This large nature preserve has a variety of habitats that makes for rich birding. The walking trails lead through open fields, grasslands, forests, wetlands, a tamarack bog, ponds, and creeks. The park includes a field station run jointly by The University of Akron and Bath Township, and there are feeders at the station that attract a variety of birds.

Nesting Henslow’s Sparrows can be seen near oil pump F along the Bridle Trail, and Bobolinks, Eastern Meadowlarks, and most species of flycatchers, vireos, wrens, warblers, and woodpeckers are also frequent sightings.

The Bath Nature Preserve is a 410-acre parcel, which was formerly part of the Raymond Firestone Estate. It was funded by a bond issue that passed in March 1996 and purchased on October 1997 by Bath Township.

The Bath Nature Preserve was open for public use in August of 2001. all of the trails provide public access allowing for an experience of varied habitats and terrain while protecting the sensitive and unique areas of the property.

The Bath Nature Preserve’s diverse habitats and physical features range from open fields of grassland and old-field habitat to old-growth forests and wetlands, which include a tamarack bog, five ponds, and two creeks.

Bath Nature Preserve Trails
Hiking trails at Bath Nature Preserve include:
Bridle Trail – 2.79 miles
Beefys Trail – .57 mile
Creekside Trail – .56 mile
North Fork Trail – 1.48 miles
South Woods Trail – .43 mile
Hillside Trail – .21 mile

There is a 2.8-mile loop hike with a map on the AllTrails website.