Todd Nature Reserve
ASWP's Emerald Jewel
Todd Nature Reserve, ASWP's first reserve, is a 176 acre Nature Reserve located in in the Buffalo Creek drainage of Sarver, PA, southeastern Butler County, just 4 miles from route 28 and about ½ hour north of Pittsburgh. Click for complete directions
Todd Nature Reserve is a significant natural resource in Pennsylvania. It is part of Pennsylvania Audubon's Buffalo Valley Important Bird Area program, as well as the Buffalo Creek Watershed Conservation Plan.
We invite you to explore Todd Nature Reserve's 5 miles of hiking trails, abundant with the natural beauty of the forest, streams and a pond. The rugged landscape and rustic trails provide a welcome retreat from the highly manicured suburban world.
Our management philosophy promotes education, nature study and passive recreation at Todd Nature Reserve while protecting its natural areas by minimizing development. Click for a Trail Guide.
We offer public walks at Todd Nature Reserve throughout the year, especially in summer; see our Events Calendar. In summer, we station a seasonal naturalist at Todd. Seasonal employment, internship and research opportunities are available at the Nature Reserve.
History
In 1942, W.E. Clyde Todd, noted ornithologist and Curator of Birds at Carnegie Museum of Natural History, donated to ASWP the first parcel of land that was to become Todd Sanctuary, now known as Todd Nature Reserve. In the 1880's, the young Clyde
Todd studied the bird life of the area while visiting his grandparents at their nearby farmhouse (visible from the pond area). 
As a teenager, he discovered a Magnolia Warbler nesting there. At the time, the discovery was notable because it was thought the area was too far south for Magnolias to nest. His quest to report his discovery launched his distinguished career in ornithology.
Nature Reserve Guidelines
- Please sign the guest register at the trailhead kiosk.
- Trails are open dawn to dusk.
- This is a protected nature sanctuary, so please stay on trails and "take only pictures, leave only footprints." Please, no dogs, horses, fishing poles or bikes.
- The Nature Reserve has no public restrooms. A "porta-john" is available during the summer.
- Please carry out all trash.
- Todd Nature Reserve is closed during deer antler and antlerless rifle season, generally the two weeks following Thanksgiving. While hunting is not permitted on the public portions of the Nature Reserve, it is surrounded by property upon which hunting is permitted. For the safety of everyone, we close the trails during gun season. Similarly, we recommend visitors use caution and/or wear bright colors during other of hunting seasons, October 15 thru January 15.