The Scout Trail at Oak Openings Preserve

The Scout Trail at Oak Openings Preserve

A section of the trail

Oak Openings Preserve Ski Trail

Known by a Couple Different Names

The scout trail (also known as the Oak Openings hiking trail) is a 15.5 mile trail that basically goes around the perimeter of Oak Openings Preserve. It is my favorite trail in Northwest Ohio.

This trail is known by a couple different names. On the Metroparks' Oak Openings Preserve map it is referred to as "The Oak Openings Hiking Trail". It is better known as "The Scout Trail". Local Boy Scout troops have taken care of the trail for many years. Most of the bridges and boardwalks were built by future Eagle Scouts. Their names are engraved on the wooden structures for hikers to see.

Trail Info


- 15.5 miles long

- Yellow trail blazes

- Located at Oak Openings Preserve Metropark

- Hiking Only (no bikes or horses)

As I mentioned above this trail is my favorite hiking trail. It is secluded, its quiet, and its long enough to challenge most hikers. You won't see too many other people on the trail most days. If you hike during the week you likely won't see anyone else on the trail all day.

The distance of the scout trail is listed on the Oak Openings map as 16.2 miles. Some of the older signs indicate its 17 miles, and the mile posts stop at about 15.5 miles. I've walked it many times and 15.5 miles is pretty accurate.

The Best Way to see ALL of Oak Openings Preserve

What I like most about the scout trail is that it provides a intimate view of everything that Oak Openings Preserve has to offer. Oak Openings is over 3700 acres. Most of the other trails are 1 to 3 miles long and basically stay close to the Mallard Lake area. While all of the trails are worth hiking they don't allow you to see the whole preserve. ITS BIG!

This trail will take you through pine forests, traditional hardwood forests, swampy forest areas, sand dunes, blueberry forest, man-made lakes and ponds, creeks (big and small), the Swan Creek floodplain, tall grass prairie, and oak savanna. Its a showcase of the entire Oak Openings Region.

Tips for Hiking the Scout Trail

  • Allow plenty of time. The scout trail will take the average hiker about 6-8 hours to complete. This is assuming you make a few stops to enjoy the scenery.
  • Wear descent hiking shoes and padded socks. It makes it easier on the feet. There are a few dips and rolls, but for the most part the trail is flat. Its all sandy soil so its relatively soft compared to clay or rocks.
  • You can break the trail up in to two separate days. If 15.5 miles is too far to go in one day its also possible to break up the trail in to two segments. The Wabash-Cannonball Trail cuts the scout trail in half. You can hike the first 8 miles of the trail and then take the paved bike trail back to where you started. You will end up hiking 9 to 10 miles. You can do the same with the last portion of the trail.
  • Take water and food. There are only 3 places to get water along the trail and they are all on the south section of the trail between mile marker 5 and 7. So make sure you take plenty of water with you. From around mile marker 7 until the end of the trail there is not a place to get clean water (Swan Creek is not clean).
  • Take bug spray. During the spring and early summer months the mosquitoes can be viscous. Take extra spray in case you sweat your first dose off.

Description of the Scout Trail

(Southern Half of the Scout Trail)

Boy Scout Trail Map Oak Openings

The trail head is at the Springbrook area of Oak Openings. which is located on State Route 64. The Wabash-Cannonball Trail crosses the road at this location. There is a parking lot, water, and public restrooms here. At one time there was a loop around the little lake here that added about 1.5 miles to the trail. That's why the old signs still say 17 miles.

From the parking lot head east down the wabash-cannonball trail for about 100 yards. The scout trail is marked by a sign on the right side of the bike trail. This sign still says 17 miles (remember its only 15.5 so you get a break).

The trail is marked by yellow blazes all the way. There are also mileage markers on posts every 1/2 mile.

Miles 1 through 3

The first 3 miles are a mixture of hardwood forest, pine forest, and swamp forest. There are some tree-covered sand dunes along the way as well. If you hike in the morning it will be very quiet along this part of the trail. The sun will be shining from the east through the trees.

Most of mile 2 is through a low forested area. This is a swampy forest in the spring.

Towards the end of the third mile there is pretty big drop from a sand ridge dune down to a small creek. A large wooden stairway takes you down to the creek and small floodplain. Once through this area the terrain heads back up to dryer sandy areas again.

One of my favorite oak savannas

Classic Oak Savanna

Miles 4 through 5

At the end of mile 3 is one of my favorite spots along the trail. The forest opens up to a beautiful oak savanna. This area was restored to its current condition.

During the summer this spot is sparsely concentrated oak trees with bracken fern and sedge grass covering the ground. The ferns go nearly as far as you can see. It is a very peaceful and secluded area. The horse trail goes along the savanna so there will occasionally be riders coming through.

The scout trail crosses the oak savanna area. At this point you are towards the most southern most part of the preserve.

There is one spot on this section of the trail that seem as if you are walking in to the witches forest (or something like that). As you meander along the scout trail it suddenly enters in to a dense pine forest. The low dead branches of these pines is much different than any of the other pine forests.

It isn't a large section so you are out of the haunted forest rather quickly and actually back in the oak savanna.

Off to your right there is an open sand dune area known as Ostrich Barrens. The trail doesn't actually go in to the barrens but if you wanted to go off-trail a bit you will see an open prairie with sand dunes. There are many wildflowers here such as lupine, hoary puccoon, blazingstar, and lots of butterflies.

At the end of mile 4 is Campbell Prairie. This is a restored tall grass prairie and most recently (2007) the new home to the Karner Blue Butterfly. The scout trail cuts through a small section of the prairie before heading back in to the woods.

Mile 5 is mainly hardwood forest until you eventually get to Evergreen Lake. Evergreen Lake man made. It probably gets its name from the evergreens on the east side of the lake. But during the summer it is usually covered with green which is another reason it can be called Evergreen.

Water Stop...........There are 3 places to get water along the trail and Evergreen lake is the first one. There are restrooms and a water fountain here.

Miles 6 through 8

From Evergreen Lake the trail briefly goes along State Route 295. This is a fairly busy road so fortunately you aren't out here long. The trails uses the bridge on the road to cross Swan Creek here.

Once across the creek you are back in the woods. The White Oak area is on your right. There are more restrooms and water here, but you probably don't need them since you were just at Evergreen.

The trail heads back up out of the floodplain and along Oak Opening Parkway. Once across another road bridge the trail goes towards a scout camping area. There is a water pump here (hand pump). The water is good here, its not sulpher water like some of the hand pumps.

You are aren't far from Oak Openings Lodge if you want to go there. You also aren't far from the Mallard Lake area. Otherwise its back across the parkway and more hiking.

This section is up and down forest-covered sand dunes. There will be some sand ridges followed by low swampy forest.

Mile 8 is rather interesting. You will come up to a series of small ponds. Depending on the time of year there may or may not be water in some of them. The trail goes along a sand ridge along these ponds.

There are occasional wood ducks along with frogs and turtles in these ponds.

Sassafras and wild blueberry along the scout trail

Boy Scout Trail Map Oak Openings

Actually there is some interesting history about the ponds. If you look close they don't appear to be natural, they aren't. They were dug during World War II. The sand was used to make shell casings for bombs.

The scout trail then enters in to a large blueberry forest area. The small shrubby bushes on the forest floor are wild blueberry bushes.

You then come out at the corner of Wilkins Road and the bike trail. At this point you can continue on the scout trail or take the bike trail back to the parking lot at the Springbrook area.

(Northern Half of the Scout Trail)

If you split the trail in two rather than hiking the entire trail in one day, I recommend the southern half rather than the northern half. The southern half is more scenic than the northern half.

Miles 9 through 12

Miles 9 and 10 can get rather boring. Most of it is swamp forest without much break in the scenery. That's about it.

After mile 10 the trail crosses Girdham road near a large area of pine trees that were cut down. It then heads north and through some small openings in the woods.

As you get closer to the northern end of the scout trail you will begin to hear the traffic from Airport Highway. There are some very large trees in this section. The forest canopy is very high and there is a lot of sedge grass on the forest floor.

The trail then picks up on an abandoned paved road. Eventually the road ends up on Airport Highway but you won't go that far. The trail veers off the paved section and then uses a bridge along Airport Highway to cross Swan Creek. There is a lot of traffic on this road, but there is a walkway on the bridge so you don't have to walk in traffic.


Swan Creek Floodplain

Swan Creek Floodplain

Miles 13 through the end

After you get across the bridge you will be walking along the back yards of a couple homes. The trail does go along the creek here but apparently these home owners cut the grass all the way to the trail. Its a only for a short distance and then you are back in the woods.

This portion of the trail is all along the Swan Creek floodplain. The trail is a bit more rolling along here. Thee are a few places where it seems like you are on a bluff overlooking the creek. This is the closest thing you will get to a bluff in Northwest Ohio.

Along the floodplain you will see different wildflowers. I have been on the trail when the creek was flooded. Most of the trail is up on the banks of the creek. But there is one section that goes through the floodplain. During a flood you will need to make a detour out on the road (Rt. 64) and back on to the trail after the Swanton Reservoir.

Floodplain continues until after you cross Monclova Road. You're almost done!

The trail goes down to Springbrook Lake, past a horse camp area, through some pines and then back on the bike trail. This is where the trail began.

You made it!

By now your legs are probably tired, sore, achy (mine always are), but it was a nice way to see Oak Openings Preserve.

Continue reading here: Stop, look, listen with nature

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