Ohio is home to some of the most impressive trees in the eastern United States, and central Ohio particularly the area surrounding Lewis Center in Delaware County is no exception. Whether you are a nature lover, a local historian, or simply someone who appreciates the quiet grandeur of a centuries-old oak, exploring the champion trees of this region is a rewarding experience.

This guide covers everything you need to know: where to find Ohio’s recognized champion trees near Lewis Center, how the champion tree designation works, and how you can even nominate a candidate yourself.

What Are Champion Trees?

A champion tree is not simply a tree that is old. It is the largest known living specimen of its species verified, measured, and recorded on an official registry. The concept exists at both the national and state level, with distinct programs recognizing different tiers of record-holders.

The National Program by American Forests

American Forests, one of the oldest nonprofit conservation organizations in the United States, manages the National Champion Tree Program. Since 1940, this program has maintained a registry of the largest known tree of each species in the country. These trees represent living landmarks biological records of scale and survival that no monument can replicate.

Trees are nominated by the public, verified by certified foresters or state forestry agencies, and added to the national registry if they surpass all previously recorded specimens of the same species. The registry is dynamic: a champion can be surpassed by a larger specimen at any time, or it may be removed if a re-verification visit finds it has died or declined.

How Trees Are Crowned ‘Champion’

Both the national program and the Ohio state program use a standardized points-based formula to determine which specimen is the largest. The formula is straightforward:

For example, a tree with a circumference of 180 inches, a height of 90 feet, and a crown spread of 80 feet would earn 180 + 90 + 20 = 290 points. The higher the score, the stronger the claim to the champion title. This formula ensures fair comparison across species with different growth habits a towering cottonwood and a wide-spreading oak are evaluated on the same objective scale.

Where to Find Champion Trees Near Lewis Center, Ohio

Lewis Center sits in the heart of Delaware County, north of Columbus, in a landscape shaped by glacial activity, river valleys, and centuries of forest cover. While the city limits of Lewis Center do not currently host a formally registered state champion tree, the surrounding area including several metro parks and state parks within a short drive contains remarkable specimens that rank among Ohio’s finest.

Highbanks Metro Park Closest Major Park to Lewis Center

Located just minutes south of Lewis Center off U.S. Route 23, Highbanks Metro Park is one of the premier natural areas in central Ohio. The park encompasses over 1,200 acres of upland forest, meadows, and the dramatic shale cliffs that give the park its name, overlooking the Olentangy River.

Highbanks is home to mature stands of Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra), Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra) the official state tree and Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) along the riverbanks. While a formal state champion may not be tagged within the park’s boundaries, dendrologists and arborists have noted exceptionally large specimens here that merit measurement. If you visit with a measuring tape and clinometer, you may be looking at a nominee.

• Best trail for large trees: Dripping Rock Trail and the Overlook Trail ridge sections
• Look for: Northern Red Oak, Ohio Buckeye, Shagbark Hickory, and Tulip Poplar
• Accessibility: Paved parking, restrooms, accessible trailheads available

Alum Creek State Park & Delaware County

Just east of Lewis Center, Alum Creek State Park offers a different landscape one dominated by the reservoir shoreline, open woodlands, and riparian zones along Alum Creek itself. Eastern Cottonwood trees are particularly notable in this environment, as they thrive in moist, open soils near water and can achieve enormous trunk circumferences in relatively short timeframes compared to slow-growing oaks.

The Delaware County countryside surrounding the reservoir also contains private woodlots and old farmstead trees that have never been formally measured. Trees planted as property boundaries or shade trees in the 1800s may have grown to remarkable size. If you own or have access to such land, these are excellent candidates for ODNR nomination.

• Notable species: Eastern Cottonwood, Sycamore, Silver Maple, Box Elder
• Best areas: Shoreline access points along the western reservoir bank
• Tip: Cottonwood champions are often found on exposed floodplain edges where competition is low

Historic Champion Trees in Nearby Columbus Parks

A short drive south from Lewis Center brings you into Columbus, where the City’s Recreation and Parks Department maintains several trees that have appeared on the Ohio state champion registry. These trees are accessible to the public and represent some of the most unusual and storied specimens in central Ohio.

Columbus parks are particularly notable for champion-level non-native ornamental species trees planted generations ago that have outgrown every other known example of their kind in the state. Among the species historically recorded in Columbus parks:

• Chinese Catalpa (Catalpa ovata) A fast-growing ornamental species, with notable specimens found in Columbus park settings
• Smoothleaf Elm (Ulmus carpinifolia) A European elm variety with a long history in Ohio’s urban forest
• Biltmore Ash (Fraxinus americana var. biltmoreana) A variety of white ash recorded in the state registry from central Ohio locations
• Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra) A Scottish native species occasionally planted in Ohio parks during the 19th century

Parks to visit from Lewis Center (30–45 minutes): Goodale Park (Short North), Schiller Park (German Village), and Whetstone Park of Roses. Each contains old-growth and ornamental trees of significant age and size.

How to Nominate a Tree in Ohio

Ohio’s champion tree program is administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry. The program is open to the public: any Ohio resident can nominate a tree they believe may be the largest known specimen of its species in the state. The process is straightforward, and no professional credentials are required to submit a nomination.

Step-by-Step Nomination Guide

1. Identify your candidate tree. Any tree species native or non-native is eligible. The tree must be alive and measurable.
2. Obtain permission if the tree is on private property. Written or verbal permission from the landowner is required before you can measure or nominate.
3. Measure the tree using the standard three-metric formula: circumference at 4.5 feet above ground, total height, and average crown spread.
4. Record the GPS coordinates or the exact address/legal description of the tree’s location.
5. Photograph the tree: include a full-height photo, a close-up of the bark and leaf structure, and a photo of you next to the trunk for scale.
6. Submit your nomination to ODNR Division of Forestry via their official nomination form. Include all measurements, photographs, and location data.
7. ODNR staff or a certified forester will conduct a verification visit. If your nominee surpasses the current record-holder, it will be added to the Ohio Big Tree Registry.

Tools You Will Need for Measuring

• Diameter tape or flexible measuring tape (at least 20 feet for large trunks)
• Clinometer or smartphone app with angle measurement for height estimation
• Laser rangefinder (optional, but significantly improves height accuracy)
• GPS device or smartphone with location services enabled
• Camera with good resolution for documentation photographs
• Notebook or field sheet for recording raw measurements before calculating the score

For height measurement, the most common field method involves standing a known distance from the base of the tree (typically 100 feet), measuring the angle to the top with a clinometer, and using basic trigonometry to calculate the height. Many smartphone apps automate this calculation.

Why Champion Trees Matter

Champion trees are more than biological curiosities. They are living monuments to the resilience of nature, markers of ecological history, and anchors of community identity. Understanding their value helps explain why programs like the ODNR Big Tree Registry and the American Forests National Champion Tree Program have endured for decades.

Environmental & Community Benefits

A mature, large-canopied tree provides ecosystem services on a scale that no young sapling can match. Research has consistently shown that large, old trees contribute disproportionately to:

• Carbon sequestration storing decades of atmospheric carbon in wood mass
• Stormwater management root systems absorb runoff and reduce flooding risk
• Urban heat reduction large canopies shade pavement and reduce ambient temperatures
• Wildlife habitat cavities, bark textures, and canopy layers support bird, mammal, and insect populations
• Air quality improvement leaves filter particulate matter and produce oxygen
• Psychological wellbeing research links proximity to mature trees with reduced stress and improved mental health

Historical Significance

Many champion trees in Ohio predate European settlement of the region. A large Eastern Cottonwood near a Delaware County riverbank may have been a sapling when Indigenous communities traveled the Olentangy corridor. An ancient oak in a Columbus park may have witnessed the founding of the city itself.

These trees are sometimes called ‘witness trees’ living organisms that have endured across centuries of change, from forest clearance and agricultural conversion to urbanization and climate shifts. Recognizing and protecting them connects communities to a deep and tangible natural history that no photograph or document can fully replicate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any champion trees in Lewis Center, Ohio?

The current Ohio Big Tree Registry does not list a formally verified state champion within the municipal boundaries of Lewis Center. However, Highbanks Metro Park and Alum Creek State Park both within a short drive of Lewis Center contain large, mature trees of significant size that may not yet have been formally nominated. Delaware County as a whole contains many old farmstead and woodland trees that are strong candidates for nomination.

What is the biggest tree in Ohio?

Ohio’s Big Tree Registry, maintained by the ODNR Division of Forestry, lists the current record-holder for each species. The registry is updated when new champions are verified or when existing champions fail re-verification. To find the current largest tree in Ohio by species, visit the ODNR Division of Forestry website and access the most recent published list, as records change frequently.

How do I measure a tree for the champion tree registry?

Use the standard formula: measure trunk circumference in inches at 4.5 feet above ground level, measure total tree height in feet using a clinometer or laser rangefinder, and calculate average crown spread in feet. Your total point score equals: Circumference (inches) + Height (feet) + (Crown Spread in feet divided by 4). Submit this score along with photographs and GPS coordinates to ODNR for verification.

Can I nominate a tree on private property?

Yes. Many of Ohio’s state champion trees are located on private land, including farms, estates, and residential properties. You will need permission from the landowner before measuring or submitting a nomination. The landowner’s name and contact information are typically included in the submission and kept on file by ODNR, though the registry listing itself is public.

Who verifies champion trees in Ohio?

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry manages the Ohio Big Tree Registry and oversees the verification process. After a public nomination is submitted, ODNR staff or a certified consulting forester conducts a field visit to confirm the species identification and remeasure the tree. If the verified measurements exceed the current record-holder for that species, the tree is officially designated as the new state champion.

What is the difference between a national champion and a state champion?

A state champion tree is the largest known living specimen of its species within Ohio, as verified by ODNR. A national champion, maintained by American Forests, is the largest known living specimen of that species anywhere in the United States. Ohio’s state champions are not automatically national champions a larger specimen may exist in another state. However, Ohio does hold several national champion records, particularly for species that reach their maximum size in the Midwest.

Plan Your Visit

Exploring champion trees near Lewis Center is a rewarding way to connect with Ohio’s natural heritage. Whether you are hiking the wooded ridgelines of Highbanks Metro Park, walking the Alum Creek shoreline, or spending an afternoon in Columbus’s historic parks, you are surrounded by trees that have witnessed generations of change.

Consider bringing a field notebook, a measuring tape, and a camera. The next champion tree in Delaware County may be waiting in a corner of the woods that no one has thought to measure yet and it could be you who finds it.

Additional Resources

• ODNR Division of Forestry Ohio Big Tree Registry: ohiodnr.gov
• American Forests National Champion Tree Program: americanforests.org/champion-trees
• Highbanks Metro Park: metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/highbanks
• Alum Creek State Park: ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/alum-creek-state-park

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