Ottawa County hiking challenge runs through Nov. 30

Ottawa County's Outdoor Hiking Challenge gives participants until Nov. 30 to visit nine of 14 destinations and earn a pair of wool socks.

The Park District of Ottawa County's 2026 program includes Marblehead Lighthouse State Park, Meadowbrook Marsh and East Harbor State Park. Completed logs must arrive by Dec. 1, with one entry per person.

Two guided outings are scheduled this week: a bird walk from 10-11 a.m. Wednesday at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area and a fall foliage walk from 4-5 p.m. Thursday at Islander Woods and Trailhead, 3655 NW Catawba Road, Port Clinton. The program form says guided adventures are free and open to all ages.

Participants can text a log photo to 419-635-8212, email it to shill@ottawacountyparksoh.org or return it to the district office, 770 SE Catawba Road, Port Clinton. Socks will be distributed there Dec. 8-10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Check each destination's rules before visiting. The program lists a mid-November closure for Magee Marsh Boardwalk.

File photo: Chris "Mr. Pants" Landis / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Marblehead Lighthouse was photographed May 7, 2008; the photograph does not show a 2026 outing.