Lawrence Woods State Nature Preserve–Woods Boardwalk
Woods Boardwalk
Kenton, Ohio 43226
Lawrence Woods State Nature Preserve webpage
Short-eared Owls at Lawrence Woods
Also, see Lawrence Woods State Nature Preserve
Lawrence Woods Important Bird Area
Hardin County Birding Drive
eBird Bar Charts by Season
Entire Year
eBird Hotspot
Lawrence Woods State Nature Preserve–Woods Boardwalk
Coordinates: 40.5671416, -83.6219215
eBird links: Hotspot map – View details – Recent visits
My eBird links: Location life list – Submit data
Ohio Birding Day Hike
Lawrence Woods Trails
Tips for birding Woods Boardwalk
The Woods Boardwalk trail begins near the northwest corner of the woods adjacent to the parking lot.
Tips for birding Lawrence Woods
The fields surrounding the parking area near the boardwalk provide good habitat for Short-eared Owls in the winter. Watch for the owls flying over the fields just after sunset.
From Ken Ostermiller
About Lawrence Woods State Nature Preserve
+ 1.1 mile boardwalk
+ 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.
