NATURE PRESERVES
Address & Directions
Collier Preserve
2819 W. Western Reserve Rd.
Canfield, OH 44406
Egypt Swamp Preserve
No public access.
Hawkins Marsh
17655 Western Reserve Rd.
North Benton, 44449
Hitchcock Woods
8264-8266 Hitchcock Rd.
Boardman, OH 44512
McGuffey Wildlife Preserve
4448 McGuffey Rd.
Lowellville, OH 44436
MetroParks Farm
Natural Areas
7574 Columbiana-Canfield Rd.
Canfield, OH 44406
Access to the natural areas of the MetroParks Farm is from the MetroParks Bikeway trailhead parking area and trail spur.
Mill Creek Wildlife Sanctuary
2650 W. Calla Rd.
Canfield, OH 44406
From Western Reserve Road, head South on New Buffalo, turn East on Calla Road. Parking and observation platform will be on the left.
Sawmill Creek Preserve
S. Turner Rd.
Canfield, OH 44406
Sebring Woods
Johnson Rd.
Alliance, OH 44601
Springfield Forest
11840 Springfield Rd.
North Lima, 44452
GPS Coordinates:
40.945004, -80.61493
Vickers Nature Preserve
10334 W. Akron-Canfield Rd.
Canfield, OH 44406
Visitor Guides & Maps
View the Mill Creek MetroParks
Visitor Guides & Maps
Get The Mobile App
Collier Preserve, located in Boardman Township, consists of over 300 acres of upland and wetland habitats. Formerly the Orvets Sod Farm, the MetroParks acquired the property using grants from the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund and Wetland Resource Restoration Sponsorship Program (WRRSP). Due to its location along Mill Creek and the presence of a regionally significant large forested wetland complex, the MetroParks identified this property for acquisition in order to protect these sensitive habitats.
The Preserve also has an upland ridge to the west which overlooks the Mill Creek valley. Habitats here include a large wooded ravine, several small streams, young forests, fallow fields, and a prominent ridge of low, densely covered shrubby vegetation ideally suited as cover for wildlife of all types.
The expansive acreage and its diverse, high quality habitats create many opportunities for bird watching, hiking, and other passive recreation activities. Look for white-tailed deer, coyote, eastern cottontail rabbits, red-tailed hawks, and a wide variety of songbirds, which have all been observed at this unique site. The Preserve offers visitors the opportunity to observe wetland habitats up close throughout the year, and each season brings with it new colors and activity.
About 2 miles of trails have been created through wetland and upland habitats, allowing visitors to experience these habitats and the wildlife within them up close.
Parking is available off of Western Reserve Road. There are no restroom facilities on-site.
Situated along the Middle Fork Little Beaver Creek in Green Township, the 57-acre Egypt Swamp Preserve is comprised of wetlands, ponds, streams, and floodplains. Acquired by the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund grant in 2013 through partnership with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, this preservation area protects diverse flora and fauna and serves an important environmental role as a prominent riparian corridor.
Hawkins Marsh is an 161-acre property located in Smith Township and consists of a variety of unique natural habitats including critically important wetlands. In 2022, the MetroParks partnered with West Creek Conservancy in the acquisition of the property with The Clean Ohio Conservation Fund grant.
Future improvements are currently being planned for the property and due to parameters associated with the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund Program, will be limited to passive recreation opportunities. Visitors can enjoy picnicking, hiking, and birdwatching while meandering through the young woodlands and along the picturesque flowing creek.
Hitchcock Woods is a densely wooded preserve spanning the Mill Creek corridor south of Boardman-Canfield Rd. (Route 224) in Boardman Township. This preserve was acquired over the course of thirty years through several grant and funding sources, including the Wetland Reserve Program and Clean Ohio Conservation Fund.
Mill Creek meanders north through Hitchcock Woods and is met by Sawmill Run from the east and Indian Run from the west. Located within a largely developed suburban area, this expansive tract of wetland and upland forest is home to a wide array of wildlife species. Hitchcock Woods is primarily undeveloped with the exception of a 1.4 mile trail loop.
Parking is available and hiking is permitted. There are no restroom facilities available on-site.
McGuffey Wildlife Preserve was donated to the MetroParks in 1998 by the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society. This 78-acre site is located on McGuffey Road in Coitsville Township.
Once the home of William Holmes McGuffey, author of the McGuffey Readers, this site is a tribute to his legacy and an opportunity for park visitors to experience a natural, relatively unaltered landscape indicative of earlier times. The William Holmes McGuffey Boyhood Home Site was designated a Registered National Historic Landmark in 1966. This designation means that this site possesses exceptional value in commemorating or illustrating the history of the United States.
Since acquiring the McGuffey Wildlife Preserve, the MetroParks has preserved the natural rural character of the property, with open, rolling fields accessible by a network of mown trails. Several bird nest boxes placed adjacent to the trails attract eastern bluebirds and tree swallows. The fields are home to a wide variety of songbirds, and even wild turkeys. The southern half of the Preserve consists of forested upland and wetland habitats, providing opportunities to view red-bellied woodpeckers, northern flickers, barred owls, and red-shouldered hawks. Look for the tracks of white-tailed deer and coyote on the trails. Several organized birding hikes take place at the McGuffey Wildlife Preserve each year.
Hiking is permitted. Parking is available off McGuffey Road. There are no restroom facilities available on-site.
In addition to its agricultural fields and educational facilities, the 400 acre MetroParks Farm in Canfield Township has significant acreage dedicated to the conservation and preservation of natural habitats. Over 150 acres of land at the Farm consists of woodland, meadow, shrub thicket, pond, and wetland habitats. Two small tributaries to Indian Run also flow throughout the Farm fields.
The Mindy Henning Memorial Trail can be accessed from the MetroParks Bikeway. This trail was established to allow hikers to access some of the natural habitats of the Farm. Natural characteristics and features found on the Farm are explained in a self-guided tour by a series of strategically identified locations along the trail. The tour brochure is available at the trailhead. Hikers gain valuable knowledge about their surrounding environment as they traverse through deciduous forests, navigate around ponds and skirt cultivated fields and pastures. Look for bluebirds and tree sparrows using the nest boxes that have been placed along the trails.
Hiking and fishing is permitted. Parking, restrooms, and drinking water are available at this facility.
The Mill Creek Wildlife Sanctuary is a 482-acre former fish farm is located along the Mill Creek corridor in Beaver Township, and supports a diverse array of aquatic, wetland, and upland habitats. The original 264-acres were established in 2005 with funds from the NatureWorks and Clean Ohio Conservation Fund grant programs. A additional 218-acres of land adjacent to the Mill Creek Wildlife Sanctuary was acquired in 2021 with a successful grant application from the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund.
More than half of the Wildlife Sanctuary’s acreage consists of large ponds that were constructed as part of the former fish farm operation. These ponds are located within the floodplain of Mill Creek, which historically consisted of various wetland and riparian habitats prior to being altered by farming and pond construction. Through careful management of water levels within the ponds a unique diversity of wetland habitats is maintained, including open water, marsh, and mudflat environments. This variability in habitats attracts a wide variety of wildlife species, particularly migrating birds. During the spring and fall migration months, numerous bird species use the Wildlife Sanctuary as an important resting point on their journey. Shorebirds and wading birds are especially attracted to the high quality wetland and mudflat habitats, and hundreds of birds can be seen foraging in these areas as they refuel for their long flights. To date, 260 species of birds have been documented at the Wildlife Sanctuary. In addition, 7 dragonfly species, 3 butterfly species, 3 tiger beetle species, and 1 tree species have been sighted and recorded within the Wildlife Sanctuary. These various species had not previously been observed within Mahoning County.
In 2013 an elevated observation platform was constructed to allow visitors to freely view the ponds at the Wildlife Sanctuary without disturbing the birds and other wildlife there. The deck elevation combined with the natural topography of the site puts observers approximately 50 feet above the ponds. No permit is required to use the observation platform; however visitors are not permitted to access any other parts of the property.
Access to the Wildlife Sanctuary property is restricted, however an observation platform next to the parking lot is open, and allows viewing of the habitats and wildlife. Binoculars or spotting scopes are recommended. Fishing is not permitted at this location.
Access is by authorized permit only. There are no restrooms or other facilities on-site.
Sawmill Creek Preserve is located in Canfield Township and was established in 2002 with a grant through the Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program. Sawmill Creek is a major tributary entering the Meander Reservoir, and protection of this important resource is one of the reasons that the Sawmill Creek Preserve was established. With just under a mile of Sawmill Creek flowing within it, and thousands of feet of other small waterways traversing the property, this 154-acre preserve provides a significant degree of protection for the region’s natural resources.
The Preserve consists of numerous distinct habitat types, ranging from young forests and meadow habitats in the west, to extensive forested areas in the east. Prior to acquisition the western parts were used in crop production, and the forests here consist mainly of pioneering trees and shrubs such as eastern cottonwood and black willow. The adjacent open meadows with various goldenrods, asters, and rushes support numerous small wetland habitats. In the east, riparian forests dominated by sugar maple grow along Sawmill Creek, while American beech and other mixed hardwoods dominate the forests on the eastern slopes overlooking the creek. Several small vernal pools are located within these forested habitats, providing breeding opportunities for the spotted salamander and other amphibians in the early spring before the pools dry up. Beautifully carved sandstone cliffs stand out in Sawmill Creek, providing a testament to the erosive power of flowing water.
Sawmill Creek Preserve is directly adjacent to the MetroParks Bikeway and provides Bikeway users with a shaded, natural corridor in the summer months and a spectacular color display in autumn. This location also includes approximately 3-miles of trail. Several events, including naturalist-guided hikes, are held each year.
Parking is available off of S. Turner Rd. There are no restroom facilities available on-site.
Sebring Woods is located in the Village of Sebring in Smith Township and is the MetroParks’ westernmost location in Mahoning County. Situated at the intersection of Courtney Road and North Johnson Road, this 39-acre preserve was established in 2010 with a grant through the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund. Sebring Woods consists primarily of floodplain forest and wooded wetlands interspersed with open marsh and upland habitats. Fish Creek, a tributary to the Mahoning River, meanders through the property and helps create and maintain the wet conditions throughout the year. The property contains a 0.7 mile hiking trail, which allows visitors to experience these various habitats and conditions.
In May 2010, staff and volunteers from the MetroParks, Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Northeast Ohio Naturalists performed an inventory of Sebring Woods and discovered three plant species that had not been previously documented in Mahoning County. Other rare plants and insects were also observed, as well as a large variety of more common wildflowers and songbirds. Pretty remarkable for such a small preserve!
Parking is available off of North Johnson Rd. and hiking is permitted. There are no restroom facilities available on-site.
Springfield Forest, an 88.38-acre property located in Springfield Township, was acquired in 2021 through a collaborative partnership with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, The Clean Ohio Conservation Fund, and the Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation.
Funding for property improvements to Springfield Forest were secured through a second, successful Clean Ohio Conservation Fund application with additional financial support provided by the Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation and in-kind contributions from Mill Creek MetroParks. Improvements focused on increased access, providing passive recreation opportunities, and conducting ecological restoration on the property.
Features of Springfield Forest include a new entry drive and 16-car parking lot, aggregate and primitive hiking trails, a fishing pier and boardwalk, scenic vistas, facility signage, a picnic area, and 20 acres of ecological restoration. Recreational activities on the property include hiking along the scenic trail system and fishing at the pier.
Vickers Nature Preserve was acquired in 1993 and is located on Akron-Canfield Road (Route 224) in Ellsworth Township. This 262-acre preserve consists of diverse habitats, including meadows, woodlands, wetlands, and ponds. There are also several small streams flowing through the Preserve that flow directly into Meander Creek just upstream of the Meander Reservoir. By preserving these stream habitats, Vickers Nature Preserve helps protect the drinking water resources relied on by nearly 220,000 Trumbull and Mahoning County residents.
An adequately sized parking lot allows park users to access the site for recreational and educational purposes. Hiking is permitted throughout the site. Fishing is permitted at this location. Programs such as naturalist-guided nature hikes and educational programs are held at this facility.
An equestrian facility is available for public use and rental at Vickers Nature Preserve. The facilities are available to use first-come-first-served, unless a paid rental has been made.