Wayne National Forest–Big Bailey Wetland

About Big Bailey Wetland
Big Bailey wetland is located on the Athens Ranger District of the Wayne National Forest. The approximately 6-7 acre wetland is located at the junction of Big Bailey Road (County Road 29) and Carr Bailey Road. Located in northern Athens County, one mile north and west of Chauncey, Big Bailey has existed ever since the mine operated railroad was abandoned about 70 years ago. Today it provides habitat for a wide diversity of bird, reptile, amphibian and mammal species. A small Great Blue Heron rookery is located on the uppermost end of the wetland.

Bird Species that can be seen at Big Bailey include:
Great Blue Herons, Mallards, Wood Ducks, Canada Geese, Kingfisher, Red-winged Blackbirds, Tree Swallows, Screech Owls, Northern Flicker, Eastern Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Mockingbird, Song Sparrow.

Directions: Located on Big Bailey Road (County Road 29) in Dover Township, Athens County approximately 3/4 mile from the intersection of County Road 29 (Big Bailey Road) and OH-13.
From Hocking Valley Birding Trail brochure

About Wayne National Forest
The Wayne National Forest is located in the hills of southeastern Ohio. This small national forest, in the heart of the heavily populated Midwest, covers almost a quarter million acres of Appalachian foothills. The Wayne is divided into three blocks administered by two Ranger Districts at Athens and Ironton. A field office is also located east of Marietta.

Visitors to national forest lands are welcome to camp, hike, hunt and fish. The Forest boundaries surround a checkerboard pattern of ownership, with public and private ownership interspersed. There are over 300 miles of trails on the Forest for hiking, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) riding, mountain biking, or horseback riding.
From Wayne National Forest webpage