The Ridges
Managed by Ohio University
750 acres7.6 mi of trail
Ora Anderson Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: OHIO fan at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0B+Outdoors
Outdoors in Athens Township
7% of Athens Township’s land is conserved: 1,631 acres
The biggest trail networks: The Ridges (7.6 mi), Strouds Ridge Preserve COAD Tract (1.8 mi), Sells Park (1 mi). 82% of residents live within a half mile of a park. 20 miles of mapped trail cross Athens Township, 0.5 per square mile of land.
Ahead of 74% of U.S. towns · #215 of 993 in Ohio. What drives it
Conserved land
7%
1,631 acres · of 36.6 sq mi of land
Trails
20 mi
0.5 per sq mi of land
Park land
524 ac
18 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
82%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
28 mi
3.4 mi lanes · 15 mi paths
Highest peak
900 ft
Radar Hill
Lakes & rivers
10
1 boat launch
What kind of outdoors town is Athens Township?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Athens Township have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Athens Township is ahead of 74% of U.S. towns, #215 of 993 in Ohio. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; conserved land ranks highest, park acres per resident lowest.
B+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Athens Township’s overall grade.
Conserved land7% of the land · typical OH town 3% · U.S. 4%B+Trails0.5 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (20 mi) · OH 0.2 · U.S. 0.4B+Park land18 acres of park per 1,000 residents (524 acres) · OH 15 · U.S. 13BParks close to home82% of residents within a half mile of a park · OH 60% · U.S. 72%B+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 74%
LessMore
Ohio towns of 2,500+ (993)Ahead of 78%
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would still be B+. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
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 The Ridges, with 7.6 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Strouds Ridge Preserve COAD Tract
Managed by City of Athens
70 acres1.8 mi of trail
Rockhouse TrailPaw Paw TrailBasswood TrailAthens Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Sells Park
Managed by City of Athens
44 acres1 mi of trail
Rockhouse TrailAthens TrailSourwood ConnectorRedbud Trail+1
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
Riddle State Nature Preserve
Managed by Ohio Department of Natural Resources
114 acres0.9 mi of trail
Athens TrailRockhouse TrailAthens Trail Alternate RouteSourwood Connector
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
Camp Rotan
Park
13 acres0.6 mi of trail
Camp Rotan Trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
East State Street Park
Park
63 acres0.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Mary Beth Zak Lohse Nature Preserve
Managed by Athens Conservancy
220 acres0.4 mi of trail
Mary Beth Zak Lohse Art Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
All 24 parks & preserves
The Ridges750 acres · 7.6 mi of trail · Ohio University
DirectionsStrouds Ridge Preserve COAD Tract70 acres · 1.8 mi of trail · City of Athens
DirectionsSells Park44 acres · 1 mi of trail · City of Athens
DirectionsRiddle State Nature Preserve114 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Ohio Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsCamp Rotan13 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
East State Street Park63 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsMary Beth Zak Lohse Nature Preserve220 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Athens Conservancy
DirectionsCollege Green7 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsWest State Street Park51 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsEmeriti Park6 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsPeach Preserve4 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Athens Conservancy
Bicentennial Park3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsBrookville Preserve18 acres · The Athens Convervancy
Dowler Preserve17 acres
Children's Home Tract16 acres · Athens County
The Plains Preserve15 acres · Athens Conservancy
DirectionsPlains Land Lab12 acres
DirectionsDairy Lane Park6 acres
DirectionsRichland Avenue Park6 acres
DirectionsThe Plains Community Park6 acres
DirectionsGawande Preserve5 acres
Plains Elementary Field4 acres
DirectionsTailGreat Park3 acres
DirectionsHighland Park2 acres
DirectionsWho protects it
1,631 conserved acres
7% of Athens Township’s land. Who manages Athens Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Private owners1,112 ac
State natural resources230 ac
Town or city125 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits114 ac
County38 ac
Other state land13 ac
Private Other or Unknown · 977 acState Conservation Area · 226 acLocal Recreation Area · 185 acPrivate Park · 135 acLocal Park · 79 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Electric Power - Poston Private Other or Unknown | Private owners | 977 | Open |
| Poston Plant Lands Wildlife Area State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 221 | Open |
| Athens Country Club Private Park | Private owners | 135 | Open |
| University Golf Course Local Recreation Area | Land trusts & nonprofits | 101 | Open |
| Athens County Fairgrounds Local Recreation Area | County | 38 | Open |
| West State Street Park Local Recreation Area | Town or city | 37 | Open |
| East State Street Park Local Park | Town or city | 34 | Open |
| Sells Park Local Park | Town or city | 23 | Open |
| The Plains Preserves Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 13 | Open |
| Camp Rotan Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 12 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
41 places to go in Athens Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Public pools in Athens Township
Athens Public PoolIn East State Street Park
DirectionsRiver Park Pool
DirectionsPlus 2 public pools without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Playgrounds in Athens Township
Richland ParkIn Richland Avenue Park
DirectionsWest State PlaygroundIn West State Street Park
DirectionsWest state Jungle GymIn West State Street Park
DirectionsPlus 18 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks in Athens Township
West State Dog ParkIn West State Street Park
DirectionsPlus 2 dog parks without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Athens Township
West State Street Canoe Portage
DirectionsWaterfalls in Athens Township
2 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Athens Township
Lookout PointIn Sells Park
DirectionsPlus 2 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Athens Township
Radar Hill900 ft elevation · In The Ridges
DirectionsSignal Hill860 ft elevation
DirectionsStage Mound Hill856 ft elevation
DirectionsBloemer Berg
DirectionsBong Hill
DirectionsWitches Hill
DirectionsDisc golf in Athens Township
Ohio University Disc Golf CourseOhio University
DirectionsTrails & water
15 named trails and 10 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 3.4 miUnpaved · 11.9 mi
Rockhouse Trail1.1 mi
Ora Anderson Trail1.0 mi
Athens Trail0.9 mi
Camp Rotan Trail0.5 mi
unofficial trail0.3 mi
Paw Paw Trail0.3 mi
Basswood Trail0.3 mi
Sourwood Connector0.2 mi
Athens Trail Alternate Route0.2 mi
Trace Trail0.1 mi
5 more trails
Redbud Trail
0.1 miMary Beth Zak Lohse Art Trail
0.1 miLookout Trail
0.1 miGillett Ridge Loop Trail
0.1 miAthens Trail & Rockhouse Trail
0.1 miBiking & sports
28 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
3.4 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
15 mi
off-road bike paths
10 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
14Baseball
13Tennis
8Basketball
5Soccer
4Football
4Beach volleyball
2Skate park
1Field hockey
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →15 places on the National Register, one a National Historic Landmark
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 8 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Hocking Valley Coal Company Town Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 2007
About it3 more on the History page.
When to get out
The best walking months in Athens Township: April and August
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) | 9.7 | 10.7 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 14.3 | 14.9 | 14.7 | 13.7 | 12.4 | 11.1 | 10.0 | 9.4 |
| High (°F) | 39 | 43 | 53 | 66 | 74 | 81 | 84 | 84 | 78 | 66 | 54 | 43 |
| Rain (in) | 3.1 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 3.2 |
November is the driest month (2.9 in) and July the warmest (highs of 84 °F). 4.4 inches fall in July, the wettest month. The climate in Athens Township →
Next door
Athens Township and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Dover Township82 miCanaan Township53 miAthens Township20 miWaterloo Township15 miAlexander Township1.6 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens Township | 7% | 0.5 | 18 | 82% | B+ |
| Dover Township | 32% | 2.3 | 131 | 50% | A |
| Waterloo Township | 26% | 0.4 | 3,767 | 40% | A− |
| Alexander Township | under 1% | under 0.1 | under 1 | 4% | D |
| Canaan Township | 3% | 1.4 | 82 | 20% | B+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Athens Township
Where can I hike in Athens Township?
The longest trail networks: The Ridges, 7.6 miles; Strouds Ridge Preserve COAD Tract, 1.8 miles; Sells Park, 1 miles; Riddle State Nature Preserve, 0.9 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Athens Township is conserved land?
7% of its land, against a typical 3% for an Ohio town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Athens Township’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at Sells Park (on leash). For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Athens Township?
28 miles of bike routes are on the map: 3.4 of painted or protected lanes, 15 of off-road paths and 10 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Athens Township?
62,483 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Athens Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 528 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Athens Township have?
Ahead of 74% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #215 of 993 in Ohio. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Athens 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 →