Knox County is almost entirely within the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau ecoregion. The terminal moraine parallels the eastern county line, leaving a small unglaciated section in the NE corner. Known for its scenic rivers, the Mohican closely flows north to south along the eastern edge of the county, and the Kokosing, which rises in neighboring Morrow County, flows all the way across the county from west to east. These two rivers meet just to the east, in Coshocton County. The North Fork Licking River cuts across the county’s SW corner.

Places to Visit

• Ariel-Foundation Park, Mount Vernon, is a 250-acre park created on the former site of a glass-making factory. The park encompasses 3 lakes, and is contiguous with a paved trail that provides access to the south bank of the Kokosing River. 29 species have been identified.

• Kokosing Lake Wildlife Area, .5 miles northwest of Fredericktown and five miles northeast of Chesterville (NW corner of county). 13 species have been identified.

• Knox Lake Wildlife Area, a 756-acre property about 1½ miles northeast of Fredericktown. The topography is flat to slightly rolling. Most of the area is comprised of water area. The reservoir is 469 acres in size and has 11.4 miles of shoreline. 17 species have been identified.

Kokosing River Access

• Big Run Road Access, 8921 Big Run Road, Gambier 43022 

• Pipesville Road Access,12059 Pipesvlle Road, Howard 43028 

• Millwood Access, 11640 Bridge Street, Howard 43028 

• Kokosing Gap Canoe Access, 17812 Lower Gambier Road, Mount Vernon 43050 

• Kokosing Water Trail Access, Brown Family Environmental Center 10115 Laymon Road, Gambier 43022.  The center is a  a 610-acre preserve with 11 miles of trail. 4 tiny ponds next to the parking area on Laymon Road are easily accessed. 12 species have been identified at this location, but it has not yet been well-explored by the oda community. Maps & Guides

• Zuck Riparian Preserve, 28300 Zuck Road, Howard 43028, 14.5 acres in three parcels along the Kokosing River upstream from the Riley Chapel Road water access and the Bat Nest Park property with 1,500 feet of river frontage.

• Riley Chapel Road Access, 10300 Riley Chapel Road, Walhonding 43843 

Mohican River Access

• Greer Landing, 20389 Brinkhaven Road, Glenmont 44628

• Extended access to the east bank of the Mohican River is possible in Brinkhaven Park, in the village of Brinkhaven, on SR-62 in the NE corner of the county.  The Mohican here has and area of whitewater riffles, and deep, clear pools.  The 19th century low head dam was knocked down by ODNR in late 2023.  The Knox County Park District leases this land from ODNR, and has plans to continue its development. 

• Mohican Water Trail Access,16606 Hunter Road, Brinkhaven 43006, located under the covered Bridge of Dreams.

• Mohican River Wildlife Area straddles the Knox Coshocton line, and is accessible from an unmarked parking pulloff on Coshocton CR 386. This unimproved site provides extended access to the east bank of the Mohican, but has apparently not yet been explored by the oda community.

• Mohican State Scenic River Designation Study. This is a 55 page ODNR analysis of the Clear Fork/Mohican River created in 2006 leading up to its inclusion into Ohio’s Scenic Rivers System.  It provides an overview of the human and natural histories of the Mohican River and its tributary creeks, and includes detailed maps. 

• Mohican River Water Trail Guide from ODNR.

County Observation Activity

This graph shows the total number of odonata observations for the county in brown, with the average for all Ohio counties in blue. The season is divided into 10 or 11 day segments by Month – basically early-month, mid-month, and late-month.