Sandy Ridge Reservation in Lorain County Metro parks
Sandy Ridge Reservation
- Located in North Ridgeville
- Part of Lorain County Metro Parks
- Amazing Birding Park
- 2 mile+ Trail Loop
- Easy To Walk
Bird at nest box
Fungi on tree
Bird in tree
Bird in tree
Bridge over lake
Great Horned Owl in Lorain, Ohio
Trees in marsh
Cloud reflections on water
Cloud reflections on water
Cloud reflections on water
Cloud reflections on water
Lake Reflections
A fun day hike with a camera
Sandy Ridge Metro park
We took a trip to Sandy Ridge Reservation Metro Park in Lorain County, Ohio to explore an excellent birding trail. The park is located in the City of North Ridgeville off Otten Road. We were told we would really enjoy the scenery and the trails offered around the meadow and lake, and wow, we sure did! We took several cameras along and setup up some really fun wide angle shots along the lakes and paths. We also included a bonus Great Horned Owl picture we captured at a nearby area that is not part of the nature preserve. However, we promised to keep his location secret so that he is not disturbed by too many people. If you are lucky you just might see owls, jays, geese, eagles and more here!
The park offers a couple trails including a lovely 2 mile hike on crushed stone around two lakes and a marsh area. There is also a shorter meadow loop that seemed very active with several types of birds. There are reportedly over 250 types of birds that have been spotted here, including nesting bald eagles. We were not lucky enough to see the eagles this trip, however we captured some amazing scenery, several birds nesting and flying about along with some really cool forest scenes and lake shots.
If you are looking for something to do outside your usual parks, this trip is only about 30+ minutes outside Cleveland, Ohio and is very easy walking. You will find lots of other nature lovers there as it seems to be a popular spot so going early in the morning before it gets crowded is advised. The park opens at 8 a.m. daily. The facilities at the park are very nice and include flush restrooms, a playground and a visitor center. We will definitely be back to this park soon!