Trails

Boardwalk Loop

Open season: Open year round
Length: 0.3 mile
Location of trail: Behind the visitor center
Surface: Boards and stone
Difficulty: Easy, ADA compliant
Information: The boardwalk loop begins and ends behind the visitor center and travels over wetland and through wooded habitat. It has extensions that travel deeper into the woods and to the ranger station education building. 

Estuary Trail

Open season: Daily December through October, Saturday afternoon 鈥� Sunday October through November
Length: .5 mile
Location of trail: West of the Magee Marsh beach along Lake Erie
Surface: Stone, grass, sand
Difficulty: Moderate
Information: This trail is accessed from the Magee Marsh parking lot or by walking the Pool 1 trail April 15 through September 1. It provides access to the lake and to beach ridge habitat preferred by many migrating songbirds in the spring. 

Woodies Roost Trail

Open season: April 1 through September 15
Length:
Location of trail: 1.9 miles
Surface Grass
Difficulty: level, easy
Information: This seasonal trail can be accessed from the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge trailhead parking lot via the Partnership Trail or from the Migratory Bird Center parking lot at Magee Marsh. It travels around a wetland and past some large wooded areas. 

Gallagher Memorial Trail

Open season: Year round
Length: 0.3 mile
Location of trail: Behind the offices of Black Swamp Bird Observatory
Surface Gravel
Difficulty: Easy
Information: Access this trail from the Partnership Trail or from Black Swamp Bird Observatory. This trail travels through scrub-shrub habitat and is a great location to see the mating display of American woodcock in the spring. There are also a variety of songbirds that use this area. 

Partnership Trail

Open season: Year round
Length: 1.5 miles
Location of trail: Between the trailhead parking lot and Magee Marsh Wildlife Area entrance road. 
Surface Grass
Difficulty: Easy
Information: Access this trail from trailhead parking lot or from the Migratory Bird Center parking lot at Magee Marsh. This trail travels through scrub-shrub area, along wetlands, deeper open pools and a grassland. There are also a variety of songbirds and waterfowl that use this area.
 

VC Boardwalk Trail

Open season: Open year round
Location of trail: Behind the visitor center
Surface: Boards and stone
Information: The boardwalk loop begins and ends behind the visitor center and travels over wetland and through wooded habitat. It has extensions that travel deeper into the woods and to the ranger station education building.
Trail Length (mi)
0.36
Trail Difficulty
Difficulty Meter / introductory
Easy
Estimated Time
20 minutes
Route Type
Loop
Suitability
Kid friendly
Wheelchair friendly
View Trail

Estuary Trail

Open season: Daily December through October, Saturday afternoon 鈥� Sunday October through November
Location of trail: West of the Magee Marsh beach along Lake Erie
Surface: Stone, grass, sand

Information: This trail is accessed from the Magee Marsh parking lot or by walking the Pool 1 trail April 15 through September 1. It provides access to the lake and to beach ridge habitat preferred by many migrating songbirds in the spring.
Trail Length (mi)
0.54
Trail Difficulty
Difficulty Meter / intermediate
Moderate
Estimated Time
20 minutes
Route Type
Loop
View Trail

Grimm Prairie Trail

Trail Length (mi)
1.15
View Trail

John Gallagher Trail

Open season: Year round
Location of trail: Behind the offices of Black Swamp Bird Observatory
Surface: Gravel
Information: Access this trail from the Partnership Trail or from Black Swamp Bird Observatory. This trail travels through scrub-shrub habitat and is a great location to see the mating display of American woodcock in the spring. There are also a variety of songbirds that use this area.
Trail Length (mi)
0.39
Trail Difficulty
Difficulty Meter / introductory
Easy
Estimated Time
10 minutes
Route Type
Loop
Suitability
Dog friendly
Kid friendly
View Trail

Krause Road Trail

Trail Length (mi)
0.99
View Trail

Lakeshore Preserve Trail

Trail Length (mi)
0.27
View Trail

Metzger Marsh Trail

Trail Length (mi)
2.46
View Trail

Middle Toussaint Trail

Trail Length (mi)
0.44
View Trail

Ottawa Wildlife Interpretive Trail

Trail Length (mi)
8.06
View Trail

Partnership Trail

Open season: Year round
Location of trail: Between the trailhead parking lot and Magee Marsh Wildlife Area entrance road.
Surface: Grass
Information: Access this trail from trailhead parking lot or from the Migratory Bird Center parking lot at Magee Marsh. This trail travels through scrub-shrub area, along wetlands, deeper open pools and a grassland. There are also a variety of songbirds and waterfowl that use this area.
Trail Length (mi)
1.22
Trail Difficulty
Difficulty Meter / introductory
Easy
Estimated Time
30 minutes
Route Type
System
Suitability
Dog friendly
Kid friendly
View Trail

Pool 1 West Trail

Trail Length (mi)
1.41
View Trail

VC Fishing Pond Trail

Trail Length (mi)
0.22
View Trail

West Harbor Landing Trail

Trail Length (mi)
0.06
View Trail

Woodies Roost Trail

Open season: April 1 through September 15
Location of trail: East of the visitor center
Surface: Grass
Information: This seasonal trail can be accessed from the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge trailhead parking lot via the Partnership Trail or from the Migratory Bird Center parking lot at Magee Marsh. It travels around a wetland and past some large wooded areas.
Trail Length (mi)
1.61
Trail Difficulty
Difficulty Meter / introductory
Easy
Estimated Time
35 minutes
Route Type
Loop
Suitability
Dog friendly
Kid friendly
View Trail