Oak Openings Preserve Metropark

Oak Openings Preserve is a nature reserve covering about 4,300 acres with oak savanna, wetlands, and sand dunes supporting diverse plant and animal communities. The landscape shifts between different habitat types, each supporting particular species adapted to those conditions.

Indigenous peoples hunted and gathered in this region for centuries before European settlers arrived in the 1800s and named it Oak Openings. The name referred to the scattered oak trees that dominated the open landscape.

The Beuhner Center serves as a learning hub where visitors encounter exhibits and programs about local wildlife and how ecosystems work. People come here to understand the natural world and why protecting these spaces matters today.

The preserve offers about 50 miles of marked trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, with different routes for each activity. Wear sturdy footwear and check conditions before your visit, as weather can affect trail accessibility.

The preserve contains roughly one-third of Ohio's rare plants, including prickly pear cactus and wild lupine flourishing in the sandy soils. The Nature Conservancy recognizes it as globally important for this reason.