Big Darby Plains

Prior to European settlement in the early 1800s, Ohio contained about a thousand square miles of prairies which comprised about two and a half percent of the vegetation of the state at the time. These prairies were mostly scattered around the western half of the state and varied in size from a few acres to several thousand acres. One of the largest concentration of prairies occurred in the Darby Plains. Small, but excellent remnants of this prairie ecosystem can be seen today along the Big Darby Plains Scenic Byway.

The main route runs parallel to the state and nationally designated Scenic Big Darby Creek for more than 27 miles through Union, Champaign and Madison counties. The byway includes additional spurs totaling over 20 miles. The byway features access to the scenic river, nature preserves and parks. There are also several covered and historic bridges, century farms, cemeteries, and homes of interest along the routes as it passes by North Lewisburg and through Milford Center, Unionville Center and Plain City.