The 800-acre Big Darby Headwaters Nature Preserve, managed by The Nature Conservancy, encompasses a mixture of wetlands and streamside forests. Here, humble coldwater springs and streams emerge, forming the nourishing capillaries that are the lifeblood of Big Darby Creek’s permanent flow downstream.

These headwaters are fed by a complex of underground seeps, which contribute millions of gallons of clean, cold water to tributary streams of nearby Big Darby Creek.

These headwater streams and the floodplains, forests, and wetlands around them are important not only for their influence on water quality and hydrology in the Big Darby but also because they provide important habitat for plants and animals.

The preserve features a handicap-accessible trail and interpretive signage showcasing the importance of the headwaters to people and wildlife.

Big Darby Headwaters Nature Preserve is open year-round, dawn to dusk.

Big Darby Headwaters Nature Preserve Trails
Accessible Trail – 0.33 miles, .66 round trip
Grass Trail – 1 mile, 2 miles round trip

The preserve features a 0.33-mile accessible trail to a spring-fed wetland overlook and a 1-mile grass trail to an overlook of a restored section of the Big Darby Creek. Native plant and animal species you will typically see include marsh marigold, skunk cabbage, trilliums, wild turkey, Ohio buckeye, eastern screech owls, and great crested flycatchers.