AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Oak Openings Preserve Metropark

Mallard Lake–Ferns & Lakes Trail Loop, 7 sights

6.2 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 6 min

Mallard Lake–Ferns & Lakes Trail Loop, 7 sights is a 6.2-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 32/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi640 – 686 ft6.5 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–Ferns & Lakes Trail Loop, 7 sights

6.2 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 2 hr 6 min

Elevation 641–686 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. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Horse Trail, heading E.
  4. 0.6 miTurn right onto Oak Openings Hiking Trail, heading S.
  5. 0.9 miTurn right onto Wabash Cannonball Trail (North Fork), heading S.
  6. 0.4 miTurn left onto Ferns & Lakes Trail, heading SW.
  7. 0.3 miTurn left onto Ferns & Lakes / Sand Dunes Trail, heading S.
  8. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Sand Dunes Trail, heading SE.
  9. 0.4 miPass Mallard Lake.
  10. 150 ftTurn right onto Oak Openings Parkway, heading S.
  11. 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
  12. 50 ftBear right onto Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  13. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Horseshoe Lake Trail, heading W.
  14. 50 ftTurn left onto Ridge Trail, heading W.
  15. 0.5 miTurn right onto Horse Trail, heading S.
  16. 400 ftTurn right onto Oak Openings Hiking Trail, heading S.
  17. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  18. 0.2 miBear right onto Horse Trail, heading NW.
  19. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Oak Openings Hiking Trail, heading N.
  20. 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-out-back-9-sights-11-km

Trail surface

38% dirt12% paved50% 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 8:16 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