Roadside Birding
Riddle Road, Sandusky County
Photo by Ken Ostermiller
There are many locations, especially in rural counties, in Ohio where you can view birds from your vehicle. Rural roads through agricultural lands, state forests and wildlife areas, “skypools” that form after a rain, airport runways near public roads, cemeteries, the wildlife drive at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, all are examples of places you can do roadside birding.
Safety first
Please use care when birding these locations. When you stop, pull off as far as you are able. Use flashers when there is traffic. If you park to get out of your vehicle, park at a pull off or on the berm completely off the pavement. Many of these locations are on roads that traverse privately owned land. Do not enter a private property without permission.
Also, see the list of hotspot locations which have handicap accessible facilities.
hotspots@ohiobirds.org
Roadside Birding Locations listed by County
Brush Creek State Forest
Edge of Appalachia Preserve–Abner Hollow Road
Shawnee State Forest
Tranquility Wildlife Area
Allen County
Ridge Road, Delphos
Ashland County
Artesian Lake
Ashland Cemetery
Ashland County Road 1950
Eckley Cemetery
Mohicanville Dam–Mohican Township Road 2250
Perrysville Union Cemetery
Pioneer Cemetery
Saint John Cemetery, Lakeville
Saint Peters Cemetery
Vermilion Cemetery
Ashtabula County
Ashtabula Towne Square Pond
Center Cemetery
Dorset Wildlife Area
I-90 Ohio Welcome Center
Kyle Road Ponds
Northeast Ohio Regional Airport
Stollacker Road
Turkey Creek Metropark
Athens County
Waterloo State Forest–Driving Loop
Wayne National Forest–Utah Ridge
Auglaize County
US-33 Auglaize Rest Area
Belmont County
Briar Wood Road
Egypt Valley Wildlife Area
Brown County
Indian Creek Wildlife Area
Butler County
Jacksonburg Road
Joyce Park
Ross Gravel Pit
Woodsdale Road Gravel Pit
Carroll County
Bellflower Road
Fargo Road
Leesville Lake–Autumn Road
Leesville Lake–Bramble Road and Dove Road
Leesville Lake Wildlife Area
Saber Road
Champaign County
Maple Grove Cemetery, Mechanicsburg
Oakdale Cemetery, Urbana
Clark County
Ferncliff Cemetery
Greenlawn Cemetery, South Charleston
Greenmount Cemetery
Lawrenceville Cemetery
Moorefield Road
Newcomers Cemetery
Old Columbia Street Cemetery
Osborn Road Gravel Pits
Saint Bernard Cemetery
Saint Charles Borromeo Cemetery
Shockley Road
South River Road, South Charleston
Union Road
Upper Valley Mall
Clermont County
East Fork State Park
Clinton County
Caesar Creek Lake Wildlife Area
Melvin Quarry Pits
Sugar Grove Cemetery
Columbiana County
Bolivar Road
Damascus Cemetery
Fairmount Road and Lusk-Lock Road
Foundry Hill Road
Haiti Road Wetland
Lee Cemetery
OH-39 @ OH-164 Intersection
Rowley Run Beaver Marsh
Smith Road, Fredericktown
Woodland Cemetery, Salineville
Woodsdale Cemetery
Coshocton County
Clark Township Road 25
Conesville Coal Lands–Coshocton County Road 7 Pond
Coshocton County Road 9
Coshocton County Road 368
Newcastle Township Road 366
Sharrock Ridge Reclaimed Area
Shelly Gravel Pits
Woodbury Wildlife Area
Crawford County
Fairview Cemetery, Galion
Oakwood Cemetery
Stevens Road @ OH-98
Cuyahoga County
Calvary Cemetery, Garfield Heights
Chestnut Grove Cemetery
East Cleveland Township Cemetery
Erie Street Cemetery
Highland Park Cemetery
Holy Cross Cemetery
Lake View Cemetery
Lakewood Park Cemetery
Maple Ridge Cemetery
Old Chestnut Grove Cemetery
Riverside Cemetery, Cleveland
Solon Landfill
Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery
West Park Cemetery
Woodland Cemetery, Cleveland
Woodvale Union Cemetery
Darke County
Wayne Lakes Village
Woods Road Wetland
Defiance County
Price Road
Riverside Cemetery, Defiance
Delaware County
Alexander Road
Delaware Wildlife Area
Oak Grove Cemetery, Delaware
Resurrection Cemetery, Lewis Center
Smith Preserve
Erie County
Bay View
Castalia Cemetery
Lagoon Deer Park–North
Medusa Marsh–Barrett Road
OH-269 @ Erie County Road 175
Resthaven Wildlife Area
Saint Johns Cemetery, Milan
Fairfield County
Coonpath Road Wetland
Fairfield Cemetery
Mill Park Drive Pond
Fayette County
Deer Creek Wildlife Area
Madison Mills Cemetery
Franklin County
Bixby Road
Brown Pet Cemetery
Clover Cemetery and Wetlands
Davis Cemetery
Galloway Cemetery
Green Lawn Cemetery, Columbus
Hall Road Intermittent Ponds
Jackson Pike Waste Water Treatment Plant
Rager Road
Saint Joseph Cemetery, Lockbourne
Sunset Cemetery
Union Cemetery, Columbus–East
Wesley Chapel Cemetery
Fulton County
Greenlawn Cemetery, Delta
Swanton Cemetery
Gallia County
Cheshire Gravel Pits
Crown City Wildlife Area
Swan Creek Bottoms
Symmes Creek
Geauga County
Hayes Road
LaDue Reservoir
Middlefield Retention Ponds
Patch Road
Soltis Road
South Newbury Cemetery
Greene County
Byron Road
Caesar Creek Lake Wildlife Area
Clifton Union Cemetery
Friend Cemetery
Glen Forest Cemetery
Gravel Pit Road
Grape Grove Cemetery
Hyde Road
Linebaugh Road
Old OH-42 Road
Paintersville New Jasper Road Cemetery
Peterson Road
Rockafield Cemetery
Roxanna New Burlington Road Gravel Pit
Solon Road
Stevenson Cemetery
Tarbox Cemetery
US-35 @ OH-72 Pond
Wildman Road
Woodland Cemetery, Xenia
Salt Fork State Park–Road 54
Hamilton County
New Haven Cemetery
New Saint Joseph Cemetery
Old Saint Joseph Cemetery
Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati
United American Cemetery
Walnut Hills Cemetery
Hancock County
Blue Rock Nature Preserve
Camp Berry
Clay Pits
Findlay Airport
Lake Cascades
Maple Grove Cemetery, Findlay
West River Road–I-75 to Hancock County Road 139
Younger Property Grasslands
Hardin County
Andreoff Wildlife Area–Jackson Township Road 50
Hardin County Airport
Hog Creek Marsh
Otterbein Cemetery
Harrison County
Adams Road
Busby Road
Cadiz-Flushing Road
Crazy Road
Dickerson Church Road
Harrison State Forest
Industrial Park Drive
Lower Clearfork Swamp
Upper Clearfork Swamp
YMCA Camp Road
Highland County
Gist Settlement and Cemetery
Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area
Hocking County
Enterprise Iles Road
Tar Hollow State Forest
Holmes County
Bunker Hill
Dunker Road
Four Ponds
Holmesville Marsh
Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area
Killbuck Township Road 92
Odell Lake
Redett Road, Fredericksburg
Rices Swamp
Trail Bottom Valley
Huron County
Celeryville Muck Crop Fields
Exchange Road–US-250 to OH-162
Maple Grove Cemetery, Plymouth
Riverside Cemetery, Monroeville
Saint Joseph Cemetery, Monroeville
Wakeman Township Cemetery
Weis Road Wetlands
Woodlawn Cemetery, Norwalk
Jackson County
Grassy Fork Bottoms, Jackson County Road 2
Pyro Wetlands
Tabernacle Road Marsh
Jefferson County
Mingo Grasslands
Pleasant Hill Road, Richmond
Short Creek Marshland
Knox County
Arrington Road
Krause Road, Centerburg
Mink Street
Spohn Road
Lake County
Daniels Park
Fairport Nursery Road
Great Lakes Mall
Mentor Municipal Cemetery
Painesville Township Park
Smith Road, Waite Hill
Sunset HarborWilliams Cemetery
Willoughby Memorial Gardens Cemetery
Lawrence County
Blackfork Swamp
Crown City Wildlife Area
Lawrence Chapel-Okey Wetlands
Woodland Cemetery, Coal Grove
Licking County
Dawes Arboretum
Horns Hill Park
Swamp Road
T. J. Evans Park, Newark
Tagg Road
Welsh Hills Cemetery
Lorain County
Calvary Cemetery, Lorain
Elmwood Cemetery
Lorain County Regional Airport–Russia Road
Lorain Harbor–Boat Ramp Hotwaters
Lorain Harbor–Fishing Pier
New Russia Township Cemetery
OH-2 Lorain Rest Area Nature Trail Eastbound
OH-2 Lorain Rest Area Nature Trail Westbound
Ridge Hill Cemetery
Westwood Cemetery and Oberlin Country Club
Lucas County
Amolsch Ditch @ Lallendorff Road
Anchor Point Road
Calvary Cemetery, Toledo
Cedar Point Road
Corduroy Road
Decant Road @ Seaman Road
Elliston Road @ Veler Road
Forest Cemetery, Toledo
Hecklinger Pond
Manore Road
North Yondota Road
Park Colony Road
Oak Openings Preserve Metropark
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge–Wildlife Drive
Resurrection Cemetery, Toledo
Sacks Road
Sandhill Crane Wetlands
Seaman Road
Swan Creek Cemetery
Wakeman Cemetery
Wilkins Road @ Sager Road
Woodlawn Cemetery, Toledo
Madison County
Deer Creek Township Cemetery
Foster Chapel Cemetery
Guy Cemetery
I-70 South Vienna Rest Area
Somerford Cemetery
William Lucas Road
Pleasant Cemetery
Mahoning County
Bull Creek @ Lipply Road
Vaughn Cemetery
Marion County
Agosta Cemetery
Big Island Wildlife Area
Caledonia Cemetery
Gearhiser Road
Marion Cemetery
Prospect Cemetery
Sager Road @ Groundhog Road
Medina County
Camp Road, Homerville
Friendsville Road Gravel Pits
Garden Isle Road
Greenwich Road, Homerville
Lake Road Sod Farm
Spencer Lake Wildlife Area
Spring Grove Cemetery, Medina
Mercer County
Coldwater Wastewater Treatment Plant
Now Road
Monroe County
Fishers Grove Rest Area
Fly Rest Area
Montgomery County
Woodland Cemetery, Dayton
Morgan County
Knox Cemetery
Smith Road Grasslands
Morrow County
Bloomfield Cemetery
Blooming Grove Cemetery
Bryn Zion Cemetery
Glendale Cemetery
Iberia Cemetery
Kathryn Sheedy Sanctuary
Maple Grove Cemetery, Chesterville
Mount Gilead State Park
River Cliff Union Cemetery
Shauck Cemetery
Steam Corners Cattle Feedlot
Muskingum County
ReCreation Land
The Wilds
Yoker Valley Road
Hiramsburg Cemetery
Lexington Ridge
ReCreation Land
Ottawa County
OH-2 La Carpe Creek Rest Area
OH-2 @ Russell Road
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge–Ottawa-Lucas County Road (Ottawa County)
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge–Wildlife Drive
Sackett Cemetery
Stange Road @ Krause Road
Stange Road @ W. Walbridge East Road
Union Cemetery, Oak Harbor
Yetter Road Fishing Access
Zenser Road
Paulding County
Paulding County Road 146
Paulding Sewage Lagoons
Perry County
Clayton Township Road 217
Perry County Road 112
Perry State Forest
Pickaway County
Charlies Pond
Forest Cemetery, Circleville
Island Road
Pickaway County Airport
River Drive
Pike County
OH-32 Pike Rest Area
Portage County
I-76 Portage Rest Area
Johnson Road, Kent
Standing Rock Cemetery
Richland County
Bellville Cemetery
Bistline Road
Clear Fork Reservoir–Gass Road Dam And Spillway
Ernsberger Road
Greenlawn Cemetery, Crestline
Greenlawn Cemetery, Plymouth
Lantz Cemetery
Little Washington Cemetery
Mansfield City Cemetery
Mansfield Lahm Airport and Vicinity
Mount Hope Cemetery
Mount Zion Cemetery, Lucas
Oak Grove Memorial Park
Odd Fellows Cemetery
Pavonia Cemetery
Pioneer Rest Cemetery
Shelby-Oakland Cemetery
Urwin Parkway Wetland
Windsor Park Cemetery
Ross County
Grandview Cemetery
Spencer Road Pond
Tar Hollow State Forest
Three Locks Road
Sandusky County
Billman Road, York Township Road 219
Bonham Road, York Township Road 205
Coonrod Road Wetlands
Hawk Road
Ohio Turnpike–Erie Islands Service Plaza
Ohms Road Private Wetlands
Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area–Sandusky Co. Rd. 232
Riddle Road, York Township Road 292
Saint Joseph Cemetery, Fremont
Sandusky County Road 202
Sandusky County Road 244
Scioto County
Brush Creek State Forest
Shawnee State Forest
Seneca County
Greenlawn Cemetery, Tiffin
Roy Myers Road, Thompson Township Road 80
Seneca County Road 34
Thompson Township Road 178
Stark County
Alliance City Cemetery
Coblentz Avenue
Diamond Street
Greer Avenue Gravel Pit
Lawndell Road Southwest
Massillon Cemetery
North Lawn Cemetery
West Lawn Cemetery
Summit County
Crown Hill Cemetery
Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery
Hillside Memorial Park
Nimisila Reservoir
O’Brien Cemetery
Plaza at Chapel Hill Shopping Center
Summit Lake
Trumbull County
Belmont Park Cemetery
Grand River Wildlife Area
Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area
Sager Memorial Cemetery
Shenango Wildlife Area
Tuscarawas County
Beartown Road Pond
Dundee Fields
Gnadenhutten Mine Pits
Leihley Hill Road
Meander Reservoir
Union County
Broadway Cemetery
Burnside Cemetery
Claibourne Cemetery
Darby Township Cemetery
Hopewell Cemetery
Jerome Township Rest Area
Maple Dell Cemetery
Maskill Cemetery
Mount Herman Cemetery
Oakdale Cemetery, Marysville
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Cemetery
Price Cemetery
Saint Johns Cemetery, Marysville
US-33 Union Rest Area
York Cemetery
Van Wert County
Middle Point Lake
Vinton County
Infirmary Road
Minerton Wetland
Old McArthur Road Wetlands
Tar Hollow State Forest
Vinton County Airport Pond
Zaleski State Forest
Warren County
Caesar Creek Lake Wildlife Area
Miami Cemetery
Washington County
Derby Road and Buchanan Road
Former Shelly Gravel Pit
Mound Cemetery
Muskingum River Road
Oak Grove Cemetery
Wayne County
Black Diamond Road Marsh
Clay Plant Road
Fairview Cemetery, Shreve
Fox Lake Road
Harmony Lake
Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area
McAfee Road, Wooster
Millbrook Road
Pine Tree Barn Lake
Schwartzwalder Road
Shreve Oak Grove Cemetery
Wecht Road
Wildman Road
Wilderness Road
Wooster Cemetery
Williams County
Lake La Su An Wildlife Area
Browns Recreation Lake
Ohio Turnpike–Indian Meadow Service Plaza Westbound
Wood County
Bairdstown Wildlife Production Area
Wyandot County
Andreoff Wildlife Area (Wyandot County)
Chandler Cemetery
Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area
National Lime and Stone Quarry
Little Sandusky River @ Pitt Township Road 113
Little Sandusky River @ Pitt Township Road 125
Oak Hill Cemetery
Warpole Creek Fields
Wyandot County Landfill Wetlands
Wyandot County Road 29