Portland Arch Nature Preserve
Nature preserve
210 acres1.8 mi of trail
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the trailhead
Rob Roy Covered Bridge · Photo: Huw Williams (Huwmanbeing) · Public domain–Not graded
Outdoors in Shawnee Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Shawnee Township
The biggest trail networks: Portland Arch Nature Preserve (1.8 mi). 4% of Shawnee Township’s land is conserved, about 788 acres. 21 acres are parks and preserves, 32 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
4%
788 acres · of 34.7 sq mi of land
Trails
1.9 mi
0.1 per sq mi of land
Park land
21 ac
32 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
11%
of residents within ½ mile
Lakes & rivers
2
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Portland Arch Nature Preserve, with 1.8 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Who protects it
788 conserved acres
4% of Shawnee Township’s land. Who manages Shawnee Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State natural resources442 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)294 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits258 ac
Other state land32 ac
State Conservation Area · 700 acConservation Easement · 327 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 88 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 1 of 7 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shawnee Bottoms State Conservation Area | Land trusts & nonprofits | 258 | Open |
| Portland Arch Nature Preserve (Original) State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 255 | Restricted |
| Portland Arch - Sanders State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 144 | Restricted |
| Portland Arch Nature Preserve (Addition) State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 43 | Restricted |
Trails & water
2 lakes & rivers
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
History along the way
History →1 place on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 1 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Rob Roy Covered BridgeStructure · listed 2021
About itWhen to get out
August is the best month for walking in Shawnee Township
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.6 | 10.6 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 14.4 | 15.0 | 14.8 | 13.7 | 12.4 | 11.1 | 9.9 | 9.3 |
| High (°F) | 34 | 39 | 50 | 63 | 74 | 82 | 85 | 83 | 78 | 66 | 51 | 39 |
| Rain (in) | 2.5 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 2.5 |
February is the driest month (2.0 in) and July the warmest (highs of 85 °F). 4.9 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Shawnee Township →
Next door
Shawnee Township and its neighbors
Shawnee Township has the second most mapped trails of the 4 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawnee Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Logan Township | 1% | 0.1 | 21 | 90% | C+ |
| Van Buren Township | under 1% | under 0.1 | 1 | 2% | D− |
| Troy Township | 3% | 0.1 | 10 | 35% | C |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Shawnee Township
Where can I hike in Shawnee Township?
The longest trail networks: Portland Arch Nature Preserve, 1.8 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Shawnee Township’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at Portland Arch Nature Preserve (on leash). For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Shawnee Township?
567 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Shawnee Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 21 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Shawnee Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →