Pipe Creek Wildlife Area — Attraction in Sandusky

I love, love, love this Nature Preserve. Probably my second favorite in the Erie Metropark system. If you look from Google Maps, aerial view, it is shaped like an octagon. And divided into sections. So you can hike the entire perimeter (which I highly suggest, tell you why later) because it gives the most views and where you will see the most wildlife. Canadian geese, Herons, Egrets, Seagulls (several types) terns, Tundra Swans (winter) great horned owl (nests there all the time) bufflehead ducks, mallards, wood ducks, kingfishers, lesser schaup, American coots, and redhead ducks-(to name only the ones I’ve seen but probably more) There are also several species of birds. But this is a huge area for waterfowl. The perimeter trails is wide and clear. Interior is marsh, exterior is lake. Now, trails that go through the middle have a TON of bugs so where a lot of bug spray if you plan to venture through the middle paths. Hiking Trails Nature...

Just another nature trail. Trees, marsh, weeds, grasses, birds, snakes, other creepy crawlers, and plenty of mosquitoes. Unless you go here during the winter months. A nice rocky shoreline pretty good for fishing. Especially for catfish in June and July. There's a small mud beach suitable for launching kiaks. Watch out for water snakes along the shoreline, they're not poisonous but if you mess with them they do bit pretty hard. A small but free gravel off street parking lot for your convenience and posted trail map and information signs. You might want to stay on the trail unless you'd like to take some new little pets back with you. Ticks. Great breeding ground. Check yourself out good before getting back in your...

Pipe Creek Wildlife Area was a lovely surprise during our trip for the Biggest Week in American Birding. Fair warning — it’s a little tricky to find. If you miss the sign (like we did), you’ll probably end up doubling back. But once you find it, it’s well worth the effort.

The trail is easy to access and makes for a peaceful, scenic walk. The area offers a great mix of habitats and beautiful views, making it a perfect stop for birding or just a quiet stroll in nature. We’re glad we made the stop and would definitely...