The Barnes Preserve has two parking lots. The main parking lot has a large pavilion to one side and there is a handicap accessible porta-potty to the other side.

Barnes Preserve is located near the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), which houses the Secrest Arboretum. You could easily visit both parks in one day making for a fantastic day trip. During waterfowl migration you might also consider taking a drive down Prairie Lane (approximately 5 minutes away) to see flooded fields full of stunning waterfowl.

The Preserve is a rare gem hosting several habitat types within its 76 acres boundaries. Habitats include a patch of mature woods, a wetland pond, and a restored prairie. Given the habitat diversity, it is no surprise that you will find not only birds, but also a great variety of mammals, herps, and insects. The prairie draws an assortment of butterflies and other pollinators. The ponds offer frogs, turtles, dragonflies, and damselflies. The woods offer shade!

The main trail is less than one mile and is fully paved. In addition to the paved trail, they have recently mowed several walking trails (unpaved) through the restored prairie, but be warned it does get wet and large puddles form when it rains. There are also a few smaller “off the path” trails you can take to extend your viewing pleasures, and there are several benches located along the trail offering a chance to sit, enjoy the view, and appreciate all the park has to offer.

There have been 70 reported species seen throughout the year including vireos, warblers, flycatchers, sparrows, and many other common woodland and open-field species.

Experience nature at its finest at the Barnes Preserve! Come view the mature woods, rolling prairie land, and indigenous plants, and a serene wetland pond by the woods’ edge is teeming with all kinds of aquatic life.

The Preserve is home to many different wildlife species like deer, fox, muskrats, bats, and migratory and year-round birds of all kinds.

The Barnes Preserve offers nearly a mile of asphalted trails, woods hiking, wildlife and bird watching, and observing aquatic life at the wetland pond. ​

The Barnes Preserve land was once part of the Wayne County Care Center and is named after the Barnes family that operated the Care Center for many years.

The Barnes Preserve encompasses 76 acres and is the only Wayne County Park. It is located at 3396 Sylvan Road in Wooster, Ohio, .25 mile south of the intersection of Secrest and Sylvan. It is near the Wayne County Care Center and the Secrest Arboretum. The preserve is managed by the Wayne County Park District.

The Barnes Preserve is a nature park that was specifically designed to give kids and adults with physical limitations equal opportunities to experience nature; barrier-free and fully accessible. The preserve has nearly a mile of non-challenging ADA paved trails that meander through the woods and into a meadow. Handicap accessible portable toilet.

Barnes Preserve Trails
The Barnes Preserve offers 1.4 miles of paved hiking trails. The main trail is a .9-mile handicapped accessible trail. There is also a .5-mile loop.

Park in either parking lot.