HomeOhioWest Liberty › Owens Fen State Nature Preserve

Owens Fen State Nature Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 9 Google reviews · Running trail in West Liberty, Ohio · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Owens Fen State Nature Preserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

RestroomsTrailhead parking

What runners say about Owens Fen State Nature Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (9 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

This is a small (19 acre) state nature preserve managed by Ohio DNR. The site was officially off-limits to the general public for years, requiring a permit to visit. No more. Now it is open to public visitation during daylight hours.

★★★★★ — Jeremy , Jan 2018

It’s a nice little preserve. There’s a point not long into the walk that comes to a small brook and on the other side of a knocked down fence is more trails. I’m not sure if this is private property or not because the trail circle ends at someone’s backyard. Either way, a nice place for a short walk

★★★★★ — Isaac , Jun 2022

Straight walk from parking area, around a corner to a dead end. You could hear water but not see much Grass was mowed well on path. Definitely buggy, but it's a fen!

★★★★☆ — Kami , Sep 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 9 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“There is a small grass parking area off of TR 192 just north of the railroad viaduct.”

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🚻 Restrooms

“This is not a developed site, so there is no bathroom, interpretive signage, etc.”

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Plan your run at Owens Fen State Nature Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • Websiteohiodnr.gov
  • Phone(614) 265-6453
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–8 PM
Thursday 6 AM–8 PM
Friday 6 AM–8 PM
Saturday 6 AM–8 PM
Sunday 6 AM–8 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Owens Fen State Nature Preserve

West Liberty, Ohio

Get directions

Running trails near West Liberty

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

West Liberty Trailhead, Simon Kenton Trail

4.3 ★★★★☆ 28 reviews

West Liberty, OH

Crushed gravelScenic

under a mile away

McCracken Fen State Nature Preserve

4.4 ★★★★☆ 36 reviews

Bellefontaine, OH

BoardwalkScenic

3.4 miles away

Southview Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 208 reviews

Bellefontaine, OH

Paved

Park offering baseball diamonds and soccer fields, plus basketball courts, a track and playgrounds.

6.0 miles away

Bellefontaine Trailhead, Simon Kenton Trail

4.4 ★★★★☆ 52 reviews

Bellefontaine, OH

Crushed gravelShadedLit

6.4 miles away

Bellefontaine Parks & Rec Department

4.1 ★★★★☆ 50 reviews

Bellefontaine, OH

Children-friendly park good for taking a walk.

7.2 miles away

Kaliedoscope Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 223 reviews

Bellefontaine, OH

Recreational area with a playground, picnic tables, basketball and tennis courts, and disc golf.

7.6 miles away

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Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.