Birding at Edison Woods Preserve

General Information

Address

10186 Ceylon Rd, Berlin Heights, OH 44014

County/Counties

Erie

DeLorme Page Number and Coordinates

(7th Edition and earlier) Page 39, B-6

Nearest Town or City

One mile North of Berlin Heights, Ohio.

Directions from Nearest Town or City

From SR 2, east of Huron, exit South onto SR 61. Drive about two miles. The parking lot is on the east side, before ascending the hill. Look carefully as the entrance is easy to drive by.

About Edison Woods Preserve

The area of this site is about 1300 acres, with 1000 acres wooded and the rest in mostly perimeter fields, newly planted in 2002 to native vegetative cover. Habitats here include closed forest, old fields, grassy meadows, brush, power line cuts with edge habitat, wet woods, and two small ponds. There are about 6 miles of trail, some of which are very wet part of the year, so appropriate footwear is recommended.

 

The loop trails may be longer than expected. A gravel driveway, extending east for about ½ mile from the parking lot, is a good woodland and “edge” birding area. The boundary roads are Mason Road to the south, Frailey Road to the east, Driver Road to the northwest, and Smokey Road, which crosses the northern part. The “South Ridge Trail”, which arcs down to Smokey, is another good woodland trail, but there is no parking at the Smokey end. The ponds are on Smokey Road, at and near Driver Road.

Visiting Information

Closed hours/season

Open all year during daylight hours.

Parking Areas

One is located on SR 61.

Fees/Permits

A permit is needed to go off trail.

Restroom Facilities

A Port-a-jon is available, spring thru fall.

Harmful Insects, Poisonous Plants, or Animals

Mosquitoes are abundant during the summer. Poison ivy is common.

Restaurants in the Area

The Main St Café, in downtown Berlin Heights, is open through lunch.

Other Useful Information

Many of the trails are used by horseback riders. A short boardwalk was opened in 2005. Other trail expansion is planned to access the fields. The fields are under a “spring burn” regime. This is an excellent area for spring wildflowers.

Other Birding Spots in the Area

Sheldon Marsh, on SR 6, west side of Huron; Dupont Marsh and the Huron River flats (under SR 2) are both south of Huron on River Road; Riverside Cemetery, on SR 61, on the south side of Berlin Heights.