Stange Rd. @ Krause Rd.

Tips for Birding

Stange and Krause Roads are on the edge of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge adjacent to Stange and Grimm prairies. The agricultural fields on private property on both roads are worth checking in wet weather for shorebirds. Buff-breasted Sandpipers have been observed in these fields. Since the fields are private property, please view birds from the roadside only.

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge is a stop on the Lake Erie Birding Trail.

About this Location

Please, be safe. It is never safe to stop your car on OH-2 in this area. State and local police ticket drivers pulled over to the side of this highway.

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge spans two counties. The northern part of the refuge is in Lucas County and the southern part is in Ottawa County.

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge provides valuable habitat for a diversity of waterfowl and other migratory birds, resident wildlife, and endangered and threatened species. It provides a place for people to enjoy wildlife-dependent activities and learn about the complexities of the natural world through education and interpretive programming.

Ottawa Refuge is located in northwest Ohio. The entrance is located 15 miles east of Toledo, Ohio or 16 miles west of Port Clinton, Ohio on OH-2. The entrance road is located on the north side of OH-2.

Visitors should stop at the visitor center which opened in 2007. This beautiful lodge-style building welcomes you and tells the refuge story. The building is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

There are ten miles of hiking trails. These trails travel through a variety of habitats and start behind the visitor center or from the trailhead parking lot.

The refuge auto tour is open on scheduled days from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The auto tour travels through areas of the refuge not otherwise open to the general public. See the calendar of events for open dates.

Features

  • Roadside viewing

  • Restrooms on site

Content from Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge webpage