Birding at Cowan Lake State Park

General Information

Address

1750 Osborn Rd, Wilmington, OH 45177

County/Counties

Clinton

DeLorme Page Number and Coordinates

(7th Edition and earlier) p.76 A-1

Nearest Town or City

Wilmington, Ohio.

Directions from Nearest Town or City

Southwest of Wilmington about 7 miles on Ohio 730 to spillway or U.S. 68 South, then West on Ohio 350 to several entrances.

About Cowan Lake State Park

Named an Important Bird Area by Ohio Audubon, Cowan Lake has 700 acres of water and 1,076 acres of land that includes upland deciduous forest, wetland and riparian corridor, with more than four miles of marked hiking trails. Lotus Trail is especially good for summer birding with a number of nesting warblers, vireos and other songbirds. Entrance to Lotus Trail is adjacent to the campground entrance on Osborn Road.

 

When the lake is low the end of Lotus Trail overlooks a wetland area that has been very productive in past years. The spillway is also good for shorebirds when conditions are right. Among unusual bird sightings at Cowan are 240 Sandhill Cranes, Snow Geese, White-fronted Geese, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Little Blue Heron, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, Stilt Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, 30 Semipalmated Plover, White-winged Scoter, Surf Scoter, Red-throated Loon, and Bald Eagle.

Visiting Information

Closed hours/season

Open all year during daylight hours.

Parking Areas

Numerous scattered around the park.

Fees/Permits

Hunting and fishing licenses and fees for boat docking.

Restroom Facilities

Primitive facilities throughout park, flush toilets during summer in beach house and on campground.

Harmful Insects, Poisonous Plants, or Animals

Poison Ivy.

Restaurants in the Area

The nearby Spillway Lodge, another restaurant across from the spillway, and many in and near Wilmington.

Other Birding Spots in the Area

Cowan Creek Road, Caesar Creek State Park, Stone Lick State Park, and Indian Creek State Wildlife Area.