Portage 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 (click on the park’s name to go there).

Aurora Sanctuary (State Nature Preserve)

• Pioneer Trail Rd., Aurora, OH 44202
• GPS coordinates: N41.304191,W81.310362
• Location: Located 2 miles east of Aurora off East Pioneer Trail. The preserve does not have any road frontage but is accessible through the City of Aurora’s parking lot.
• Park size: 164 acres
• Total trail length: Several miles
• Good site for bird watching
• Location on Google Maps

Beck Fen Preserve (Nature Conservancy)

• Location: See above link for driving directions and maps.
• Park size: 10 acres
• Permit required

Berlin Lake Trail (Bike Path)

• Transits: Deerfield Township, main entrance on US Route 224 approximately 1.5 miles east of Deerfield Circle. South trail entrance off of State Route 14 approximately 2 miles southeast of Deerfield Circle. Turn left on Kirkbride Road.
• Trail map
• Access to shore fishing
• Multi-use trail for walking, cycling, access to shore fishing

Berlin Lake Wildlife Area (State Wildlife Area)

• Location: See above link for driving directions and maps.
• Park size: 8,518 acres
• Dog friendly
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)
• Archery range
• Hunting when in season with license. Please visit park web site for details.
• Fishing Map for Berlin Lake Wildlife Area
• Enhanced Fishing Map for Berlin Lake Wildlife Area

Cooperrider–Kent Bog (State Nature Preserve)

• 1028 Meloy Rd., Kent, Oh 44240
• GPS coordinates: N41.130064,W81.353813
• Trail map
• Park size: 42 acres
• Total trail length: 0.5 miles
• Tamarack bog forest
• Location on Google Maps

Dix Park (County Park)

• 7318 Ohio 44, Ravenna, OH 44266
• GPS coordinates: N41.189857,W81.246337
• Location: From the intersection with SR 14 go north on SR 44 about 3/4 of a mile to park entrance on east side.
• Trail map
• Park size: 103 acres
• Total trail length: 1.43 miles
• Cross country ski trails
• Restrooms
• Location on Google Maps

Eagle Creek (State Nature Preserve)

• 11027 Hopkins Rd., Garrettsville, OH 44231
• GPS coordinates: N41.289577,W81.057129
• Park size: 472 acres
• Total trail length: 6 miles
• Location on Google Maps

Flatiron Lake Bog Preserve (Nature Conservancy)

• Location: See above link for driving directions and maps.
• Park size: 97 acres
• Permit required

Gott Fen (State Nature Preserve)

• Park size: 44 acres
• Permit required
• Contact Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources for a PERMIT and preserve information

Headwaters Trail (Bike Path)

• GPS coordinates: N41.283942,W81.216291
• Transits: Parking for the trail is available at two sites: Garrettsville Village Park, on SR700 in Hiram, and in Mantua Village Park.
• Trail map
• Total trail length: 8 miles
• Bridle trails
• Limestone paved, multi-use trail (hikers, bikers and horseback riders)
• Location on Google Maps

Herrick Fen (Nature Conservancy)

• Streetsboro Twp, Ohio 44241
• Location: See above link for driving directions and maps.
• Park size: 140 acres
• Boardwalk

Herrick Fen SNP (State Nature Preserve)

• GPS coordinates: N41.214067, W81.371150
• Park size: 127 acres
• Rare plants
• Location on Google Maps

LaDue Public Hunting Area (State Wildlife Area)

• Location: See above link for driving directions and maps.
• Park size: 8,791 acres
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)
• Hunting when in season with license. Please visit park web site for details.
• Wildlife Area Map for LaDue Public Hunting Area

Mantua Bog (State Nature Preserve)

• Park size: 98 acres
• Permit required
• Contact Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources for a PERMIT and preserve information

Marsh Wetlands (State Nature Preserve)

• Mantua Twp, Ohio 44255
• GPS coordinates: N41.283967, W81.211717
• Location: Located east of Mantua in Portage County. P proceed east on Mennonite Road from State Route 44. The preserve is west of Peck Road (County Road 167) and south of Mennonite Road (Township Road 256).
• Park size: 152 acres
• Location on Google Maps

Nelson Kennedy Ledges (State Park)

• 12440 State Route 282, Garrettsville, OH 44231
• Trail map
• Park size: 167 acres
• Total trail length: 3 miles
• Restrooms
• Rugged cliffs, rare plants
• Park Map for Nelson Kennedy Ledges
• TrekOhio photos and descriptions of Nelson Kennedy Ledges

Novak Sanctuary (State Nature Preserve)

• Townline Road, Aurora, Ohio 44202
• GPS coordinates: N41.327850, W81.298117
• Location: Located on Townline Road at the eastern edge of Aurora in Portage County, about 1 mile north of Route 82. Parking is by the oil storage tanks on the east side of the Townline Road.
• Park size: 149 acres
• Total trail length: 2.5 miles
• Good site for bird watching
• Location on Google Maps

Seneca Ponds Park (County Park)

• 515 Mondial Parkway, Streetsboro, Ohio
• Trail map
• Park size: 48 acres
• Total trail length: 1 mile
• Catch and release fishing is available at Seneca Ponds.

The Portage Hike and Bike Trail (Bike Path)

• Transits: Parking is available at Lake Rockwell Road and Towner’s Woods in Franklin Township, Cleveland Road in Ravenna, and at the intersection of Hudson Road and Judson Road in Franklin Township.
• Trail map
• Mostly asphalt paved; there is a section with limestone paving.

Tinker’s Creek (State Nature Preserve)

• 1230 Old Mill Rd, Aurora, OH 44202
• GPS coordinates: N41.284933, W81.391717
• Location: Located southwest of Aurora. From the junction of SR 82 and 43, proceed south on SR 43 approximately 1 mile to Aurora–Hudson Rd. Follow Aurora–Hudson Rd 2 miles southwest, then 2 miles west on Old Mill Rd. The preserve is adjacent to the railroad tracks.
• Park size: 786 acres
• Total trail length: 2.2 miles
• Good site for bird watching
• Observation deck
• Location on Google Maps
• TrekOhio photos and descriptions of Tinker’s Creek

Tinkers Creek (State Park)

• 10303 Aurora Hudson Rd., Streetsboro, OH 44241
• Trail map
• Park size: 355 acres
• Total trail length: 3.75 miles
• Dog friendly
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)
• Cross country ski trails
• Restrooms
• Park Map for Tinkers Creek
• TrekOhio photos and descriptions of Tinkers Creek

Towner’s Woods (County Park)

• 2296 Ravenna Rd., Franklin, OH 44266
• Location: From SR 43, turn east onto Ravenna Rd., go 2 miles to the park entrance.
• Trail map
• Park size: 175 acres
• Total trail length: 4.4 miles
• Cross country ski trails
• Restrooms
• The park is adjacent to the Portage Hike and Bike Trail. It also features one of the best cross-country ski trails in NE Ohio and a Hopewell Indian mound overlooking Lake Pippen. Features a sledding hill.
• Location on Google Maps

Triangle Lake Bog (State Nature Preserve)

• 3612 Sandy Lake Rd., Ravenna, OH 44266
• GPS coordinates: N41.118633, W81.263150
• Park size: 61 acres
• Total trail length: 0.25 miles
• One of the best examples of a kettle lake bog in Ohio. The preserve contains tamarack trees, carnivorous plants, and a floating mat of sphagnum moss. However be on the look out for poison sumac. I believe there is some sort of observation deck there.
• Location on Google Maps

Tummonds (State Nature Preserve)

• Location: Located approximately .5 mile south of Mantua along State Route 44 adjacent to the Upper Cuyahoga State Scenic River.
• Park size: 86 acres

West Branch (State Wildlife Area)

• Location: See above link for driving directions and maps.
• Park size: 8,002 acres
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)
• Hunting when in season with license. Please visit park web site for details.
• Good site for bird watching
• Wildlife Area Map for West Branch

West Branch SP (State Park)

• 5708 Esworthy Road, Ravenna, Ohio 44266–9659
• Trail map
• Park size: 2,650 acres
• Total trail length: 14 miles
• Dog friendly
• Bridle trails
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)
• Hunting when in season with license. Please visit park web site for details.
• Good site for bird watching
• Camp sites
• Mountain bike trails
• Cross country ski trails
• Restrooms
• Features individual camp, group camp w beach, and equestrian camping area. Boating, swimming, snowmobile trails.
• Campground Map
• Park Map for West Branch SP

Wingfoot Lake (State Wildlife Area)

• Location: See above link for driving directions and maps.
• Park size: 569 acres
• Archery range
• Hunting when in season with license. Please visit park web site for details.
• Fishing Map for Wingfoot Lake
• Enhanced Fishing Map for Wingfoot Lake

Wingfoot Lake SP (State Park)

• 993 Goodyear Park Blvd., Mogadore, OH 44260
• GPS coordinates: N41.016191,W81.362969
• Trail map
• Park size: The park is 121 acres; the lake is 444 acres.
• Dog friendly
• Restrooms
• New addition to the Ohio state park system. From the park map, it looks like there are some paved paths, but no hiking trails per se.
• Park Map for Wingfoot Lake SP
• Disc Golf Course Map for Wingfoot Lake SP
• Location on Google Maps

Last Update: 2017-07-24 16:32:02