It sure was nice of Lake Metroparks to put in these boardwalks so we don't get our hiking boots all muddy.
Outside Magazine named Lake Erie Bluffs one of the 25 Best Hikes to Beaches in the U.S.! Click here for the complete article.
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.
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:
- Bald eagle
- Merlin
- White-eyed vireo
- Least flycatcher
- Bohemian Waxwing
- Willow flycatcher
- Yellow-breasted chat
- Purple sand grass
- Smallmouth salamander
- Fringed gentian
- Seaside spurge
- Hairy-necked tiger beetle
- Various other rare plants
Ticks have been found in this park and are part of the natural environment.
Please remember, this is the outdoors. It's a wooded area. It is your responsibility to come prepared with boots/old shoes, long pants, insect repellent, and hydration. At some point, you may encounter poison ivy, ticks, mosquitoes, snakes, sticks that look like snakes, dinosaurs, sasquatch, water, thorns, mud, UFOs, muggles, unladen European swallows, land sharks, and changing weather. If this does not sound appealing to you, please do not attempt this cache.