Old Woman Creek State Nature Preserve is one of the most unique natural areas in Ohio. (Credit: Ohio Department of Natural Resources)

By Ken Drenten

Arranged like a string of pearls across Ohio’s Lake Erie coastline are some of the state’s most diverse wildlife and nature preserves.

These wildlife areas and state nature preserves contain incredibly diverse varieties of mammals, birds, insects and plant life. Each provides a unique experience for visitors, including hiking, bird watching, fishing and boating.

These are by no means the only wildlife areas and nature preserves along Ohio’s North Coast. Some are quite large and garner lots of visitors, while others are not as well known. They make great daytrips when you’re visiting Ohio’s vacationland along Lake Erie.

All are managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and are open to the public. LIcense required for hunting and fishing. Here’s a look at each.

Magee Marsh Wildlife Area

Magee Marsh is a 2,202-acre controlled hunting area located 17 miles west of Port Clinton on SR 2 and 10 miles north of Oak Harbor on SR 19 (13229 SR 2, Oak Harbor). This high-quality wetland provides a migratory home to Canada geese, mallards, black ducks, gadwall and green-winged teal. Other common species found in Magee Marsh include pintails, wigeon, shovelers, blue-winged teal, wood ducks, ring-necked ducks, and red-breasted mergansers. Lesser numbers of redheads, scaup, buffleheads, ruddy ducks, and canvasbacks also frequent Magee Marsh during migration.

An accessible boardwalk provides excellent bird-watching opportunities. During the summer, herons, egrets, pied-billed grebes, ducks, and Canada geese can be seen in the marsh and along the waterways, and a variety of migrating shorebirds can be spotted as they feed in the mudflats during late summer and early fall. Look for bald eagles as well as muskrats, raccoons, skunks, mink, beaver, foxes, rabbits, fox squirrels, river otters, coyotes and deer.

Magee Marsh Visitor Center is open all year with reduced hours from November to March. Boat ramps available.

Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area

Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area, 3451 County Road 256, Vickery, lies between the south shore of Sandusky Bay and U.S. Route 6 in Townsend and Riley townships, Sandusky County. The area totals 3,200 acres. The majority of the 3,200-acre area has been restored to wetland with the remainder in woods, brush and native grassland. The area is used for public hunting, fishing, trapping and wildlife observation.

Willow Point Wildlife Area

Willow Point Wildlife Area is a 432-acre state wildlife area located 4 miles northwest of Castalia in Erie and Sandusky counties. The area provides opportunities for kayaking, hunting, hiking, birding and fishing. The area can be reached from US 6 by traveling north on CR 290 or by going west on CR 35 (Wahl Road).

Resthaven Wildlife Area

Resthaven Wildlife Area is a 2,218-acre state wildlife area located 1 mile  north of Castalia in Erie and Sandusky counties (412 Cement Ave., Castalia). The area includes ponds and marshlands, ATV and hiking trails, kayaking, dog training area, hunting, fishing, hiking, birding, pheasant release and shooting range.

Pipe Creek Wildlife Area

Pipe Creek Wildlife Area is a 97-acre area located within the city limits of Sandusky, behind the Big Island water treatment facility on F Street overlooking Sandusky Bay. Wildlife found on the area include puddle ducks, common snipe, sora and Virginia rail and Canada geese. Other species that can be seasonally observed are bald eagles, common tern, Caspian tern, godwits, sandpipers, and various other wetland-dependent species. A nesting colony of common terns is also present on the area. 

Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve

Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve and contiguous wetlands comprise some of the last remaining undeveloped stretches of shoreline in the Sandusky Bay region. This 472-acre preserve is known to attract nearly 300 bird species and provides habitat for many kinds of wildflowers.

Along the barrier sand beach, numerous shorebirds are frequently seen searching for food at the water’s edge. Summer residents include great blue herons, red-tailed hawks, black-crowned night-herons, wood ducks, common terns, woodcocks, great horned owls and numerous songbirds. Perhaps the most spectacular summer event is the blooming of the cardinal flower in the woodland swamp. Often described as America’s most beautiful wildflower, its tall and brilliant red spikes are a magnificent sight.

The preserve, located at 2715 Cleveland Road W., Huron, has two miles of hiking trails.

Old Woman Creek State Nature Preserve

Old Woman Creek State Nature Preserve, 2514 Cleveland Ave. E., Huron, is protected as a State Nature Preserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) because it is one of Ohio’s best remaining examples of a natural estuary. The estuary serves as a field laboratory where scientists can study this naturally functioning system and as a place where visitors can learn about estuarine ecology in a natural setting.

The fresh waters of both Lake Erie and Old Woman Creek combine in the estuary zone, forming a third type of water, chemically distinct from that of either the creek or lake. Old Woman Creek features a variety of aquatic and terrestrial habitats: marshlands, open water, a sand barrier beach, upland forests, and old crop fields in early plant succession. These diverse habitats attract a wide range of birds, insects, mammals, fish, reptiles and amphibians. 

The Old Woman Creek Visitor Center allows visitors to spend a day exploring the interactive exhibits. Discover valuable habitats featuring bird watching, microscopes, estuary monitoring gear, and live animals. Utilize an interactive trail map and play a virtual water choices game. Other exhibits include talking timelines, a Lake Erie shipwreck kiosk, games to help demonstrate current research concepts, and Lake Erie Legacy movies.

Nearly three miles of hiking trails wind through the preserve, including oak-hickory forest, scrub shrub, upland swamp forest, marsh and prairie.  

Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve

Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve, located adjacent to Headlands Dunes State Park at 9601 Headlands Road, Mentor, is one of the last areas of its kind in Ohio. The preserve features switchgrass or beach grass, which is established on the upper beach along with annuals, such as cocklebur and sea rocket. The preserve has a 1-mile hiking trail, partially accessible to disabled individuals. Pets and picnicking are not permitted.

Ken Drenten is creator and editor of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

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