NCT: Oak Openings and Maumee State Forest

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The only section on the NCT in the region not on the Wabash/Cannonball, and a beautiful section at that!

If you are trekking along the North Country National Scenic Trail this is the first respite since the MI border (and beyond that) to do something other than a paved 90 deg turn, and the first time off pavement since Liberty Center from the south so enjoy the 6.8 mile slice of the best NW Ohio has to offer. (a quick note, this route takes you along the trail where the blue blazes and NCT markers actually lead you, not to be confused with the route marked on the maps section of the NCT website also listed below. This is something I am presently working on with all parties involved to update, but regardless of the title, this is a beautiful route)

There is an excellent parking area with restroom and facilities open during daylight at the Springbrook Parking Lot to drop your vehicle and catch a ride to the other end. If you skip the .7 miles of pavement on Berridge Rd. and start/finish from Archbold-Whitehouse Rd. you can stage your vehicle at the South trail entrance into Maumee State Forest. (do not block the access road with your vehicle per regulations in below link) and you'll have a nice 6 mile trip. If you choose to tackle this one as an out and back, you're in for a longer though still wonderful trip.

From South to North this is where you hang a left off the Wabash-Cannonball Trail and head North .7 miles to the entrance to a remote section of the Maumee State Forrest. You'll find a NCT trail marker at the trailhead and sparsely placed faded blue blazes through this area, but they are there. There are lots of cool views through this section and plenty of unique region specific fauna that tends to easily distract you from the trail itself.

One quick section of pavement to reminds you of the city life again as you enter Oak Openings Metro park, and a quick left turn along the yellow arrow marked Boy Scout Trail has you plunging back into the woods. Keep following the Boy Scout Trail until you find the Wabash-Cannonball North Fork and head west a short ways and you'll find your vehicle with lunch waiting for you! There are too many highlights through Oak Openings to mention, I hope you all will share for me.




northcountrytrail.org/
metroparkstoledo.com/explor…
forestry.ohiodnr.gov/maumee