The Plains Preserve (16.4 acres) was established in 2009-2010 to provide right-of-way for a bike path link from the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway to Athens High School and the community of The Plains. This preserve also protects Eclipse Run.  Land acquisition funding was provided by two grants from the Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program.

Eclipse Run is a perennial stream, which is unusual for the small size of both the stream and its drainage area. However, The Plains is built on a large glacial outwash terrace, a flat area of unconsolidated (non-rock) sediments. This terrace acts like a giant sponge holding water, which drains out year-round, maintaining the flow in Eclipse Run, even in the summer when most Athens County streams of this size dry up.

The Plains Preserve can be accessed via the High School Spur of the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway, which runs the length of the preserve. There is parking at both ends of the 0.7-mile long spur — at Athens High School and Eclipse Company Store, both of which are easily found with Google Maps. The southeast end of the preserve is at the junction of Johnson Rd. and Jackson Dr. The northwest end is at a small parking lot along the high school entrance drive where it meets Johnson Road.

Use iNaturalist to help document plants, mushrooms, insects, birds, mammals, and more in The Plains Preserve!

Volunteer Preserve Steward: Sabra Robinson