AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Oak Openings Preserve Metropark

Mallard Lake–Horse Trail Loop, 6 sights

4.9 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 1 hr 40 min

Mallard Lake–Horse Trail Loop, 6 sights is a 4.9-mile loop in Oak Openings Preserve Metropark near South Swanton, OH. The route reaches Mallard Lake. It is mostly level, with 53 ft of elevation gain. It scores 29/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi640 – 692 ft5.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Oak Openings Hiking Trail 41.55724, -83.87028
Nearest town South Swanton, OH
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mallard Lake–Horse Trail Loop, 6 sights

4.9 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 1 hr 40 min

Elevation 641–692 ft

Loop · Oak Openings Preserve Metropark

Trailhead: Oak Openings Hiking Trail · 41.55724, -83.87028

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:22 AM · sunset 7:38 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Wabash Cannonball Connector, heading E.
  2. 0.3 miBear left onto Wabash Cannonball Trail (North Fork), heading E.
  3. 0.7 miTurn right, heading S.
  4. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  5. 450 ftContinue straight onto Sand Dunes Trail, heading S.
  6. 450 ftBear right, heading SE.
  7. 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  8. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Ferns & Lakes / Sand Dunes Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Sand Dunes Trail, heading SE.
  10. 0.3 miPass Mallard Lake.
  11. 300 ftTurn right onto Oak Openings Parkway, heading S.
  12. 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
  13. 100 ftBear right onto Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  14. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Horseshoe Lake Trail, heading W.
  15. 50 ftTurn left onto Ridge Trail, heading W.
  16. 0.5 miTurn right onto Horse Trail, heading S.
  17. 400 ftTurn right onto Oak Openings Hiking Trail, heading S.
  18. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  19. 0.2 miBear right onto Horse Trail, heading NW.
  20. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Oak Openings Hiking Trail, heading NW.
  21. 1.1 miThe loop closes back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/mallard-lake-mallard-lake-loop-8-sights-8-km-3f9c

Trail surface

36% dirt14% paved1% sand49% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:22 AMSunset 7:38 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~23 min). Leave by 6:55 PM for the 7:38 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:17 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Oak Openings Hiking Trail Trailhead

Hikes near South Swanton, Ohio