Lucas County Parks & Nature Preserves

The following list of parks and preserves includes those managed by federal, state, county, and non-governmental agencies (such as the National Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, various historical societies, etc.).

We have tried to collect information on the activities and facilities available at various parks, but things may change without us knowing about it. So please double-check the information at the official site.

Audobon Islands (State Nature Preserve)

• Official Site
• Official GPS Coordinates:
  • In the Maumee River NE of Conant St Bridge, Maumee, Ohio 43537
  • GPS coordinates: 41.566781, -83.6456079
  • View on Google Maps
• 170 acres in all
• Supported activities:
  • Good site for bird watching
• Miscellaneous info: Bring your own boat to access; there is a small, unimproved boat landing. Managed by the Toledo Metropolitan Park District.

Bend View (Metro Park)

• Official Site
• Park Map
• Trail descriptions
• Location:
  • 10040 S River Rd., Waterville, Ohio 43566
  • GPS coordinates: 41.4521106, -83.784502
  • View on Google Maps
• 8 miles of the Towpath Trail

Blue Creek Conservation Area (Metro Park)

• Official Site
• Trail descriptions
• Location:
  • Waterville-Neapolis Road & Schadel Road, Whitehouse, Ohio
  • GPS coordinates: 41.5094512, -83.8035479
  • View on Google Maps
• 1 miles for Blue Creek Trail
• Miscellaneous info: Only open for special events

Campbell (Louis W.) SNP (State Nature Preserve)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• Location:
  • 2742 Crissey Road, Monclova, Ohio 43558
  • GPS coordinates: 41.5913, -83.761833
• 210 acres in all
• Trail information:
  • 2.3 miles for the Lupine Trail
  • 0.45 miles for the Turkeyfoot Loop
• Miscellaneous info: Remnant of Oak Openings region

Cedar Point (National Wildlife Refuge)

• Official Site
• Location:
  • 14000 W. State Route 2, Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449
• 2,445 acres in all
• Supported activities:
  • Fishing
  • Good site for bird watching
  • Paddling
• Facilities:
  • Canoe and kayak launch

Fallen Timbers (Metro Park)

• Official Site
• Park Map
• Trail descriptions
• Location:
  • 4949 Jerome Road, Maumee, Ohio 43537
  • GPS coordinates: 41.55193, -83.6946703
  • View on Google Maps
• Trail information:
  • 1.5 miles for the Northwest Territory Trail
  • Unspecified mileage for the Wabash Cannonball Trail which passes through the park (64 miles in all)
• Miscellaneous info: Part of Side Cut Metropark. Battlefield Monument

Farnsworth (Metro Park)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• Trail descriptions
• Posts at TrekOhio
• Farnsworth Kayak Concession
• Location:
  • 8505 S River Road (US 24), Waterville, Ohio 43566
  • GPS coordinates: 41.487485, -83.733935
  • View on Google Maps
• 8 miles of the Towpath Trail
• Supported activities:
  • Fishing
  • Camping
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Paddling
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
  • Handicap accessible
  • Part of the Towpath Trail passes through the area

Irwin Prairie (State Nature Preserve)

• Official Site
• Location:
  • 9987 West Bancroft, Holland, Ohio 43528
  • GPS coordinates: 41.657917, -83.78205
  • View on Google Maps
• 207 acres in all
• 1.25 miles of boardwalk which forms a loop trail
• Prohibited activities:
  • Dogs not permitted
• Facilities:
  • Handicap accessible
  • Boardwalk
• Miscellaneous info: The preserve contains the finest remaining sedge meadow in the state. The best time to visit is in July and August when summer wildflowers are in bloom. State-listed (rare) plants include: red baneberry, Sartwell’s sedge, fringed gentian, Kalm’s St. John’s-wort, Riddell’s goldenrod and grass-leaf arrowhead. Rare birds include sedge wrens, Bell’s vireo, least bittern, and golden-winged warbler. Other rare animals include spotted turtles, blandings turtles and the purplish copper butterfly.

Kitty Todd (State Nature Preserve)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• Posts at TrekOhio
• Nature Conservancy
• Location:
  • 10420 Old State Line Road, Swanton, Ohio 43558
  • GPS coordinates: 41.617367, -83.791467
  • View on Google Maps
• 450 acres in all
• 3 miles of loop trail
• Miscellaneous info: Kitty Todd Preserve is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the first full weekend of the month from May through October only. Be sure to check the Nature Conservancy link to make sure that these house are currently being followed.

Magee Marsh (State Wildlife Area)

• Official Site
• Wildlife Area Map
• Posts at TrekOhio
• 2,202 acres in all
• Supported activities:
  • Fishing
  • Hunting
  • Good site for bird watching
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities

Mallard Club (State Wildlife Area)

• Official Site
• Wildlife Area Map
• 402 acres in all
• Supported activities:
  • Hunting
  • Good site for bird watching

Maumee (State Forest)

• Official Site
• Brochure
• 3,194 acres in all
• Trail information:
  • 2 miles of hiking trail
  • 66 miles of unmarked firelanes
  • 8 miles of bridle trail
  • 7 miles of APV and mountain biking trail
• Supported activities:
  • Hunting
  • Mountain biking
  • Horseback riding
  • Snowmobiling
• Miscellaneous info: Trapping is permitted; muskrats, raccoon, and mink are common.

Maumee Bay (State Park)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• Campground Map
• Park Map
• Golf Course Map
• Lodge
• Posts at TrekOhio
• Location:
  • 1400 State Park Rd #1, Oregon, Ohio 43618
  • GPS coordinates: 41.683598, -83.367756
  • View on Google Maps
• 1,336 acre in all
• Trail information:
  • 3 miles of paved, multi-use trail (Inland Lake)
  • 2 miles of ADA accessible boardwalk
  • 2.5 miles of multi-use trail
  • 2.5 miles of hiking trail (Mouse Trail)
• Supported activities:
  • Fishing
  • Camping
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Sledding
  • Good site for bird watching
  • Bringing your dog
  • Boating with high horsepower motors
  • Ice skating
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
  • Handicap accessible
  • Nature center
  • Golf course
  • Swimming beach

Metzger Marsh (State Wildlife Area)

• Official Site
• Wildlife Area Map
• Posts at TrekOhio
• 558 acres in all
• Supported activities:
  • Fishing
  • Good site for bird watching
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
• Miscellaneous info: Spring waterfowl migration

Oak Openings Preserve (Metro Park)

• Official Site
• Park Map
• Trail descriptions
• Posts at TrekOhio
• Beach RIdge Singletrack Mountain Bike Trail Map
• Location:
  • 4139 Girdham Road, Swanton, Ohio
  • GPS coordinates: 41.562746, -83.853967
  • View on Google Maps
• 4,000 acres in all
• More than 50 miles of total trail
• Supported activities:
  • Good site for bird watching
  • Horseback riding
• Miscellaneous info: Diverse environment including sand dunes with prickly pear cactus

Ottawa (National Wildlife Refuge)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• Friends of the Park
• Posts at TrekOhio
• Facebook
• Location:
  • 4000 West State Route 2, Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449
• 4,755 acres in all
• Supported activities:
  • Good site for bird watching
  • Bringing your dog
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
  • Handicap accessible
  • Visitor center
• Miscellaneous info: Noted site for viewing migratory birds.

Pearson (Metro Park)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• Trail descriptions
• Location:
  • 761 Lallendorf Rd., Oregon, Ohio 43616
  • GPS coordinates: 41.6483081, -83.4462975
  • View on Google Maps
• 624 acres in all
• About 3 miles of total trail
• Supported activities:
  • Fishing
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Sledding
  • Good site for bird watching
  • Ice skating
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities

Providence (Metro Park)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• Trail descriptions
• Location:
  • 13827 S. River Road, Grand Rapids, Ohio 43522
  • GPS coordinates: 41.4170451, -83.8691359
  • View on Google Maps
• 249 acres in all
• 8 miles of the Towpath Trail
• Supported activities:
  • Fishing
  • Cross-country skiing
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
  • Part of the Towpath Trail passes through the area
• Miscellaneous info: Canal boat and historic mill

Secor (Metro Park)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• Trail descriptions
• Posts at TrekOhio
• Location:
  • 10001 W. Central Avenue, Berkey, Ohio 43504
  • GPS coordinates: 41.673641, -83.785238
  • View on Google Maps
• 600 acres in all
• Trail information:
  • 9.8 miles of hiking trail
  • 4.8 miles of cross-country skiing trail
• Supported activities:
  • Cross-country skiing
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
  • Boardwalk
• Miscellaneous info: The National Center for Nature Photography is located within this park.

Side Cut (Metro Park)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• Trail descriptions
• Location:
  • 1025 W River Rd., Maumee, Ohio 43537
  • GPS coordinates: 41.5565978, -83.673672
  • View on Google Maps
• 7.3 miles of total trail
• Supported activities:
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Sledding
  • Good site for bird watching
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
  • Canoe and kayak launch

Swan Creek (Metro Park)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• Trail descriptions
• Location:
  • 4301 Airport Hwy., Toledo, Ohio 43615
  • GPS coordinates: 41.6169674, -83.6392584
  • View on Google Maps
• Area:
  • 441 acres in the main holding
  • 154 acres along the Swan Creek Corridor
• 8.2 miles of total trail
• Supported activities:
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Good site for bird watching
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities

The R. A. Stranahan Arboretum (Botanical Garden)

• Official Site
• Location:
  • 4131 Tantara Drive, Toledo, Ohio
• 47 acres in all
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
• Miscellaneous info: Owned by Univ. of Toledo

Toledo Botanical Garden (Botanical Garden)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• Location:
  • 5403 Elmer Drive, Toledo, Ohio
• About 60 acres in all
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities

Toledo Zoo (Zoo)

• Official Site
• Location:
  • 2 Hippo Way, Toledo, Ohio 43609
• 51 acres in all
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
• Miscellaneous info: 4,800 animals of 700 species

Van Tassel & Missionary Island (State Wildlife Area)

• Official Site
• Wildlife Area Map
• 384 acres in all
• Supported activities:
  • Fishing
  • Hunting
• Miscellaneous info: Access to these island wildlife areas is by watercraft or wading the river. There are no bridges.

West Sister Island Refuge (National Wildlife Refuge)

• Official Site
• 77 acres in all
• Supported activities:
  • Good site for bird watching
• Facilities:
  • Permit only
• Miscellaneous info: Closed to visitors to protect nesting birds. Featured on Mike Rowe’ Dirty Jobs: Season 3: Episode 5 Vomit Island Workers

Westwinds (Metro Park)

• Official Site
• Park Map
• Trail descriptions
• Location:
  • 9918 Geiser Rd, Holland, Ohio 43528
• Trail information:
  • 1.2 miles for Oak Woods Trail, plus connector
  • Unspecified mileage for 3-D Archery Trail
  • Unspecified mileage of handicap-accessible trail
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
  • Archery range
• Miscellaneous info: RC airstrip

Wildwood Preserve (Metro Park)

• Official Site
• Park Map
• Trail descriptions
• Trail information:
  • 6.3 miles for the University/Parks Trail (one way)
  • 2.3 miles for the Upland Woods Trail & Loop
  • 1.5 miles for the Prairie Trail to Upland Woods Trail
  • 0.4 miles for the Ridge Trail (loop)
  • 0.6 miles for the Meadow Loop Trail
  • 1.6 miles for the Grasslands Trail (round trip)
  • 1.4 miles for the Floodplain Trail (loop, includes a boardwalk)
  • 1.6 miles for the All-Purpose Trail (paved loop)
  • 1.4 miles for the Prairie Trail to Floodplain Trail
• Supported activities:
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Good site for bird watching
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
  • Boardwalk
  • Visitor center

Wiregrass Lake (Metro Park)

• Official Site
• Park Map
• Trail descriptions
• Location:
  • 201 N Eber Rd, Holland, Ohio 43528
  • GPS coordinates: 41.6428605, -83.7874663
  • View on Google Maps
• Trail information:
  • Unspecified mileage of walking path
  • 0.6 miles for Blue Dasher Trail
• Supported activities:
  • Fishing
  • Camping
  • Paddling

Last Update: Jun 24, 2019