The 86-acre Conneaut Wildlife Area is located in the far northeast corner of the state just a mile and a half south of Lake Erie and abuts the state of Pennsylvania to the east. This area is in the Conneaut Township of Ashtabula County approximately 20 miles to the east of the city of Ashtabula. The area is accessible from Thompson Road just north of US-20. The topography of the area is flat and poorly drained which forms numerous vernal pools. Pole-size timber covers the area.

The Conneaut Wildlife Area was acquired through a mitigation agreement. Fifty-five acres are designated as the Conneaut Swamp State Nature Preserve to protect the hemlock-hardwood forest on the western portion of the area.

The rare hemlock-hardwood swamp community only occurs in Ashtabula County, mostly on the Lake Erie coastal plain or in the Grand River lowlands. The hemlock swamp contains a diverse mix of trees including hemlock, yellow birch, beech, tulip poplar, sycamore, cucumber magnolia, and a variety of oaks and maples. Index of Ohio’s trees from the Division of Forestry. Beneath the canopy lies a mix of sedges, grasses, and wildflowers. The use of this nature preserve is primarily intended for passive recreation, nature observation, research, and education. The 31 acres east of Thompson Road are open for public hunting.

There are many game animals found in the area including fox squirrels, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, and cottontail rabbits. Furbearers such as mink, skunk, and opossums are also present. Many species of nesting and migrating birds also use this area at different times of the year.