Knox County Park District

Knox County Park District Our purpose is to acquire, conserve, protect, and manage Knox County's natural & historical resources while preserving the rural character of the county. Mt.
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Knox County Park District protects, manages and maintains over 1,000 acres of land throughout the county including seven natural park areas (Wolf Run, Hellbender Preserve, Honey Run Waterfall, Honey Run Highlands, Indianfield Bluffs, Thayer Ridge and Bat Nest Road), several access points along the beautiful Kokosing and Mohican rivers, the Mount Vernon access to the Kokosing Gap Trail and numerous

scenic hiking trails. In addition, there are several area bike trails, and the Park District offers free educational and recreational opportunities during the year to delight your senses and rekindle your spirit. Travel the Gateway to Amish Country Scenic Byway along US 62 and SR 514 as you visit our parks and trails. Be sure to check periodically for upcoming events. Park Etiquette:
All natural features - plants, wildlife, geologic specimens and historic artifacts belong to the citizens of Knox County and are not to be collected, distrubed, harmed, or defaced in any manner. Camping is not permitted; vehicles (including ATV's and UV's) and bicycles are permitted only in parking areas; Dogs or other pets must be leashed at all times (except at the dog park) and must be under owner control. Pet owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets; Use of alcohol and/or illegal drugs is strictly prohibited! Park/Access addresses:

*Wolf Run Regional Park…..17621 Yauger Rd. Vernon, Ohio 43050

*Hellbender Preserve…..23316 Coshocton Rd. Howard, Ohio 43028

*Honey Run Waterfall…..10855 Hazel Dell Rd. Howard, Ohio 43028

*Honey Run Highlands…..10816 Millersburg Rd. Howard, Ohio 43028

*Idianfield Bluffs Park…..10855 Sapp Rd. Howard, Ohio 43028

*Thayer Ridge Park…..7077 Thayer Rd. Vernon, Ohio 43050

*Bat Nest Road Area/Riley Chapel Road Access…..10300 Riley Chapel Rd. Walhonding, Ohio 43843

*Pipesville Road Access…..12059 Pipesville Rd. Howard, Ohio 43028

*Millwood Access…..11640 Bridge St. Howard, Ohio 43028

*Greer Landing Access…..20389 Brinkhaven Rd. Glenmont, Ohio 20389

*Big Run Road Access…..8921 Big Run Rd. Gambier, Ohio 43022

*Kokosing Gap Canoe Access…..17812 Lower Gambier Rd. Vernon, Ohio 43050

Kokosing Gap Trail Access Areas:

-500 Mount Vernon Ave. Vernon, Ohio 43050

-9943 Laymon Rd. Gambier, Ohio 43022

-297 Duff St. Gambier, Ohio 43022

-22500 Stull Rd. Gambier, Ohio 43022

-10921 Killduff Rd. Gambier, Ohio 43022

-23316 Coshocton Rd. Howard, Ohio 43028

-715 Trail Dr. Danville, Ohio 43014

Mohican Valley Trail Access Areas:

-402 East St. Danville, Ohio 43014

-27825 Buckeye Rd. Danville, Ohio 43014

-15700 Tiger Valley Rd. Danville, Ohio 43014

*Mohican Valley Trail & Water Trail…..16606 Hunter Rd. Brinkhaven, Ohio 43006

Heart of Ohio Trail Access Areas:

-7760 Thayer Rd. Vernon, Ohio 43050

-7180 Simmons Church Rd. Centerburg, Ohio 43011

-59 Johnsville Rd. Centerburg, Ohio 43011

*Kokosing Water Trail (BFEC)…..10115 Laymon Rd. Gambier, Ohio 43022

Congratulations! Nathan and Brittani Smith with their family are the proud winners in our free book drawing! You could b...
08/06/2026

Congratulations! Nathan and Brittani Smith with their family are the proud winners in our free book drawing!

You could be next quarter's winner by visiting the Wolf Run Park Storybook Trail and signing our guest book when you scan the QR code at the last kiosk. Be sure to include your contact information so we know how to reach you.

Many thanks to the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County for partnering with us to bring this fun family activity to the community and to Paragraphs Bookstore for their support.

This is International Owl Awareness Day so we wanted to highlight just a few of the interesting facts about these beauti...
08/04/2026

This is International Owl Awareness Day so we wanted to highlight just a few of the interesting facts about these beautiful nocturnal raptors.

How can owls hunt so well in the dark? The leading edge of their wing feathers have comb-like serrations to help them fly silently. Their eyes are unusually large for their head and more tube-shaped than round. The size and unique shape mean that they’re unable to move their eyes, but it also means that they’re better suited for seeing in the dark. Owls’ eyes make up approximately 3% of their body weight. That may not sound like much, but it means that their eyes, proportionally, are ten thousand times larger than human eyes!

With heads shaped like satellite dishes and a ring of stiff feathers around their faces, sound is magnified to the ears which are generally hidden by feathers behind the eyes. (The plumicorns or tufts of feathers on a Great Horned Owl are more for camauflage than for hearing).

Did you know that most mammals have 7 vertebrae in their necks, but an owl has 14? This allows them to rotate their heads nearly 270 degrees to either side.

Owls are one of the most effective rodent hunters in nature. The Barn Owl is especially suited for this due to its voracious appetite and proclivity toward raising large families. A mated pair of this species can consume 3,000 rodent per year! This is one of the reasons it is important to use humane rodent traps (not sticky traps) rather than poison because the latter can prove fatal to owls and other raptors through secondary poisoning.

Sadly, in spite of owls being beneficial to our ecosystems, several species are in decline, including the Barn Owl, due to habitat loss, pollution, rodenticide, and littering. So let's tune in to nature and celebrate the ways we can do our part to help them flourish once again.

It's a new day at Wolf Run Pond and we are hoping for a brighter future for the fish. This small ecosystem seems to be ...
08/03/2026

It's a new day at Wolf Run Pond and we are hoping for a brighter future for the fish. This small ecosystem seems to be slowly balancing out again and there have been no more ichthyic fatalities.

The pond management company believes the problem was caused by a sudden decrease of planktonic algae due to a heavy rain, a cold night, or a combination of both. When this occurs all the oxygen in the pond that the planktonic algae was producing rapidly decreases limiting the amount of usable oxygen in the water column for the fish in the pond, especially larger ones which is likely the reason that most of the victims were Grass Carp.

We are exploring options for preventing a recurrence, but this is the first time in the history of the park that the Pond has experienced such an issue...and we sincerely hope it will be the last.

Happy surprises around every corner at The Woodlands!Many thanks to our friend Joan McGough for the beautiful photos!
07/29/2026

Happy surprises around every corner at The Woodlands!

Many thanks to our friend Joan McGough for the beautiful photos!

UPDATE: The problem is believed to be insufficient dissolved oxygen availability. Our pond management company will be co...
07/27/2026

UPDATE: The problem is believed to be insufficient dissolved oxygen availability. Our pond management company will be coming to do water testing this week to confirm, but, apparently, various weather-related factors have made this a widespread pond issue this year. 😢 We will keep you posted.

It's a sad start to the week. We wanted to let you know that we are aware of and are investigating the reason for the fish dying in Wolf Run Pond. Various species have been affected, primarily very large carp. The excessive heat may be a contributive factor, but we advise no fishing in the pond until the cause has been determined.

The amazing people with Friends of the Woods have been diligently working to remove Teazel (a non-native invasive plant)...
07/23/2026

The amazing people with Friends of the Woods have been diligently working to remove Teazel (a non-native invasive plant) from Marshall Meadows at Wolf Run Regional Park and what a difference they have made! Many thanks to each of these volunteers!

Photo credit: Terri Heironimus

SAVE THE DATE and support the Mohican Valley Trail!
07/22/2026

SAVE THE DATE and support the Mohican Valley Trail!

Trails are waiting for you!
07/21/2026

Trails are waiting for you!

Hope Fishing Access was hard-hit by recent storms but has now been cleared. We are grateful for the good work of Mike an...
07/15/2026

Hope Fishing Access was hard-hit by recent storms but has now been cleared. We are grateful for the good work of Mike and his crew at Specialty Outdoor Services LLC.

Cindy, Kathy, and Leslie, three dynamic women who are members of the Knox County Chapter - Ohio Horseman's Council, took...
07/14/2026

Cindy, Kathy, and Leslie, three dynamic women who are members of the Knox County Chapter - Ohio Horseman's Council, took their equine pals and their power tools to the Thayer Ridge equestrian trail. It's amazing what they accomplish in just a few hours! Way to go, ladies! (And their horses deserve accolades, too, for patiently waiting while the work is being done!)

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117 East High Street, Suite 253
Mount Vernon, OH
43050

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Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

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