sandy ridge reservation

Sandy Ridge Reservation is one the most popular parks in the Lorain County Metro Parks and one of my favorites for the excellent birding, marshland environment, short worthwhile hikes and facilities. When one first enters, park near the Wetland Center which has restrooms, information on recent sightings, a reservable day use room, a butterfly and hummingbird garden and a pond with paths and footbridge for viewing. Nearby is a playground and picnic shelter and a little further in the adjacent meadow are a larger picnic shelter and a one mile loop trail where dogs are permitted on a leash. But the best part of the park is the trail that begins on the far side of the Wetland Center and takes one about half a mile through a wet forest that provides habitat for song birds and amphibians and displays excellent fall color. When one comes to the end of the forest, the trail opens to the marsh area which has several trails providing hikes of 1 to 2 miles or so that loop through the habitat supporting an abundance of ducks, herons, egrets, cranes, geese, swallows, blackbirds and more; at least 224 different bird species have been spotted here. The resident pair of Bald Eagles is often seen in the summer as well. Mammals include deer, muskrats, raccoons, mink and coyotes but these are seen less often as the park is open from sunrise to sunset making it difficult to be back in the marsh area when these are the most active. On weekends in the summer, a “tram” provides rides from the Wetland Center, through the forest, to the marsh providing access to this hidden treasure for those that may not otherwise be able to access it. This park is worthy of repeated visits as there always seems to be something new to see.