A Bit Of An Unexpected Natural Wonder, Few People Know There Are Native Praries Hiding Beyond Cleveland
By Nikki Rhoades|Published April 25, 2023
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
We may know Cleveland as Forest City, but there’s a vast world of ecological wonder just beyond the metropolitan area. In fact, all of Ohio hides an array of wonder, but much of its more unique landmarks are close enough to Cleveland for a road trip. We have sand dunes, beaches, glacial grooves, and more within driving distance… but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are also native prairies near Cleveland, and these are truly spectacular. Why, you ask? Because over 99% of Ohio’s natural prairies have been lost to development and agriculture, but a few gems still exist. Today, we’re going to take a virtual visit to one that’s about an hour and a half away from home. It makes for an excellent road trip, especially if you’re a nature lover. Check it out:
You've just discovered a world where every view looks like a real-life watercolor.
Though Ohio's prairies are a bit of a hike from Cleveland, they're well worth a visit. Today, only a fraction of the state's indigenous prairies still exist, but 1,500 square miles of prairie once covered the state before human encroachment nearly wiped them out.
This splendor hides in Daughmer Prairie Savannah State Nature Preserve, a tiny remnant of the old Sandusky Plains.
Daughmer Prairie Savannah State Nature Preserve is a small portion of a landscape that once stretched across 200,000 acres. Sadly, only 74 acres of the Sandusky Plains remain today, but a majority of that exists right here in the state nature preserve.
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This beautiful landscape is something called an oak savanna, and Daughmer Savannah is one of the loveliest in the country.
This lightly forested grassland is a bit of an oddity in this part of the country. In fact, oak savannas typically only exist in quantity in a few regions. Isolated pockets like this do exist throughout the Great Lakes region, both on the American and Canadian side of the border.
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Interestingly, nature maintains prairies like this with fire.
How do prairies stay prairies? Stray lightning strikes and other natural forces burn the grassland, allowing trees with high tolerance for heat (like oaks) to survive. This prevents forests from growing in the landscape, maintaining a grassy environment that endures for generations. To keep this landscape rich, periodic controlled burns are part of the preserve's caretaking regimen.
Hikers along the one-mile trail will pass 200-year-old bur oaks that are downright majestic.
This stunning flower can exist as far north as Canada, but it is most common in the central portion of the United States. This beauty exists in tall grass prairies across the nation, and it's a favorite flower of many visitors.
Due to the presence of threatened species like Bicknell’s sedge, pets are not permitted at this state nature preserve.
Unfortunately, Fido will have to settle for hikes in the Cleveland Metroparks. Pets are prohibited in state nature preserves, as these properties protect delicate natural resources. However, if you enjoy your visit to this park, there are several other native prairies in Ohio that you can add to future bucket lists.
And you'll want to leave nothing behind but footprints, because this landscape has been painstakingly preserved over generations.
Five generations of the namesake Daughmer family protected this beautiful landscape. Unfortunately, it's a rare landscape as a result... many other oak savannas in Ohio have been lost over time.
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Bring your camera and keep your eyes peeled, because you never know what kind of splendor is awaiting discovery!
This landscape is a time capsule, offering visitors a glimpse into a world Ohio hasn't seen in ages. You'll love exploring this indigenous landscape and discovering all the beautiful plants and creatures that call it home.
This unique Ohio prairie is well worth a road trip from Cleveland.
Navigate to 700 Marion-Melmore Rd, Bucyrus, OH 44820 to find this beautiful stretch of Ohio prairie.
Native prairies near Cleveland are unfortunately few and far between, but this natural splendor is accessible via a quick road trip. Who will you be taking to this state nature preserve? Tag them in the comments to start planning your trip!
