Field Notes Ohio

Ohio's parks, forests and wildlife areas with camping, the ancient mounds beside them, and the Buckeye Trail that links them. Stories, trails, wildlife, and where to eat and fuel up nearby. Book campsites on ReserveOhio.
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The Buckeye TrailA 1,444-mile blue-blazed loop around Ohio, with all 26 sections.
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Mounds & Earthworks43 ancient sites, including the Great Serpent Mound and the Newark Earthworks.
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Historic Sites39 places, from Fort Steuben and Zoar to Camp Chase and the Rankin House, from the frontier to the Civil War.
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Road Trips33 drives, from the Lincoln Highway to the Morgan Heritage Trail.
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Lake Erie Beaches20 public beaches from Conneaut to Toledo and the islands, with a map.
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Oddities & Roadside Attractions19 giants, ghosts and folk-art stops, plus a Mothman just over the line.
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Caves & Caverns12 show caverns, recess caves and rock shelters, with a map.
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Waterfalls34 falls from the Cuyahoga Valley to the Hocking Hills, with trail notes and a map.
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Explore Ohio

One map for every park, mound, historic site, beach, cave, waterfall and oddity in the app.

Lake ErieWest Virginia27 places277 places77 places73 places35 places519 places1913 places1319 places1916 places168 places810 places1010 places109 places98 places820 places204 places43 places3Barkcamp State Park4 places47 places77 places76 places69 places917 places173 places3Harrison Lake State Park2 places2Forked Run State Park3 places32 places26 places610 places103 places32 places2

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117 parks in 7 regions

Davis Memorial State Nature Preserve

Adams County · Southern Ohio
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
122acres
—trail miles
—established

Visiting information you can trust

Content last reviewed
September 2026 — this is when Field Notes Ohio's content was last checked, not a live status.
Primary official source
ODNR park finder (search this park)
Location confidence
Verified property location
Davis Memorial State Nature Preserve, 3677 Davis Rd, Peebles
Check current conditions
Official conditions or closures
Hunting or permits
Hunting is not permitted in state nature preserves.

Prices, hours, closures, campsite availability and trail conditions shown elsewhere on this page are not live — always confirm with the official source before you go.

The story of this land

Davis Memorial State Nature Preserve covers about 122 acres in Adams County, in the part of southern Ohio where the Appalachian plateau meets the Bluegrass region, one of the state's richest areas for plants and rare species. The Buckeye Trail's Shawnee Section passes the Copperhead Fire Tower, Davis Memorial State Nature Preserve and Ohio River overlooks on its way through Shawnee State Forest, Shawnee State Park and the Edge of Appalachia preserve system.

Little detail is published about the preserve itself; the entry rests on ODNR's acreage list and the trail association's route description. The section ends on Nature Conservancy footpath near Lynx and Rome.

Things to do in the park

  • Hike the Buckeye Trail through the preserve
  • Look for wildflowers in spring
  • Climb to the Copperhead Fire Tower on the same section

Trails

Maps, reviews and recent trail reports for Davis Memorial State Nature Preserve.

Find trails on AllTrails →

Things to do nearby

  • Shawnee State Forest and State Park
  • The Great Serpent Mound and Fort Hill
  • The other Edge of Appalachia preserves

Hiking trails

The Buckeye Trail's Shawnee Section passes through the area.

Wildlife you might see

  • Diverse forest and bluff plants of the Edge of Appalachia
  • Woodland birds
  • Steep hollows and ridges

Fishing

  • Fishing is not a feature of the preserve.

Hunting

Hunting is not permitted in state nature preserves.

Waterfalls near Davis Memorial State Nature Preserve

Falls inside or within reach of this park. Stay behind railings and on marked trails; wet rock is slick in every season.

Cedar Falls at Edge of Appalachia

West Union · Adams County
A 15 foot limestone cascade in the Edge of Appalachia preserve, on a trail opened to hikers in 2020.
15 ftModerate hike
About 8 miles from this park

The Buckeye Trail at Davis Memorial State Nature Preserve

Ohio's 1,444-mile blue-blazed loop passes through or beside this park. Tap a section for its route, camping, water and resupply.

13 Shawnee Section

56 miles · Adams, Scioto
Nature preserve on the route
Remote3 parks

Camping is not allowed in the preserve. There are no towns on this section of the trail, so carry your food and water.

Where to camp nearby

Shawnee State Park Campground
Full campground with a lodge on the Little Smokies
Directions

Restaurants nearby

Mi Camino Real
Mexican food with big portions; open daily
Directions
Mikey's Family Restaurant
Old-school diner breakfasts and country cooking; closed Tuesday
Directions
T-Burgs Diner
Hand-patty burgers and shakes; closed Sunday
Directions

Gas stations nearby

West Union 1st Stop
Convenience store and gas, open daily
Directions
West Union 1st Stop (south)
Second location with a deli and fresh cookies
Directions

Details last checked 2026-09-22. Confirm hours and prices before you go.