Quarries and Nature Preserve is a Native American flint quarry located in Hopewell Township, Licking County, Ohio, about north of Brownsville at the intersection of Brownsville Road and Flint Ridge Road. Old quarry pits ...

Friends Meeting House State Memorial ''Friends'' is an American television sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting ten seasons. With an ensemble cast starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa ...

* Fort Ancient State Memorial, Warren County * Fort Hill State Memorial *

Glendower State Memorial Glendower, now known as Glendower Historic Mansion and Arboretum, is a historic Greek Revival style house located at 105 Cincinnati Avenue, U.S. Route 42, Cincinnati Avenue, in Lebanon, Ohio. It was built in 1836 by Amos Bennett for John Milton ...

, Warren County * Leo Petroglyph State Memorial * Miamisburg Mound State Memorial, Montgomery County *

Serpent Mound The Great Serpent Mound is a 1,348-feet-long (411 m), three-feet-high prehistoric effigy mound located in Peebles, Ohio, Peebles, Ohio. It was built on what is known as the Serpent Mound crater plateau, running along the Ohio Brush Creek in ...

State Memorial * Tarleton Cross Mound State Memorial

State forests

* Blue Rock State Forest – 4,572 acres (19 km²) * Brush Creek State Forest – ca. 12,000 acres (49 km²) * Dean State Forest – 2,745 acres (10 km²) * Fernwood State Forest – 2,107 acres (9 km²) * Gifford State Forest – 320 acres (1.3 km²); Athens County * Harrison State Forest – 1,345 acres (5 km²) *

Hocking State Forest Hocking State Forest is a state forest in Hocking County, Ohio, United States. The forest adjoins Hocking Hills State Park and three nature preserves including Conkle's Hollow State Nature Preserve. The forest is in one of the most scenic a ...

– 9,374 acres (38 km²) *

Maumee State Forest Maumee State Forest is a state forest in Fulton, Henry, and Lucas counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. It is located about 3 miles west of Whitehouse and abuout 4 miles south of Swanton. It is managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resou ...

– 3,068 acres (12 km²) * Mohican-Memorial State Forest – 4,192 acres (17 km²); Ashland County * Perry State Forest – 4,567 acres (18 km²); Perry County * Pike State Forest – 11,621 acres (47 km²) * Richland Furnace State Forest – 2,343 acres (9 km²) *

Scioto Trail State Forest Scioto Trail State Forest is a state forest in Pike and Ross counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. Scioto Trail State Park lies within the state forest.

– 9,371 acres (38 km²) *

Shade River State Forest Shade River State Forest is a list of Ohio state forests, state forest in Meigs County, Ohio. Forked Run State Park was carved out of it in 1949. Currently, this state forest comprises . References Forked run sp - shade river sf

– 2,601 acres (11 km²); Meigs County *

Shawnee State Forest Shawnee State Forest, also known as "Ohio's Little Smokies", is a state forest in the U.S. state of Ohio. It is located in western Scioto County and eastern Adams County and encompasses of woodland. It is the largest state forest in Ohio. A ...

– 59,603 acres (241 km²); Scioto and Adams Counties *

Sunfish Creek State Forest Sunfish Creek State Forest is a state forest in Monroe County, Ohio, United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal r ...

– 637 acres (2.6 km²) * Tar Hollow State Forest – 16,126 acres (65 km²) * Vinton Furnace State Experimental Forest - *

Waterloo State Forest Waterloo most commonly refers to: * Battle of Waterloo, 1815 battle where Napoleon's French army was defeated by Anglo-allied and Prussian forces * Waterloo, Belgium Waterloo may also refer to: Other places Australia *Waterloo, New South Wales ...

(administered by Zaleski State Forest); Athens County * Yellow Creek State Forest – 756 acres (3.1 km²) *

Zaleski State Forest Zaleski State Forest is a state forest in the U.S. state of Ohio, located primarily in Vinton County, with areas in Athens County as well. The 28,000 acre (110 km²) forest surrounds Lake Hope State Park in Vinton County, and borders ...

– 26,313 acres (107 km²); Athens and Vinton Counties

State wildlife management areas

* Cooper Hollow Wildlife Area (Jackson County) *Fox Lake Wildlife Management Area (Athens County) *Highlandtown Wildlife Area (Columbiana County, Washington Township) * Milan State Wildlife Area *Sunday Creek Wildlife Management Area (Athens County) *

Tiffin River Wildlife Area Tiffin River Wildlife Area is a non-contiguous State Wildlife Management Area on Ohio State Route 66 in western Fulton County, Ohio between Fayette, Ohio and Archbold, Ohio Archbold is a village (United States)#Ohio, village in Fulton County, ...

( Fulton County) *Trimble Wildlife Management Area (Athens County) *Turkey Ridge Wildlife Area (Vinton County) *

Waterloo Wildlife Research Station The Waterloo Wildlife Research Station is a Ohio state wildlife area located in western Waterloo Township, Athens County, Ohio. Purchase for the area was begun in 1944. The area was greatly expanded in 2005 when 945 acres were added. It was or ...

(Athens County) *Wolf Creek Wildlife Management Area (Morgan County)

State nature preserves

Acadia Cliffs State Nature Preserve Acadia Cliffs State Nature Preserve is a state nature preserve in Washington County, Ohio, United States, with a small neck extending into Athens County, Ohio. Covering an area of , it was founded in 1994. It is known for its sandstone S ...

* Adams Lake Prairie State Nature Preserve * Audubon Islands State Nature Preserve * Aurora Sanctuary State Nature Preserve * Baker Woods State Nature Preserve * Bigelow Cemetery Prairie State Nature Preserve * Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve * Boord State Nature Preserve * Brown's Lake Bog State Nature Preserve * Burton Wetlands State Nature Preserve * Caesar Creek Gorge State Nature Preserve *

Carmean Woods State Nature Preserve ''Carmen'' is an 1875 opera by Georges Bizet. Carmen may also refer to: * Carmen (novella), ''Carmen'' (novella), an 1845 novella by Prosper Mérimée and the basis for Bizet's opera Arts and entertainment Film * Carmen (1913 film), ''Carmen'' ...

Cedar Bog State Nature Preserve Cedar Bog State Nature Preserve is a fen left behind by the retreating glaciers of the Wisconsin glaciation about 12,000-18,000 years ago. A protected area of about of fen remains from the original area of approximately 7,000 acres (28 km2 ...

Chaparral Prairie State Nature Preserve Chaparral Prairie State Nature Preserve is a nature preserve located in Adams County, Ohio, United States, near the city of West Union. The prairie is a remnant of what was once a larger ecosystem. These grassland openings were probably creat ...

Clear Creek State Nature Preserve Clear may refer to: * Transparency, the physical property of allowing light to pass through Arts and entertainment Music Groups * Clear (Christian band), an American CCM group from Cambridge, Minnesota * Clear (hardcore band), a vegan straight e ...

* Clear Fork Gorge State Nature Preserve *

Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve, in Greene County, Ohio, is located three miles east of Yellow Springs, Ohio, and immediately southwest of Clifton, Ohio. The preserve constitutes 268 acres of gorges along two miles of the Little Miami River. ...

* Collier State Nature Preserve *

Compass Plant Prairie State Nature Preserve A compass is a device that shows the cardinal directions used for navigation and geographic orientation. It commonly consists of a magnetized needle or other element, such as a compass card or compass rose, which can pivot to align itself with ma ...

* Conkle's Hollow State Nature Preserve * Conneaut Swamp State Nature Preserve *

Cranberry Bog State Nature Preserve Cranberry Bog State Nature Preserve, which is located in Buckeye Lake (Ohio), Buckeye Lake in Licking County, Ohio, is the only floating island bog in the world. Once known as the “Big Swamp,” it is significant to Ohio, evidenced by its desig ...

* Crooked Run State Nature Preserve * Culberson Woods State Nature Preserve * Davey Woods State Nature Preserve * Davis Memorial State Nature Preserve * Drew Woods State Nature Preserve * Dupont Marsh State Nature Preserve * Eagle Creek State Nature Preserve * Erie Sand Barrens State Nature Preserve *

Fowler Woods State Nature Preserve Fowler may refer to: * Fowler (surname), a surname, and list of people with the name * A person who participates in fowling Places Australia * Division of Fowler, an electoral district in New South Wales * Fowlers Bay, South Australia Canada * ...

* Gahanna Woods State Nature Preserve *

Goll Woods State Nature Preserve Goll Woods State Nature Preserve is a nature preserve in western Fulton County, Ohio, near Archbold. It has been designated a National Natural Landmark for its oak–hickory forest. History It is named after Peter and Catherine Goll, who m ...

Kiser Lake Wetlands State Nature Preserve Kiser Lake Wetlands State Nature Preserve, or simply Kiser Lake Wetlands, is a nature reserve located in Johnson Township, Champaign County, Ohio, United States. It is located wholly within the Kiser Lake State Park, and operated by the Ohio ...

Kitty Todd State Nature Preserve Kitty may refer to: Animals * Cat, a small, domesticated carnivorous mammal ** Kitten, a young cat Film * Kitty Films, an anime production company in Japan * Kitty (1929 film), ''Kitty'' (1929 film), based on the Deeping novel; the first Britis ...

* Knox Woods State Nature Preserve * Kyle Woods State Nature Preserve *

Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve is located in Jackson County, Ohio, United States, just northwest of and outside the city of Jackson. It is owned and administered by the State Division of Natural Areas and Preserves and comprises . The ...

* Lakeside Daisy State Nature Preserve * Lawrence Woods State Nature Preserve * Lou Campbell State Nature Preserve *

Mantua Bog State Nature Preserve The Mantua Bog State Nature Preserve (or Mantua Swamp) is a protected wetland in Mantua Township, Portage County in the U.S. state of Ohio. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1976 and a state nature preserve in 1990. The national ...

* Marie J. Desonier State Nature Preserve *

Marsh Wetlands State Nature Preserve The Mantua Bog State Nature Preserve (or Mantua Swamp) is a protected wetland in Mantua Township, Portage County in the U.S. state of Ohio. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1976 and a state nature preserve in 1990. The national ...

* Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve * Milford Center Prairie State Nature Preserve * Morris Woods State Nature Preserve * North Pond State Nature Preserve * North Shore Alvar State Nature Preserve * Novak State Nature Preserve * Old Woman Creek State Nature Preserve *

Olsen (Augusta-Anne) State Nature Preserve Olsen or Ölsen may refer to: *Olsen (surname), people with the surname ''Olsen'' *Fred. Olsen & Co., a large shipping company with worldwide headquarters in Oslo, Norway *Ölsen, municipality in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. *Olsen House (Helena, ...

* Pickerington Ponds State Nature Preserve * Portage Lakes Wetland State Nature Preserve *

Riddle State Nature Preserve Hawk Woods is an old-growth forest located in central Athens County, Ohio, United States, outside the city of Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant ...

Rockbridge State Nature Preserve Rockbridge State Nature Preserve is a nature reserve featuring a natural bridge located in the unincorporated area, unincorporated community of Rockbridge, Ohio, Rockbridge in Hocking County, Ohio, Hocking County, Ohio, United States. It is pa ...

* Sears Woods State Nature Preserve *

Seymour Woods State Nature Preserve Seymour may refer to: Places Australia *Seymour, Victoria, a township **Seymour railway station *Electoral district of Seymour, a former electoral district in Victoria *Rural City of Seymour, a former local government area in Victoria *Seymou ...

* Shallenberger State Nature Preserve * Sharon Woods Gorge State Nature Preserve * Sheepskin Hollow State Nature Preserve * Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve * Shoemaker State Nature Preserve * Siegenthaler-Kaestner Esker State Nature Preserve * Smith Cemetery Prairie State Nature Preserve * Solon Woods State Nature Preserve * Springville Marsh State Nature Preserve *

Stage's Pond State Nature Preserve Stage's Pond State Nature Preserve is a nature preserve with ponds in Walnut Township, Pickaway County, Ohio. The State Nature Preserve is located at 4792 Hagerty Road, north of the county seat of Circleville. The preserve was dedicated on ...

* Stratford Woods State Nature Preserve * Swamp Cottonwood State Nature Preserve * Thomas (Sharon Woods) State Nature Preserve * Tinker's Creek State Nature Preserve * Triangle Lake Bog State Nature Preserve * Tucker (Blacklick) State Nature Preserve * Tummonds State Nature Preserve * Wahkeena State Nature Preserve * Whipple State Nature Preserve * Zimmerman Prairie State Nature Preserve

Metroparks

A number of

regional park A regional park is an area of land preserved on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, recreational use or other reason, and under the administration of a form of local government. Definition A regional park can be a special park distr ...

districts have been organized in Ohio: *

Cleveland Metroparks Cleveland Metroparks is an extensive system of nature preserves in Greater Cleveland, Ohio. Eighteen reservations, which largely encircle the city of Cleveland, follow along the shore of Lake Erie and the rivers and creeks that flow through th ...

br>
* Metro Parks (Columbus, Ohio), Columbus and Franklin County Metropolitan Park Districtbr>
*

Erie MetroParks Erie MetroParks was formed as the "Erie County Metropolitan Park District" in 1968 and adopted its current name in 1991. It consists of 14 individual park areas located throughout Erie County in the US state of Ohio covering approximately . It ...

br>
* Five Rivers Metroparks (

Dayton Dayton () is a city in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of cities in Ohio, sixth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 137,644 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Dayton metro ...

Geauga County Park District The Geauga Park District, among the Ohio Metroparks, manages a system of nature preserves scattered throughout Geauga County, Ohio. The network of 22 open parks, as well as preserves and future parks, encompass more than and includes 60+ miles o ...

br>
* Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park Districtbr>
* Lake Metroparksbr>
* Stark County Park District * Tuscarawas County Park Department * Lorain County Metro Parksbr>
* Metro Parks, Serving Summit Countybr>
* MetroParks of Butler Countybr>
*

Metroparks of the Toledo Area Metroparks Toledo, officially the Metropolitan Park District of the Toledo Area, is a public park district consisting of parks, nature preserves, a botanical garden, trail network and historic battlefield in Lucas County, Ohio. Founded during ...

br>
* Mill Creek MetroParksbr>
*

Great Parks of Hamilton County Great Parks of Hamilton County is the park district of Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. It was established in 1930, opening its first park, Sharon Woods, in 1932. It was known as the Hamilton County Park District until 2014. The park syste ...

Other significant local areas

Arc of Appalachia Highlands Sanctuary, Inc. is a nonprofit organization which operates under the dba (doing business as) of The Arc of Appalachia Preserve System. The Arc of Appalachia has been in operation since 1995, working to create and steward nature preserves ...

* Athens Conservancy preserves, in

Athens County, Ohio Athens County is a county in southeastern Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 62,431. Its county seat and largest city is Athens. The county was formed in 1805 from Washington County. Because Ohio's first state university, Ohio ...

* Crane Hollow Nature Preserve,

Hocking County, Ohio Hocking County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,050. Its county seat is Logan. The county was organized on March 1, 1818, from land previously included in Athens, Fairfield, and Ross ...

* Edge of Appalachia Preserve, in

Adams County, Ohio Adams County is a county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,477. Its county seat and largest village is West Union. The county is named after John Adams, the second President of the United States. Geogr ...

* Highlands Sanctuary, centered in

Highland County, Ohio Highland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 43,317. Its county seat is Hillsboro. The county is named for the topography which is hilly and divides the watersheds of the Little M ...

Moonville Rail-Trail King Switch Tunnel The Moonville Rail-Trail is a ten-mile (16 kilometer) rail-trail in southeast Ohio, located in Vinton and Athens Counties. It is largely embedded in the Zaleski State Forest and passes close to Lake Hope State Park. The tr ...

, a

rail-trail A rail trail or railway walk is a shared-use path on a railway right of way. Rail trails are typically constructed after a railway has been abandoned and the track has been removed but may also share the rail corridor with active railways, li ...

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

and Vinton Counties * Strouds Ridge Preserve, City of

Athens, Ohio Athens is a city in Athens County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. The population was 23,849 at the 2020 United States census. Located along the Hocking River within Appalachian Ohio about southeast of Columbus, Ohio, Columbus, Athe ...

* Trimble Community Forest in

* The Wilds (

Muskingum County, Ohio Muskingum County ( ) is a county located in the east-central portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 86,410. Its county seat is Zanesville. Nearly bisected by the Muskingum River, the county name is ba ...

)

References

*Art Weber. ''Ohio State Parks''. Saginaw, Michigan: Glovebox Guidebooks, 1995. .

External links

Ohio State Parks
{{DEFAULTSORT:Protected Areas Of Ohio

Protected areas Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural or cultural values. Protected areas are those areas in which human presence or the exploitation of natural resources (e.g. firewoo ...