Camp Belden Wildlife Area

Camp Belden Wildlife Area

Neff Road Grafton Township, Ohio 44044​

Official Website
Camp Belden Wildlife Area map

About this Location

This 609-acre wildlife area in northeastern Ohio is in Lorain and Medina counties. The area lies on the west side of State OH-83, between the towns of Litchfield and Belden. Neff Road provides the north and west boundary.

The topography is flat to gently rolling. Approximately 65 percent of the area is mature woodland (both hardwood and pine), 9 percent brushland, and 25 percent is open land (grassland and crops).

This property was purchased from the Boy Scouts of America, Greater Cleveland Council, in 1996. The property was used by the Boy Scouts as a primitive camping and outdoor interpretation facility.

Management work includes maintenance and protection of existing woodlands, the establishment of crop rotations, planting food plots and grassland nesting cover, and mowing to control woody plant succession.

Most panfish species common to Ohio are found in the ponds scattered throughout the wildlife area. Forest wildlife species (fox squirrel, wild turkey, white-tailed deer) and open land species (cottontail rabbit, woodchuck, mourning dove) are most common in the area. All furbearers common to this region are found here. The abundance of mature woodland attracts good numbers of nesting and migrating neotropical songbirds.

The Camp Belden Wildlife Area is the first wildlife area in Ohio open only to youths (17 years old and younger) for hunting, trapping, and fishing. The young sportsmen and women must be accompanied by a licensed, non-hunting adult. Hunting of rabbits, doves, squirrels, deer, turkeys, and groundhogs is popular. Trapping furbearers and fishing the ponds are also favorite activities. The Division of Wildlife encourages the utilization of this unique opportunity to get our youth involved in quality outdoor recreational pursuits.

Parking lots have been constructed on OH-83 and Neff Road for public use. A 3.5-mile-long hiking trail was developed by the Boy Scouts.

Although the area is open to youths only for hunting, fishing, and trapping, it is open to everyone for other activities including hiking, bird watching, and nature photography.

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

  • Roadside viewing

Content from Official Website