ADAMS LAKE PRAIRIE
STATE NATURE PRESERVE - 26 ACRES

Main Features:

Cedar barren prairie; good summer wildflowers and butterflies.

This sparsely vegetated xeric, or dry, cedar barren prairie is situated on a highly eroded slope of calcareous Crab Orchard Shale surrounded by a second-growth oak-hickory woodland. Red cedar, post oak and blackjack oak occur sporadically in the prairie opening.

Prairie grasses are sparse but the site supports one of the largest stands of prairie dock in Ohio. Some of the interesting plants found growing at this cedar barren prairie include spider milkweed, shooting-star, green milkweed, Carolina buckthorn, American aloe, slender blazing-star and large summer bluets.

Location:

Located in Adams County 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. A trail system with trail-side interpretive signs is present. Other visitor facilities including restrooms, drinking water and picnicking are available in the adjacent state park.