Sometimes, you just need a little break from it all.
Your everyday routine can get overwhelming—or sometimes just plain boring—and that’s when seeking some solace in nature or quiet places is just what you need. The following are 10 of the most peaceful places you can go in Ohio when you need a break from it all. See how many you’ve been to before and what other places you’d add:
- Johnson Woods State Nature Preserve (Marshallville)
Ohio Hiking Trails and Historical Sites./Facebook Tucked away in Wayne County, you’ll find more than 200 acres of some of Ohio’s oldest trees at Johnson Woods State Nature Preserve. The all boardwalk trail system makes the preserve easy to explore. You can either take the Short Loop or Long Loop. It’s located at 13240 Fox Lake Rd., Marshallville, OH 44645.
- Mount Jeez (Monroe Township)
arlenesenser/Flickr Within the Mohican Hills in Monroe Township, you’ll find one of Ohio’s most stunning summits. At 1,310 ft. tall, Mount Jeez offers a wide open, beautiful view of Ohio’s countryside. (You can find the path for Mount Jeez Overlook off of Pleasant Valley Road.)
- Peaceful Acres Lavender Farm (Martinsville)
Peaceful Acres Lavender Farm/Facebook Tucked away in a small town in southwest Ohio, you’ll find this peaceful oasis. It’s a great destination for a unique day trip in the late spring and mid-summer months. During late spring, summer and fall, u-pick is available for visitors for a small fee. It’s a lovely, refreshing way to spend the day. Peaceful Acres Lavender Farm is located at 2387 Martinsville Rd., Martinsville, OH 45146.
- Lake Hope State Park (McArthur)
Erica Cherup/Flickr Surrounded by the Zaleski State Forest and centered on Lake Hope is this gorgeous 2,983-acre state park. (Legend has it, its historic Hope Furnace is haunted.) You’ll find this serene state park at 27331 OH-278, McArthur, OH 45651.
- Highlands Nature Sanctuary (Bainbridge)
Arc of Appalachia/Wikimedia Commons Once a sacred spot to the Shawnee and Iroquois tribes, this 2,200-acre tract in Ross County is one of only a few privately owned state nature preserves in Ohio. You can find it at 7660 Cave Rd, Bainbridge, OH 45612.
- Wayne National Forest (various locations)
U.S. Forest Service-Wayne National Forest/Facebook Encompassing more than a quarter million acres of Appalachian foothills, this national forest stretches across 12 counties in southeast Ohio. (Many acres are under private ownership.) At Wayne National Forest, you can explore the diverse landscape, plants, wildlife, rivers, lakes and hiking trails. Fishing, primitive camping and geocaching are popular activities here.
- Glen Helen Nature Preserve (Yellow Springs)
JR P/Flickr You’ll find the small town of Yellow Springs’ official “Yellow Spring” (which actually looks more orange than yellow) at the Glen Helen Nature Preserve. The nature preserve covers 1,000 acres and features a 25-mile network of footpaths that allows visitors to observe 400-year-old trees, limestone cliffs with waterfalls and overhangs and more. It is located at 405 Corry St., Yellow Springs, OH 45387.
- Mineral Springs Lake (Peebles)
Mineral Springs Lake Resort Peebles Ohio/Facebook Tucked away in Adams County, you’ll find the hidden gem of Mineral Springs Lake, a picturesque lake fed by natural spring water that’s loaded with nature’s healthy minerals. The lake covers more than 100 aces with five and a half miles of peaceful shoreline. It is surrounded by approximately 500 acres of serene nature. Mineral Springs Lake is located at 160 Bluegill Rd., Peebles, OH 45660.
- Edge of Appalachia Nature Preserve (West Union)
Keith Robinson/Flickr The Edge of Appalachia Preserve in Adams County is best known for its biological diversity, steep cliffs and the Wilderness Trail; a 2 1/2-mile loop that’s perfect for a one-day hike. It’s located at 4274 Waggoner Riffle Rd., West Union, OH 45693.
- Mosquito Lake State Park (Cortland)
MissMessie/Flickr You’ll find more than 2,000 acres to explore, a stunning lake and peaceful marshes here. (Trust us; this park doesn’t feature more mosquitoes than the average park, in spite of its name.) Mosquito Lake State Park is located at 1439 Wilson Sharpsville Rd., Cortland, OH 44410.
What other places would you add to this list? Let us know!
Ohio Hiking Trails and Historical Sites./Facebook
Tucked away in Wayne County, you’ll find more than 200 acres of some of Ohio’s oldest trees at Johnson Woods State Nature Preserve. The all boardwalk trail system makes the preserve easy to explore. You can either take the Short Loop or Long Loop. It’s located at 13240 Fox Lake Rd., Marshallville, OH 44645.
arlenesenser/Flickr
Within the Mohican Hills in Monroe Township, you’ll find one of Ohio’s most stunning summits. At 1,310 ft. tall, Mount Jeez offers a wide open, beautiful view of Ohio’s countryside. (You can find the path for Mount Jeez Overlook off of Pleasant Valley Road.)
Peaceful Acres Lavender Farm/Facebook
Tucked away in a small town in southwest Ohio, you’ll find this peaceful oasis. It’s a great destination for a unique day trip in the late spring and mid-summer months. During late spring, summer and fall, u-pick is available for visitors for a small fee. It’s a lovely, refreshing way to spend the day. Peaceful Acres Lavender Farm is located at 2387 Martinsville Rd., Martinsville, OH 45146.
Erica Cherup/Flickr
Surrounded by the Zaleski State Forest and centered on Lake Hope is this gorgeous 2,983-acre state park. (Legend has it, its historic Hope Furnace is haunted.) You’ll find this serene state park at 27331 OH-278, McArthur, OH 45651.
Arc of Appalachia/Wikimedia Commons
Once a sacred spot to the Shawnee and Iroquois tribes, this 2,200-acre tract in Ross County is one of only a few privately owned state nature preserves in Ohio. You can find it at 7660 Cave Rd, Bainbridge, OH 45612.
U.S. Forest Service-Wayne National Forest/Facebook
Encompassing more than a quarter million acres of Appalachian foothills, this national forest stretches across 12 counties in southeast Ohio. (Many acres are under private ownership.) At Wayne National Forest, you can explore the diverse landscape, plants, wildlife, rivers, lakes and hiking trails. Fishing, primitive camping and geocaching are popular activities here.
JR P/Flickr
You’ll find the small town of Yellow Springs’ official “Yellow Spring” (which actually looks more orange than yellow) at the Glen Helen Nature Preserve. The nature preserve covers 1,000 acres and features a 25-mile network of footpaths that allows visitors to observe 400-year-old trees, limestone cliffs with waterfalls and overhangs and more. It is located at 405 Corry St., Yellow Springs, OH 45387.
Mineral Springs Lake Resort Peebles Ohio/Facebook
Tucked away in Adams County, you’ll find the hidden gem of Mineral Springs Lake, a picturesque lake fed by natural spring water that’s loaded with nature’s healthy minerals. The lake covers more than 100 aces with five and a half miles of peaceful shoreline. It is surrounded by approximately 500 acres of serene nature. Mineral Springs Lake is located at 160 Bluegill Rd., Peebles, OH 45660.
Keith Robinson/Flickr
The Edge of Appalachia Preserve in Adams County is best known for its biological diversity, steep cliffs and the Wilderness Trail; a 2 1/2-mile loop that’s perfect for a one-day hike. It’s located at 4274 Waggoner Riffle Rd., West Union, OH 45693.
MissMessie/Flickr
You’ll find more than 2,000 acres to explore, a stunning lake and peaceful marshes here. (Trust us; this park doesn’t feature more mosquitoes than the average park, in spite of its name.) Mosquito Lake State Park is located at 1439 Wilson Sharpsville Rd., Cortland, OH 44410.
For more peaceful destinations in Ohio, check out our previous article: This Might Just Be The Most Peaceful Town In All Of Ohio.
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