Scenic overlooks and a natural beach along Lake Erie
Outside Magazine named Lake Erie Bluffs one of the 25 Best Hikes to Beaches in the U.S.! Click here for the complete article.
Towercam: Click here to view current Lake Erie conditions at Lake Erie Bluffs
Lake Erie Bluffs is nationally significant. The property permanently protects a significant amount of wetland, meadow and mostly undeveloped lakefront habitat used by rare and common plant and animal species. The mix of 40-foot-high beach bluffs and open sandy and cobble beach across 9,000 feet of shoreline are the site’s dominant features. The beach area hosts trees, shrubs and small plants including the majority of the park’s rare plants.
Visitors can enjoy low-impact recreational activities such as hiking and fishing at this park. Improvements made to enhance public use include parking lots, a reservable three-season shelter, restrooms and installation of gravel trails with scenic overlooks and access to a natural beach along Lake Erie.
The 50-foot coastal observation tower at Lake Erie Bluffs is situated overlooking the lakeshore with multiple viewing platforms along a staircase that culminates in a deck featuring 360-degree-views. The height and location of the tower provide visitors with a unique view of the lake and the surrounding woods, fields and wetlands, along with a variety of wildlife–particularly a large number of bald eagles that are regularly seen at the park. The tower is accessible during regular park hours 6 am to 11 pm.
Towercam at Lake Erie Bluffs rotates between two views every two minutes. Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular from the tower; click here for a sunrise/sunset chart.
The tower is located nearest the Clark Road entrance (2901 Clark Road). If the parking lot is full, the Lane Road entrance (3301 Lane Road) is just around the corner where visitors can park and access the tower by way of a beautiful short trail.
The tower is open, weather and conditions permitting, during regular park hours (6 am to 11 pm). It is lit at night.
Beaches are very dynamic. Annual fluctuations in water levels and even one severe storm can wipe out a population of plants or bring in new seeds or roots to establish new plant communities. Lake Erie Bluffs provides public access to Lake Erie and protects habitat used by rare species including:
Ticks have been found in this park and are part of the natural environment.
Meadows and old fields in Lake Metroparks offer refuge to many species of wildlife. Since these habitats are found in such short supply throughout Lake County, they are important areas for conservation. Lake Metroparks works to manage valuable habitats that are capable of providing food, water, shelter and space that all wild animals need in order to survive and thrive.
Lake Metroparks worked with various local conservation partners to complete a detailed study of the Lake Erie Bluffs site and together they produced a conceptual master plan that illustrated how conservation, recreation and economic development can all be sustained within and around the project area. The shared vision and commitment to promote and integrate the value of conservation efforts within existing local and regional planning groups and agencies was a result of funding from the Cleveland Foundation’s Lake-Geauga Fund.
The development of Lake Erie Bluffs was made possible with help from a wide range of committed partners. Working together, this collaborative effort secured more than $10 million in local, state and federal competitive grants and donations to purchase the $11 million property. More than 1.6 miles of undeveloped shoreline and nearly 600 acres of diverse and important natural habitat are now protected by Lake Metroparks thanks to the help of many valuable partners.
The funding for Lake Metroparks’ purchase came from the following sources: Clean Ohio Conservation Fund, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, The Conservation Fund, the Novak Trust, Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Lake Metroparks Improvement Fund. The project would not have been possible without the dedicated support and hard work of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy and The Trust for Public Lands.
Lake Erie Bluffs adds to the big picture. Lake County Port Authority Executive Director Mark Rantala explains, “It’s another piece of the shoreline and I think — especially a piece of the shoreline that has public access — that’s really important.”
In 2004, a Presidential Task Force developed solutions to restore the Great Lakes. The resulting Great Lakes Regional Collaborative Strategy (GLRCS) generated nine priorities to restore the Great Lakes including “a need for significantly more habitat conservation and species management.” Preservation of prime natural coastline, such as Lake Erie Bluffs, contributes to the overall health of the Great Lakes region.
Lake Erie Bluffs is easily accessible and is located within a half-mile of the Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail—Ohio’s 293-mile National Scenic Byway that passes through quaint communities and historical sites, and connects a myriad of natural and cultural features including coastal marshes, prairies, rivers, waterfalls, museums and lighthouses.
This project was funded in part by NOAA, Ohio Coastal Management Program, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Lake County Soil & Water Conservation District, The Trust for Public Lands and the Clean Ohio Fund.
To protect the health of anyone who eats Ohio-caught fish, an annual advisory for how often these fish can be safely eaten is prepared by the Ohio Department of Health in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Click here for more information.
Enjoy lake breezes as waves lap against the shores of Lake Erie at this campsite on the edge of a bluff.
Enjoy panoramic views of Lake Erie from this campsite on the edge of a bluff.
This park features the natural wonder of Lake Erie in Lake County’s front yard.