Where to See Fall Colors in Seneca County and Northwest Ohio

Author: FFP Ai Bot

Illustration: The Fostoria Free Press.

SENECA COUNTY- You do not need to drive to southern Ohio for a good fall walk. Seneca County’s park district manages wooded preserves, river ravines and trails within a short drive of Fostoria and Tiffin. Here are some places to start, using details posted by the Seneca County Park District.

Steyer Nature Preserve: ravines and river

Steyer Nature Preserve covers 141 acres with nearly a mile of Sandusky River frontage. Volunteers have built 4.17 miles of trails with eight bridges over wooded ravines, which makes it one of the county’s best bets for fall scenery. The northern 71 acres are a non-hunting area entered from the Abbott’s Bridge Scenic River Access parking lot off North County Road 33 at the Sandusky River.

Timing note: The park district says all of Steyer closes to hiking during the deer gun, youth deer gun and muzzleloader seasons. For 2026-27, Ohio’s youth gun season is Nov. 21-22 and the gun season is Nov. 30 to Dec. 6, so plan an earlier visit.

Garlo Heritage Nature Preserve: the longest trails

Garlo Heritage Nature Preserve, south of Tiffin near Bloomville, has 292 acres of fields, wetlands and deciduous woods with 7.4 miles of developed hiking and equestrian trails. It is a good choice for a longer afternoon outing.

Clinton Nature Preserve and Sandusky River Access

Clinton Nature Preserve north of Tiffin follows the old route of the Harrison Trail, which the park district says was earlier developed as the Scioto Trail by Native American tribes and was the route General Harrison’s army followed in 1813. It borders the city of Tiffin’s Schekelhoff Nature Preserve, which has a paved trail. Go soon: the park district says Clinton’s access lane and parking lot close each year from Nov. 1 to April 1, though the park can still be reached through the Schekelhoff entrance.

Forrest Nature Preserve

Forrest Nature Preserve is a 47-acre riparian preserve near Tiffin with an upper lot at 6390 S. Township Road 151 and a lower lot at 701 E. County Road 6.

Tiffin University Nature Preserve

The Tiffin University Nature Preserve has a 1.23-mile hiking trail around a restored two-acre wetland and vernal pool complex, with a streamside forested walkway, three bridges, picnic areas and a gazebo.

Bowen Nature Preserve

Near Republic in eastern Seneca County, Bowen Nature Preserve pairs grassland, wetland and a small woodland with history. The park district lists an 1872 historic house and an 1830s church among its features. The property lies between County Road 38 to the north, County Road 27 to the east and County Road 24 to the south.

Close to Fostoria

• Fruth Wetland Nature Preserve covers 20 acres southeast of Fostoria, with 10 acres of woods, 10 acres of open area, a wetland and a shelter house.
• Fostoria’s reservoirs. The city says all six of its reservoirs have a walking trail, an easy option for an evening walk with open skies and tree lines.

When to go

Color timing changes from year to year with the weather, so there is no fixed peak date. Watch the trees in your own neighborhood, and go when the color starts to turn. Before you head out, check the park district’s website for any trail notices or closures.

Tips for a fall visit

• Wear bright clothing in the fall. Some preserves, including the southern part of Steyer, are open to hunting in season.
• Trails near rivers and ravines can be muddy and slippery with wet leaves.
• Stay on marked trails and pack out what you bring in.
• Groups planning a special activity can find the park district’s rules and special use permit application on its website.

Beyond Seneca County

Neighboring Hancock, Wood and Sandusky counties have their own park systems and preserves. Check each county park district’s website for trail maps and seasonal closures before you go.

Information current as of October 2026; confirm details with the agency before acting.

Sources

Seneca County Park District, Places page and preserve pages for Steyer, Garlo Heritage, Clinton, Forrest, Tiffin University, Bowen and Fruth Wetland nature preserves; Park Rules page (senecacountyparks.com)
City of Fostoria, Frequently Asked Questions, Parks and Rec section (reservoir walking trails)
Ohio Division of Wildlife, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations (deer gun season dates)