magee marsh wildlife area

Long gone is the beach most of the memories are faded. The boardwalk has seen better days. If you're out that way and want to see nature there are still plenty of places to walk.

You might come for an hour, but you can easily decide to stay the entire day. Walk along the beachfront to watch shore birds or take a hike along the expansive boardwalk to spy birds sitting in trees or flying straight up the boardwalk, as happened to us, which was quite exciting. If you want to learn how to identify birds this is a good place to come as seasoned bird watchers are plentiful and ready to share their knowledge. Bring a good set of binoculars and a camera with a long lens - or just come along with only your own two eyes. Either way you will have a pleasant experience. Parking is plentiful. The area appeared to be well cared for.

This is really a nice place with lots of parking area and a great board walk. It goes along water ways, woods and grasses. I can understand why the birds love this place with all the berries. The beach is nice also.

This is hands down if anything to come see.all It's beauty in natural state for miles. It's a habitat of all kinds of wildlife and birds...the best is at the end of the drive is the beach. All though when I went a few years ago it's no longer up kept. Which I am sure it's due to cuts in the park and wildlife fund, kind of really breaks my heart with all the weekends and years I spent coming up as a child and teenager sad to see. But it does not stop me from walking to the top of the look out tower for a piece of serenity. Admiring the drive through, stopping at the center. Then sitting on the beach listening to the lake hitting the shore. I really miss my weekends!

Boardwalk was a wonderful place to observe birds, as was the marsh bordering the entry road. Also liked the estuary trail and walking on the beach. This is a primitive place, a little piece of wilderness.

The visitors center is a must see as it has preserved bird display which blows away any I have ever seen. They must have every bird in the area shown here and it is a wow. The boardwalk by the lake was great and even though we were did not go at the best time we still saw some very interesting birds. Very nice.

It is SO nice to live in Toledo but go just minutes away to a beautiful little oasis. Weve been going in June, so it is very quiet. The cranes are so graceful and the beach is clean and clear of litter. Nice little getaway!

Good place to watch wildlife and take long walks. On the shores of Lake Erie, perfect for pictures. The beach is closed to swimmers but still the perfect place for long walks or runs.

Visited in mid-September hoping to catch some warblers on their southward migraiton -- and we weren't disappointed! Don't miss this refuge tucked beside Ottawa National Wildlife Area. The nature trails afford beautiful views of lake and dikes and the board walk offers opportunities to see the birds at eye level. We plan to return in May for the Spring migration.

We visited here on the 27th and 29th of September, 2013 as part of a transcontinental road trip. Magee Marsh is a famous Important Bird Area that attracts birders from around the world during peak Spring and Fall migrations when many species of warblers, shorebirds, and many other bird species make their annual trip to and from the Arctic to breed, with some coming from as far away as South America.The birds were great, but the facilities could use some TLC -- especially given the amount of use they get. Considering how far people travel to get here, and much they spend to do it, I doubt if they'd balk at a reasonable day use fee that would help fund O&M.We were especially annoyed by a confusing sign on the Migratory Bird Center building (which was never open while we were there). The sign made it seem like the entire preserve closes at 5pm. The official website didn't help either, with no mention of hours.Since there was no one around to ask, we left on the afternoon of the 27th with lots of daylight left, rather than risk getting locked inside the gate. But the next day we found a "Friends of Magee Marsh" website that said the trails are open Open Dawn to Dusk (subject to restrictions during fall waterfowl hunting season for causeway, beach and boardwalk). What a pisser. What a waste of gas.Be sure to leave some time to visit the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge just west and next door to Magee Marsh. There was some kind of ridiculous, noisy car show going on there the Saturday morning we visited. But I assume that's not a usual problem. Hopefully.

This is a wonderful place to visit if you like the outdoors and the wildlife and birds who share it with us. The very nice visitor's center was as good a place to start as any. I got a feel for the outside by starting on the inside. I saw hummingbirds and small colorful birds as well as a few big ones soaring above me. The staff was very helpful with all my questions and I plan to visit again during the migratory weeks. I took a walk on the boardwalk and saw and heard many new sights and sounds. This is a peaceful place with unsurpassed beauty at every turn. I can't wait to come back when I have more time to soak up the splendor.

There is a nice boardwalk built over a swampy area that has ample benches and viewing spots. The warbler action is superb during the Fall and the Spring. Kids love it. There is a visitors center on the way there with books and souvenirs of various kinds.

This park used to be maintained as a nice beach. Alas, it is now only good for bird watching. Fortunately, lots of people love to watch birds. There is a small but nice nature center. The entrance to the park features a long drive through marshland teeming with birds, some migratory, and some that stay all summer or all year. We went during migration season, and walked the board walk through the woods. Many birders will whisper clues as to where the rarer species might be spotted. Shh! Do NOT scare them away.There are porta jons- go before you go!

My husband and I enjoy nature and dislike big Labor Day crowds. After visiting Maumee Bay, we were hoping to find a quieter, more scenic way to enjoy Lake Erie. We enjoyed our visit to Magee Marsh, which was very clean, quiet and serene. It was a nice way to view birds and enjoy the lake without the touristy beach feel. We didn't have time to hit any trails, but it we did have a nice drive and stopped for photos along the way. There isn't a lot to do in the traditional vacation sense of the word, but we weren't looking for that--so we thought it was perfect!

Nothing speak to the changing of the seasons like Magee Marsh and it's wildlife. Our grandsons enjoy making our annual/seasonal trips when papa shares his experience growing up as an avid sportsman.