Field Notes Ohio

Ohio's parks, forests and wildlife areas with camping, the ancient mounds beside them, and the Buckeye Trail that links them. Stories, trails, wildlife, and where to eat and fuel up nearby. Book campsites on ReserveOhio.
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The Buckeye TrailA 1,444-mile blue-blazed loop around Ohio, with all 26 sections.
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Mounds & Earthworks43 ancient sites, including the Great Serpent Mound and the Newark Earthworks.
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Historic Sites39 places, from Fort Steuben and Zoar to Camp Chase and the Rankin House, from the frontier to the Civil War.
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Road Trips33 drives, from the Lincoln Highway to the Morgan Heritage Trail.
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Lake Erie Beaches20 public beaches from Conneaut to Toledo and the islands, with a map.
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Oddities & Roadside Attractions19 giants, ghosts and folk-art stops, plus a Mothman just over the line.
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Caves & Caverns12 show caverns, recess caves and rock shelters, with a map.
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Waterfalls34 falls from the Cuyahoga Valley to the Hocking Hills, with trail notes and a map.
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Explore Ohio

One map for every park, mound, historic site, beach, cave, waterfall and oddity in the app.

Lake ErieWest Virginia27 places277 places77 places73 places35 places519 places1913 places1319 places1916 places168 places810 places1010 places109 places98 places820 places204 places43 places3Barkcamp State Park4 places47 places77 places76 places69 places917 places173 places3Harrison Lake State Park2 places2Forked Run State Park3 places32 places26 places610 places103 places32 places2

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117 parks in 7 regions

Spencer Lake Wildlife Area

Spencer · Medina County · Northeast Ohio
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
618acres
—trail miles
1961established

Visiting information you can trust

Content last reviewed
September 2026 — this is when Field Notes Ohio's content was last checked, not a live status.
Primary official source
ODNR park finder (search this park)
Location confidence
Verified property location
Spencer Lake Wildlife Area, 5852 River Corners Rd, Spencer
Check current conditions
Official conditions or closures
Hunting or permits
Waterfowl hunting is popular, and upland game is spread across the area; raccoon hunting is productive and muskrats draw trappers. Ohio hunting license required, in season.

Prices, hours, closures, campsite availability and trail conditions shown elsewhere on this page are not live — always confirm with the official source before you go.

The story of this land

Spencer Lake Wildlife Area covers 618 acres two miles east of the village of Spencer in Medina County, north of State Route 162, in gently rolling glaciated country where the low ground stays wet in spring. Its artificial lake was built in 1961 and rebuilt and enlarged in 1986. In 1985 the lake was fully drawn down for a fishery rehabilitation, and three spots along the causeway were deepened to 12 feet to improve shore fishing. It was refilled, stocked with largemouth bass, bluegills and channel catfish, and reopened in 1986.

Management now centers on grass-legume meadows, food patches and brushy fencerows for upland game. The ODNR trail overview map lists Spencer Lake Wildlife Area along the Buckeye Trail's Medina Section.

Things to do in the park

  • Fish from the causeway in spring
  • Hunt waterfowl and upland game in season
  • Train dogs in the designated area
  • Watch waterfowl on the lake

Trails

Maps, reviews and recent trail reports for Spencer Lake Wildlife Area.

Find trails on AllTrails →

Things to do nearby

  • Findley State Park to the northwest
  • Hinckley Reservation and the Medina County Buckeye Trail
  • The village of Spencer

Hiking trails

Undeveloped; the Buckeye Trail passes through the region.

Wildlife you might see

  • Wood ducks, Canada geese, blue-winged teal and mallards
  • Upland game across meadows, brush and woods
  • Muskrats and raccoons

Fishing

  • Largemouth bass fishing is best in spring and early summer; bluegills and channel catfish are also stocked. Ohio fishing license required for ages 16 and up.

Hunting

Waterfowl hunting is popular, and upland game is spread across the area; raccoon hunting is productive and muskrats draw trappers. Ohio hunting license required, in season.

The Lake That Was Drained and Refilled

In 1985 the state pulled the plug on Spencer Lake. It was a rescue: the fishery had gone bad, so the water came out and the causeway was dug deeper in three places, down to twelve feet. A year later the lake was full again, stocked with bass, bluegills and catfish.

Anglers who cast from the causeway today are fishing the results of that experiment.

Behind the legend

The 1985 drawdown, the 12-foot recontouring, the restocking and the 1986 reopening are described on ODNR's page for the area. The lake was originally built in 1961 and enlarged in 1986, as the township history also notes.

If you go

Fish the causeway in spring and early summer, and stay for the evening waterfowl.

Waterfalls near Spencer Lake Wildlife Area

Falls inside or within reach of this park. Stay behind railings and on marked trails; wet rock is slick in every season.

East Falls and West Falls of the Black River

Elyria · Lorain County
Two broad sandstone waterfalls facing each other across a wooded city park in Elyria, connected by bridges, stairs, and overlook platforms.
30 to 35 ftEasy walk
About 18 miles from this park

The Buckeye Trail at Spencer Lake Wildlife Area

Ohio's 1,444-mile blue-blazed loop passes through or beside this park. Tap a section for its route, camping, water and resupply.

24 Medina Section

56 miles · Lorain, Medina, Summit, Cuyahoga
Wetland and lake wildlife area on the route
3 parks

There is no camping in the wildlife area. Findley State Park is the nearest campground on the Buckeye Trail.

Restaurants nearby

The Fox Den
Diner and bar under one roof, opens 7 a.m. Closed Mondays
Directions
Dimitri's Corner Restaurant
Open 7 a.m.–9 p.m. daily, big portions, cheap. Across from the 1885 town hall
Directions
Donny's
Creative burgers and funnel cake fries; service can be slow
Directions

Gas stations nearby

bp
24 hours, south side of Wellington toward the park. Has a Dunkin inside
Directions
Amoco
24 hours on the north end, though reviews flag pump problems
Directions

Details last checked 2026-09-22. Confirm hours and prices before you go.