Take the challenge: explore the trails of Ottawa County

Lace up your hiking boots; fall colors are at their peak and the time is right to hit the trails.

The Park District of Ottawa County is encouraging people to get hiking with their second annual Fall Hiking Program, running now through November 30.

Participants will earn an outdoor hiking challenge campfire mug by hiking nine out of the 13 Ottawa County destinations, says Jannah Wilson, Executive Director of the Park District of Ottawa County.

This is the second year of the fall hiking program, she says.

Last year nearly 150 people participated in the hiking challenge and several people have already turned in their log sheets for 2024.

“Anyone is welcome to participate, and it is completely free,” Wilson says.

Hikes are self-guided and on the honor system.

Participants log their hikes on the log sheet, and completed sheets must be turned in by December 5 to earn the campfire mug. One entry per person.

Submit your log sheet by texting a photo to (419) 635-8212, emailing a photo to [email protected], or returning completed log sheet to the Park District of Ottawa County Office, 3979 E. Knoll Crest Drive, Port Clinton.

Campfire Mugs will be distributed December 17-19, 2024, from 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m., at the Park District of Ottawa County office.

A series of guided hikes are also offered.

For more information visit www.ottawacountyparksoh.org/outdoor-hiking-challenge.

Locations:

Scheeff East Point Preserve – Put-in-Bay Township Park District, South Bass Island

Address: Eastern terminus of State Route 357, South Bass Island

Scheeff East Point Preserve was the first property acquired by the Park District. At 9 acres, and 1,700 feet of shoreline, the park is one of the last remaining natural settings for people to enjoy on South Bass Island. A half-mile loop trail winds along Lake Erie, offering spectacular views of the lake and the islands. Rocky shores, shallow water and upland cover provide habitat for the Lake Erie water snake, shorebirds, waterfowl, and a host of shoreline plants. Atlantic Migratory Flyway, the preserve is a perfect resting place for thousands of migratory birds making their bi-annual trek through the islands. The property features man-made nesting structures for purple martins, tree swallows and chimney swifts, sensitive species who roost there and then eventually make their way to South America for the winter. (putinbayparks.com)

Jessica DentonVisible at Scheeff East Point Preserve on South Bass Island is the small Buckeye Island or Buckeye Point, which used to be seasonally populated in the early 20th Century.Meadowbrook Marsh – Danbury Township 

Address: 8577 E. Bayshore Road, Marblehead

Meadowbrook Marsh is a 190-acre property featuring wetlands and large old trees and a walking path. Marsh harbors good members of waterfowl in migration, especially in March and April. Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets are fixtures of Meadowbrook. Sparrows are plentiful in the fall, including Fox, Lincoln’s, White-crowned, and White-throated sparrows. Open daily, dawn to dusk. (danburytownship.com)

Guided Walk: At 11 a.m. Nov. 9, join Danbury Township Trustee Dianne Rozak for a low-impact one mile walk on paved trails throughout Meadowbrook Marsh. Overflow parking is available on the grass at the main entrance. The walk will begin at the bottom of the main drive by the yellow information sign. Binoculars are recommended.

Great Egret Marsh Nature Preserve – The Nature Conservancy – Danbury Township 

Address: 1000 N. Buck Road, Lakeside-Marblehead

Great Egret is 150 acres of marsh and surrounding upland, with a 1.2-mile loop hiking trail. It is part of the West Harbor Basin, a long, narrow pool of Lake Erie backwater that geologists believe was once the channel of the Portage River. Great Egret is a haven for waterfowl, and wading birds, and its namesake Great Egrets congregate here in abundance. The marsh allows for kayaking, fishing, hiking, bird and other wildlife-watching. Open daily, dawn to dusk. (nature.org)

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Fox Unit – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Address: Corner of State Route 2 and Lickert-Harder Road, Oak Harbor

Once the Charles Fox family farmland, this 77-acre parcel has been restored to wet prairie and shrub habitat, and woodland. An ADA compliant trail and parking spaces were added in 2022, with a boardwalk and compacted gravel trails.(friendsofottawanwr.org)

Lakeside Daisy Nature Preserve – Ohio Department of Natural Resources 

Address: 309 Alexander Pike, Marblehead

Colleen Taylor and Ruth Fiscus - Lakeside Daisy State Nature Preserve encompasses 136 acres of old limestone quarried land on the Marblehead Peninsula of Lake Erie in Ottawa County. This preserve was established to protect the only natural United States population of the Lakeside daisy (Tetraneuris herbacea), a federally threatened plant species which only occurs naturally at a handful of sites. Open 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. Pets are not permitted, no restrooms. (ohiodnr.gov)

Jessica DentonViews of the shoreline from Scheeff East Point Preserve facing northeast on South Bass Island. On a clear day, Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada is visible on the horizon.North Coast Inland Trail – Park District of Ottawa County – Villages of Elmore, Genoa 

Address: 600 Washington St., Genoa (Veterans Park)

The North Coast Inland Trail (NCIT) is an all-purpose trail built over an abandoned Toledo, Norwalk, and Cleveland Railroad line connecting the rural fields of northwest Ohio to villages and cities across the north coast. The NCIT spans nearly 100 miles across northern Ohio, from Lorain to the Toledo area. The western end of this section of the NCIT leaves off from the west just north of Ottawa County’s village of Elmore, which has a trailside bike shop as well as a downtown featuring antique stores and a few small eateries. The trail converts from a multi-use trail to an on-road route at Martin-Williston Rd and carries north to Rt. 51 where a multi-use trail continues the route to its terminus at Veterans Park in Genoa. 

Guided Walk: 10 a.m. Nov. 27 at Veterans Memorial Park in Genoa. Join Jannah Wilson, executive director of the Park District of Ottawa County, for a “turkey burner” walk along the North Coast Inland Trail (NCIT) at Veterans Memorial Park. Jannah will discuss this 75-mile multi-use trail and the progress being made to extend it.
(ottawacountyparksoh.org)

Portage River Fishing Access – Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Address: 262 W. Lakeshore Drive (SR 163) Port Clinton, OH 43452
(ohiodnr.gov)

Nature Trail, adjacent to Train Station, Central Avenue – Lakeside Chautauqua 

Address: Central Avenue, Lakeside

Incorporated in April 1886, the Lakeside and Marblehead Railroad (L&M) was a short standard gauge railroad that spanned about seven miles (11.3 km) in length. It transported limestone from the quarries of Marblehead to the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway (later New York Central System) mainline at Danbury. The railroad provided passenger service until 1930. Today a trail follows the path of the railway through Lakeside. (lakesideohio.com)

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Marinewood Unit – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Address: 4640 W. Harbor Road (SR 163) Port Clinton

The Marinewood Unit is located on SR 163 between Oak Harbor and Port Clinton. It is the old Marinewood Golf Course. Since being acquired by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2014, it is now the site of a pollinator restoration and tree restoration project. There is a mowed trail available off the parking lot and fishing is available in the Portage River. The Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge has about 6,500 acres total of wetland, grassland, and wooded habitat, providing a natural home to a diversity of waterfowl and other migratory birds, resident wildlife, and endangered and threatened species. (fws.gov)

Magee Marsh Wildlife Area Boardwalk – Ohio Department of Natural Resources 

Address: 13229 State Route 2, Oak Harbor

This 2,202-acre controlled hunting area is located 17 miles west of Port Clinton on State Route 2, and 10 miles north of Oak Harbor on State Route 19. Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, purchased by the Ohio Division of Wildlife in August 1951, lies in some of Ohio’s finest remaining wetlands. The marsh complex has historically been inhabited by large numbers of waterfowl, waterbirds, shorebirds, and songbirds. The accessible 1.2 mile long Magee Marsh boardwalk and other trails are open year-round from sunrise to sunset. Please note: The entrance road at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area will be closed past the visitor center from November 14-17 and November 27-December 7 to allow for controlled deer hunting opportunities. During this time access to the beach and boardwalk area will be restricted.(ohiodnr.gov)

Clay Center Village Park – Village of Clay Center 

Address: 24 Susan St., Clay Center

Waterworks Park – City of Port Clinton

Address: 205 Perry St., Port Clinton
(www.portclinton.com) 

Catawba Point Preserve – Catawba Island Township

Address: 4158 NW Catawba Road, Port Clinton