AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Oak Openings Preserve Metropark

Mallard Lake–Ferns & Lakes Trail, 5 sights

13.6 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 4 hr 33 min

Mallard Lake–Ferns & Lakes Trail, 5 sights is a 13.6-mile out-and-back in Oak Openings Preserve Metropark near Monclova, OH. The route reaches Mallard Lake. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 26/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi640 – 682 ft13.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.55637, -83.75505
Nearest town Monclova, OH
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mallard Lake–Ferns & Lakes Trail, 5 sights

13.6 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 4 hr 33 min

Elevation 639–683 ft

Out & Back · Oak Openings Preserve Metropark

Trailhead: 41.55637, -83.75505

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:21 AM · sunset 7:38 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 100 ftTurn left onto Wabash Cannonball Trail (North Fork), heading W.
  3. 4.4 miTurn right onto Horse Trail, heading W.
  4. 50 ftTurn left onto Wabash Cannonball Trail (North Fork), heading W.
  5. 0.4 miTurn left onto Ferns & Lakes Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.3 miTurn left onto Ferns & Lakes / Sand Dunes Trail, heading S.
  7. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Sand Dunes Trail, heading SE.
  8. 0.4 miPass Mallard Lake.
  9. 150 ftTurn right onto Oak Openings Parkway, heading S.
  10. 150 ftBear right, heading S.
  11. 100 ftBear right onto Ridge Trail, heading S.
  12. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Horseshoe Lake Trail, heading SW.
  13. 50 ftTurn left onto Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  14. 0.5 miTurn right onto Horse Trail, heading S.
  15. 0.5 miReach Mallard Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 0.5 miTurn left onto Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  17. 0.5 miTurn right onto Horseshoe Lake Trail, heading N.
  18. 50 ftContinue straight onto Ridge Trail, heading N.
  19. 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  20. 50 ftBear left onto Oak Openings Parkway, heading NE.
  21. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  22. 100 ftContinue straight onto Sand Dunes Trail, heading E.
  23. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Ferns & Lakes / Sand Dunes Trail, heading N.
  24. 0.2 miTurn right onto Ferns & Lakes Trail, heading NW.
  25. 0.3 miTurn right onto Wabash Cannonball Trail (North Fork), heading N.
  26. 0.4 miTurn right onto Horse Trail, heading E.
  27. 50 ftTurn left onto Wabash Cannonball Trail (North Fork), heading E.
  28. 4.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  29. 50 ftArrive 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-out-back-6-sights-22-km

Trail surface

69% paved6% dirt25% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:21 AMSunset 7:38 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:17 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:38 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:05 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Monclova, Ohio