Siegenthaler-Kaestner Esker State Nature Preserve

Siegenthaler-Kaestner Esker State Nature Preserve is a protected natural area in Champaign County featuring sandy and gravelly ridges created by ancient glacial activity. The site displays multiple glacial landforms that reveal how ice age processes shaped the terrain.

These glacial landforms took shape between 11,000 and 25,000 years ago as ice-walled streams deposited sediment during the Wisconsin glaciation. The retreating ice left behind the distinctive ridge and depression patterns visible today.

The land serves as an educational site where students and researchers study the geological processes that shaped the Ohio landscape during the last ice age.

Walking paths guide visitors through the preserve to various viewpoints where the glacial features are most visible. The terrain is uneven with sand and gravel underfoot, so sturdy footwear is advisable.

The preserve holds three distinct glacial landforms in a small area: an esker, a kame, and a kettle, which is rare to find all together. This combination demonstrates different processes left behind by ice age activity.

Location: Ohio

Website: https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/siegenthalerkaestner-esker-state-nature-preserve

GPS coordinates: 40.22810,-83.85530

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:47