Oak Openings Metropark Hiking Trail
BackpackOhio.com status: Last hiked in May, 2022, a new Trail Guide download is now available.
County: Lucas
Nearest town: Toledo
Length: 15 ½ mile loop
Difficulty: Hiking is flat, route is well marked, but can often be wet over significant portions.
Permit/Fees: There is no permit required to hike the trail. There are fees and advance registration is required to camp at each of the three campgrounds along the route.
Contact: Metroparks Toledo office (419) 407-9700. Web, metroparkstoledo.com.
White Oak Campground Trailhead (N41° 32.340′ W83° 49.620′) Directions: From the Toledo area, Take Exit #4 off I-475 onto US-24 West for one exit. Leave US-24 to a right on Fallen Timbers Lane followed by a left onto Russell Rd which become Stitt Rd. Turn left on Weckerly Rd followed by a right on Elber Rd and a left on Obee Rd. When Obee Rd ends, turn right on OH-295 then quickly turn left into the park on Oak Openings Parkway. The campground is on the left.
Trail Facilities: Restrooms are available in the campground near the trailhead. The area has parking, ample signage with a map, a shelter, playground and several campsites. The trail is well marked with yellow/orange blazes and signage at major intersections. There are a surprising number of intersections with other walking trails, equestrian trails, mountain bike trails and even a ski trail, but all are blazed. The trail surface is dirt, typically well drained though significant sections travel through wetlands and lay wet.
Water: Potable water is available at White Oak Campground and the “Treehouse Village.” There are several ponds and seasonal streams along the route for those that really want to treat or filter their water.
Maps: Metroparks map
Internet: Metroparks website
Local Information:
The Hiking Trail is located within 5,000-acre Oak Openings Preserve Metropark in Lucas County. The park is named after the drier, open oak savannas situated throughout the Great Black Swamp of northwest Ohio. The trail circles much of the park and travels among both the savannas and the extensive wetlands. The ecosystem is unique for Ohio backpacking and rare throughout the planet.
Thousands of years ago expanding and retreating glaciers flattened northwest Ohio and left behind a thick (hundreds of feet in places) layer of clay that is nearly impervious to water. For an extended period of time, as the glaciers melted, the outlet of what is now Lake Erie was clogged with ice, raising the lake level. Meltwater streams dropped their loads of sand near the shore of this larger lake. As the lake shrank toward its present size, the sand was left to be rearranged by wind and time. Where the sand is thin, water sits on the surface, creating wetlands (The Great Black Swamp.) Where the sand is thicker, rain percolates right through, leaving dry area (Oak Openings).
Having two unique and significantly different ecosystems sitting right next to each other resulted in a wide variety of unusual flora and fauna. More endangered plant species live here than anywhere else in Ohio. In fact, the Nature Conservancy once named the region one of the 200 “last great places on Earth.”
Visiting Oak Openings Hiking Trail is a unique experience for Ohio backpackers in several regards. Besides the surrounding environment, there are unusual camping options available. For the most rustic experience, the Springbrook Campground offers seven sites with a portalet and common shelter. The camp caters to horseback riders, but is located under 1/10 mile from the trail. Potable water is not available on site. (2022 pricing is $20/site/night.)
A more refined experience can be had at White Oak Campground. Here, eight well separated sites share a shelter and a modern restroom with potable water. The trail is adjacent to the sites. The downside to this campground is its proximity to busy St Rt 295. It didn’t bother me in the evening, but I needed earplugs to sleep. (2022 pricing is $20/site/night.)
For a whole new level of camping, consider the Cannaley Treehouse Village. There are three raised platforms for tents, one is rigged for hammocks as well. Restrooms with showers are nearby. A brewpub is in the works and should be opened soon. In fact, there are treehouses available complete with electric, heating and air conditioning if you want to bag the camping altogether. The location is about a mile from the main loop and is accessed via a side trail. (The platforms are $30/site/night.)
Sites at all three locations need to be reserved in advance at https://metroparkstoledo.com.
The site cost includes delivered firewood, a real plus. There are individual fire rings at Springbrook and White Oak campsites. The Treehouse Village has a common fire ring.
The Hike:
The Hiking Trail is a 15.6 mile loop. Parking for the trail can be found at Evergreen Lake, Springbrook Campground or White Oak Campground. The trail is described starting from the White Oak Campground and walking counterclockwise.
The hike does not pose an elevation challenge. The biggest hills are about 25 feet tall and not steep. The low areas do hold water though. Through much of the year, plan on some mud and occasional standing water. Every creek crossing is bridged, so there is no significant depth to the water. Mosquitos do not require deep water however, so consider bringing repellent in season…..
For complete Trail Report, click here.