Lawrence Woods State Nature Preserve–Prairie

Ohio Birding Day Hike
Lawrence Woods Trails

Tips for birding the Lawrence Woods Prairie
The prairie habitat at Lawrence Woods is right behind the signs in the parking lot and goes out along the woods to the fence row. This is a good place to watch for Short-eared Owls in the winter.
From Steve Jones

About Lawrence Woods State Nature Preserve
+ Exceptional large trees; oaks, hickories, maples, and beech
+ Good spring wildflowers

Lawrence Woods is significant because it is the largest known mature forest in this region and is home to a number of rare plant and animal species. Lawrence Woods features exceptional large trees; oaks, hickories, maples, and beech; good spring wildflowers. Several plant community types are present within the forested area depending on the elevation. The highest and driest sites have an oak-hickory forest type. On the slightly less dry ground, the community grades into beech-maple, beech-oak-red maple, and maple-ash-oak swamp communities.

The forest has large trees of many species including white, yellow, red and bur oaks, as well as beech, white ash, shagbark hickory, red maple, sugar maple, and sycamore. There are substantial buttonbush swamps within the forest in areas which are inundated for most of the year. Heart-leaf plantain (Plantago cordata) occurs in Lawrence Woods. This species is only known from three sites in the state and is an endangered species. Grove sandwort (Arenaria lateriflora), a state-listed species, may be seen along the boardwalk. This is an excellent spot for viewing spring wildflowers.

Located in Hardin County, about 4 miles south of Kenton. From OH-31 bear right onto OH-292 and then turn west onto County Road 190. The Woods Boardwalk trail begins near the northwest corner of the woods. The Prairie Path trail leaves behind the sign in the parking lot.
From Lawrence Woods State Nature Preserve webpage

No restroom facilities.

The boardwalk trail is wheelchair accessible.