Indigo+Lake

Also, see Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Cuyahoga River-Lower Important Bird Area
 * =Birding in Ohio=

Summit County
=Cuyahoga Valley National Park= =Indigo Lake= Riverview Road Peninsula, Ohio 44264 Cuyahoga Valley National Park website Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Facebook) webpage Cuyahoga Valley National Park map Cuyahoga Valley National Park trail maps

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Cuyahoga Valley NP--Indigo Lake
Coordinates: 41.1930029, -81.5827556 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

About Indigo Lake
A large, bowl-shaped, scenic lake that truly glows the color of [blue] indigo, Indigo Lake is a lesser-known birding locale but a favorite area for hikers, cross-country skiers, and anglers. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad makes an official station stop at the Indigo Lake Trailhead along the Towpath Trail, but otherwise, the open view and surrounding grassy hills make for a quiet venture for the outdoor enthusiast.

Indigo Lake’s deep depth draws migrant waterfowl, loons, and grebes, a surprising and almost “unlikely” location smack-dab in the middle of the National Park. Top highlight species that have been found during Spring and Fall migration include rare Long-tailed Duck and Red-necked Grebe. More regularly, Redhead, Canvasback, Ruddy Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Pied-billed and Horned Grebes, and even Common Loons will put down on Indigo. Common Summer waterbirds on the lake include Green and Great Blue Herons, Mallard and Wood Duck, American Coot, Northern Rough-winged and Tree Swallows, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Belted Kingfisher, and Spotted Sandpiper.

The surrounding fields and second growth woodland edges are active during Summer with nesting Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Blue-winged Warblers, Field and Song Sparrows, Eastern Towhee, Eastern Kingbird and Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Gray Catbird, and Brown Thrasher.

With an excellent open view overhead, look for migrant or local soaring Red-tailed, Red-shouldered, Cooper’s and Broad-winged Hawks, Bald Eagle, and sometimes Osprey. Migrant Merlin and American Kestrel have been seen in the past. The site is quite quiet in the Winter months, but the shrubby fields are home to Dark-eyed Junco, American Tree Sparrow, and rarely, in the past, Northern Shrike.

Wildlife that may be seen include White-tailed Deer, Coyote, Muskrat, Raccoon, Opossum, skunk, rabbit, and fox are resident mammals. Fishers will find a healthy population of bluegill and bass.

About Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Though a short distance from the urban areas of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park seems worlds away. The park is a refuge for native plants and wildlife and provides routes of discovery for visitors. The winding Cuyahoga River gives way to deep forests, rolling hills, and open farmlands. Walk or ride the Towpath Trail to follow the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal. From Cuyahoga Valley National Park website

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] || L1787370 US US-OH US-OH-153 41.1930029 -81.5827556 Cuyahoga Valley NP--Indigo Lake