Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve Overview
- Address: 1230 Old Mill Road, Aurora, Ohio 44202
- Hours: Daily, 6:00 am to 11:00 pm
- Activities: Hiking, Picnicking, Birdwatching, and Fauna and Flora Viewing
Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve Guide
Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve History
Tinker’s Creek State Nature Preserve is one of the newer nature preserves in Ohio and one of the most diverse areas in all of Northeast Ohio. It is over 750 acres and borders the Tinkers Creek State Park, making it a beautiful, protected land for wildlife and plants.
According to Ohiodnr.gov, “The prime features of this preserve are the extensive marshes which occupy nearly 75 percent of the preserve. Cattail, willow, buttonbush, dogwood, red maple and alder predominate in and around the marshes. Several spring-fed lakes occur here as well as bottomland forests with swamp white and pin oaks.”
Besides being a protected land, the park’s main attractions are its bald eagles, hiking trails, and water. It should be noted you cannot boat or fish in the nature preserve.
Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve Activities
Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve Hiking Trails
Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve has two hiking trails that are .3 miles long and 1.8 miles long, and both are incredibly easy and beginner-friendly. You’ll have plenty of flora and fauna on both hikes.
- Seven Ponds Trail is a 1.8-mile loop with an easy, flat trail that takes hikers through beautiful woods and across more bodies of water than you can count. On this trail, you’ll be able to observe ponds, marshlands, grasslands, and so much more. Expect to encounter deer, beavers, squirrels, muskrats, mallard ducks, herons, Canadian geese, and so much more.
- Eagle Point Trail is a .3-mile out-and-back perfect for families and beginners. It is incredibly quick and takes hikers through woods with glimpses of beautiful ponds. The highlight of this hike is an observation point where you can see an Eagle’s nest, and if you are lucky, you may even see a bald eagle.
Activities
For a small State Nature Preserve, you can pack a lot of activities all within one area, making this the perfect day trip.
Bird Watching
- Outside of hiking, Bird Watching is the most popular activity in this State Preserve, and the bald eagle is the most popular bird to watch. But there are a lot more birds than just that. Other birds include shore birds, nesting migrants, great horned owls, blue herons, woodpeckers, geese, swangs, juncos, and so much more.
Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve Map
While Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve is small and easily navigatable, a map is always invaluable. Below is the map of the park and its trails. This map is also available at the Seven Ponds/Eagle Point Trailhead.
Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve Virtual Tour
How to Get There
The easiest way to get to the Eagle Point Trail is to input it into your phone (1230 Old Mill Road, Aurora, Ohio 44202) into your phone and GPS, as the trail starts here.
Driving Directions:
When driving to the Eagle Point Trailhead parking lot, you will travel west or east on Old Mill Road. You will turn right or left into the Eagle Point Trailhead parking lot.
Alternative Park
Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve is one of Ohio’s smallest and quietest preserves in northeast Ohio, but it can be visited relatively quickly.
If you want to extend your stay in a similar park with additional hiking and more activities, check out Tinkers Creek State Park.
The state park provides a hiking trail (Pond View Trail) and allows visitors to boat, fish, observe wildlife, and participate in archery. And for those who want a picnic, family gathering, or school gathering, there is also a new and fantastic pavilion.
Best of all, Tinkers Creek State Park is only a 10-minute drive from the state park to enjoy both in one day!
Frequently Asked Questions
Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve is open from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.
No, pets are allowed.
There is no entrance fee for Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve.
No, there are no ranger programs or guided tours in the park.
No, alcohol is not allowed in Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve.
No, this park is not wheelchair accessible.
No, you cannot fish.
If there is an emergency, you should call 911.
No, there is no swimming in Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve.
Yes, the best place to observe birds and wildlife is the Seven Ponds Trail and Eagle Point Observation Deck.
No, there is no current restrictions on photography or filming in the park.
No, you cannot fly drones in the park.
Learn More About Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve
Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve is a fantastic state preserve for locals and tourists. You can easily spend half a day doing many activities. The park is incredibly safe, easy to navigate, and without predators, which other parks in the United States may have; you can visit it during any season and time of day. If you want to learn more about specific areas or details of the park, click on the above sections.
