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Lake Katharine
State Nature Preserve

Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve at a Glance
Note: All Ohio state nature preserves prohibit dogs, hunting and fishing. A permit is always needed to go to any area off-trail.
Date established:1977
GPS coordinates
Main parking area:39.085907, -82.669624
Turnoff from Beaver Pike to Lake Katharine Road:39.061031, -82.673538
Dam:39.084866, -82.672950
Acreage (total):about 2,019 acres (817 hectares)
Water acreage (Lake Katharine):53.9 acres (21.8 hectares)
Miles of trails (foot only):5.5 miles (8.8 kilometers)
Hunting:No hunting allowed
Nearby natural areas: Hammertown Lake (City of Jackson)
Jisco Lake (City of Jackson)
Coalton Wildlife Area
Leo Petroglyphs State Memorial
Liberty Wildlife Area
Richland Furnace State Forest
Buckeye Furnace Mining Area Hunting Lands
Flint Run and Broken Aro Wildlife Areas
Lake Alma State Park
Wellston Wildlife Area
Superior Wildlife Area
Vinton Furnace Wildlife Area
Official website:http://naturepreserves.ohiodnr.gov/lakekatharine
2,019 acres (817 hectares) in Liberty Township, Jackson County, Ohio, northwest of Jackson, Ohio. This includes approximately 600 acres acquired since the preserve's original dedication in 1977. Six miles of trails are featured. This preserve is in a sandstone gorge system similar to the Hocking Hills area but smaller. The gorge system harbors several species of plants that are rare in southeastern Ohio. Unusual plants include the bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla), umbrella magnolia (Magnolia tripetala), and wolf's-foot clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum). The preserve borders the northwest border of the city of Jackson, Ohio. It includes a human-made lake that may be used by special permit, but only muscle-powered boating is allowed (and boats must be carried to the water).

From the state's official website: "Reservations for permits may be obtained by telephoning the preserve office (740-286-2487) on the LAST Friday of each month between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Each caller may make only one permit reservation per call and not more than one reservation in their name per month. Dates for the following month will be filled on a first call basis, until all available times have been reserved."

Trails at Lake Katharine

Calico Bush Trail
1 mile, along the south rim of the main gorge
Pine Ridge Trail
2 ½ miles, across the gorge, and on the south rim
Salt Creek Trail
2 miles, along Salt Creek, on the east side of the preserve - CURRENTLY CLOSED

Directions to Lake Katharine

To reach Lake Katharine, take OH-32 west from OH-682 37.7 miles to OH-93. Turn right off the ramp and go 1.3 miles through Jackson to Bridge Street, where 93 takes a right turn. Turn left (Bridge Street becomes State Street) and go 1.9 miles to Lake Katharine Road, immediately after a railroad crossing. Turn right and go 1.5 miles to the parking area. Total distance from downtown Athens: 45 miles.