The trail starts at the State Park office and travels along OH-362. It then runs along Loramie Creek to the canal feeder channel and to the canal. It is also part of the Buckeye Trail. Start just west of Lake Loramie”s spillway and follow it to the canal. The sign for the trail reads Miami-Erie – Buckeye Trail.

There is a paved parking area 300 yards west of the spillway on OH-362 for 2-3 cars. This is a convenient place to park when birding this section of the trail.

Restrooms at Lake Loramie State Park.

Although difficult to imagine, Ohio at one time had more than two-thirds of its surface covered by massive sheets of ice as much as a mile thick in places. At least three great ice sheets invaded Ohio’s boundaries in the geologic past. The last one retreated 12,000 years ago.

These ice advances directly impacted the natural features now evident at Lake Loramie State Park. Materials deposited by the glaciers included clay, sand, gravel, and boulders of various sizes.

In the western half of Ohio where the land is generally level, these deposits resulted in some of the world’s richest soils. A great forest emerged after the glacial era, covering 95% of the state. In the vicinity of Lake Loramie, the vegetation consisted of mainly beech forests which thrived in the moist, fertile soils of the region.

Today, little can be seen of that mighty forest because the development of the land for agriculture and other purposes has drastically altered the original vegetation. Small woodlots, grass plains, prairie, and farmland are typical of the area today.

The park’s campground supports a colony of the unique bald cypress tree as well as a plantation of sweet gum dating back to the early 1950s. Waterfowl, including Canada Geese, frequent the park along with various songbirds and small mammals. Wildflowers flourish in the forests and fields.

On the lake, waterlily, cattail, and a beautiful display of American lotus enhance the view. A trail leading to Blackberry Island will treat visitors to glimpses of nesting red-headed woodpeckers and barred owls. The park’s meadows support a large population of eastern bluebirds.