HomeOhioSugar Grove › Wahkeena Nature Preserve

Wahkeena Nature Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 252 Google reviews · Running trail in Sugar Grove, Ohio · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Wahkeena 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.

BoardwalkScenicDog-friendlyHillyRestroomsTrailhead parkingMile markersQuiet

What runners say about Wahkeena Nature Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (252 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“but they gladly accept donations to help keep the grounds and trails in great condition.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“Delightful place with a few scenic trails and a very cool little office/visitor center full of neat animals (living and preserved).”

🪧 well-marked 3 mentions

“The trails here are very well marked and you can get a trail map at the trailhead.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“Perfect for quiet solo hikes, as well as for educational family visits.”

This place is cool and worth the trip no matter where you are. The trails are perfect. The trails now are controlled in the direction to walk, so keep a distance is very easy. There are all kinds of things to see here, birds, frogs, turtles, all kinds of bugs flying around. The rocks and boulders are really cool too.

★★★★★ — Kurt , Aug 2020

A gem hidden along the busy route 33 highway in Sugar Grove. Easy to moderate trails and wildlife and fauna of all sorts to feast your eyes on. Due to the COVID-19 the trails have been marked as one way to insure proper distancing for all hikers.

★★★★★ — Ed , Jul 2020

This is an absolute gem of a place. Of note, this is a Nature Preserve. As with all Nature Preserves in Ohio, there are no pets permitted and you cannot fish there. They also have signs that advise on rules of the Preserve that also advise no picnics and you cannot pick flowers/plants.

★★★★★ — Nicole , May 2023

The trails here are very well marked and you can get a trail map at the trailhead. The terrain is very steep in places but the trails around the cabins and ponds are easy with beautiful scenery.

★★★★★ — Rjd , Nov 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 252 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.

⛰️ Hills / elevation 8 mentions

“The terrain is very steep in places but the trails around the cabins and ponds are easy with beautiful scenery.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 7 mentions

“Delightful place with a few scenic trails and a very cool little office/visitor center full of neat animals (living and preserved).”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 5 mentions

“The parking lot is pretty spacious and there are two Porta Potty near the parking lot.”

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🚻 Restrooms 4 mentions

“The parking lot is pretty spacious and there are two Porta Potty near the parking lot.”

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📏 Mile markers 4 mentions

“The staff also told me that the trail map is updated every few months because they relocate the trail markers.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“There is no fishing, picnicking, or dog walking allowed here.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Perfect for quiet solo hikes, as well as for educational family visits.”

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🪵 Boardwalk

“There were 2 or 3 easy hiking trails, a boardwalk through a wetlands area, and a little cabin with employees available to answer questions.”

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Plan your run at Wahkeena Nature Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
  • 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
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitewahkeenanaturepreserve.com
  • Phone(800) 297-1883

Hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 8 AM–4:30 PM
Thursday 8 AM–4:30 PM
Friday 8 AM–4:30 PM
Saturday 8 AM–4:30 PM
Sunday 8 AM–4:30 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 Wahkeena Nature Preserve

2200 Pump Station Rd SE, Sugar Grove, OH 43155

Get directions

Running trails near Sugar Grove

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

Clear Creek Metro Park

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Alley Park

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Public park featuring picnic areas and a covered bridge, plus trails, a pond, and canoeing.

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Clear Creek Metro Park

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Protected area of woodland, ravines & sandstone cliffs, popular for hiking, fishing & picnics.

3.7 miles away

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Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve

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Hike or walk along a network of trails at this forested nature preserve, which has a covered bridge.

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Two Glaciers Park

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4.9 miles away

All running trails in Sugar Grove, OH →

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.