Gahanna Woods State Nature Preserve -59 acres

Main Feature:

Swamp forest with excellent spring wildflowers.

Gahanna Woods encompasses a variety of wooded and successional habitats in an urban setting. This preserve protects perhaps the best remaining complex of buttonbush swamps and vernal pools in central Ohio. A pin oak-silver maple swamp forest surrounds these woodland pools.

Mature oak-hickory and beech-maple communities occur on the higher and drier areas of the preserve. Numerous spring wildflowers can be found within these woods. Of significance are the yellow water-crowfoot, swamp saxifrage, wild hyacinth, skunk cabbage and several species of trillium. The only know population of cypress-knee sedge in Ohio occurs in one of the buttonbush swamps within Gahanna Woods.

The site is managed by the city of Gahanna Parks & Recreation Department.

Location:

Located in Franklin County 1.5 miles east of Gahanna on Havens Corners Rd, then .5 mile south on Taylor Station Rd to the parking area. Loop trails are present.