Ohio's Lake Erie Public Access Guide
Rivers Edition
The Ohio's Lake Erie Public Access Guide - Rivers Edition covers more than 870 field-checked river miles and features 220 public access sites.
The geographic extent covered in the rivers edition stretches west to the Indiana state line where the Maumee River enters Ohio near Antwerp in Paulding County, east to the Pennsylvania state line where the Conneaut Creek meanders into Conneaut in Ashtabula County, and as far south as Crawford County where the headwaters of the Sandusky River rise near Crestline.
The rivers edition encompasses sites ranging from small roadside fishing locations to the vast 33,000-acre Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Get Your Guide
- Printed Guidebook: see map for locations to pick up a free copy
- PDF Download: complete Guide 97.4 MB
- Online Rivers Guide: links are below and at right.
 Each online guide webpage features one of Ohio's main Lake Erie tributaries. In some cases, sites along the branches of a river system are also included.
Rivers are arranged geographically from west to east. Public access sites are arranged geographically in an upriver direction, starting with access sties closest to Lake Erie at the river’s mouth and going toward the river’s headwaters. From each river's webpage, one can download printable PDF pages corresponding to that river.
 Public access sites include federal, state, county, city, village and township parks; county metropark preserves and reservations; state and local nature preserves; state wildlife areas; scenic river accesses; water trail accesses; former canal lands and towpaths; memorials and monuments; and roadside fishing areas.
TO NOTE: This guide does not include private sites such as homes, neighborhood associations, clubs, commercial marinas, restaurants, museums, golf courses, campgrounds, retail plazas, industrial port facilities, factories, apartments, condominium complexes, or mobile home parks. Many public access sites listed in this guidebook are adjacent to residential, commercial and industrial properties. Nuisance behavior or trespassing may be subject to prosecution.
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Ottawa River - 8 sites along 18 miles
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Maumee River - 48 sites on the entire 108-mile length of the river in Ohio
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Toussaint River - 1 site on the 6-mile river, 1 site on the Cooley Canal and 1 site in West Harbor
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Portage River - 11 sites along 36 miles of the river
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Sandusky River - 32 sites on the entire 130-mile length of the river
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Huron River - 8 sites on the 14-mile river's main branch and 4 sites along 9 miles of the West Branch Huron River
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Vermilion River - 9 sites along 46 miles of the river
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Black River - 8 sites on the 16-mile main branch; 2 sites along 11 miles of the river’s East Branch and 1 site along 15 miles of the river’s West Branch
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Rocky River - 2 sites on the 12-mile main branch; 3 sites along 32 miles of the river’s East Branch and 5 sites along 31 miles of the river’s West Branch
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Cuyahoga River - 31 sites along 94 miles of the river
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Chagrin River - 15 sites along 49 miles of the river
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Grand River - 22 sites along 88 miles of the river
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Ashtabula River - 3 sites along 19 miles of the river
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Conneaut Creek - 5 sites on the 23-mile length of the creek in Ohio
To note: The river mile system is a linear measure developed by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to index locations along a river or stream in Ohio. River mile values increase in an upriver direction, starting at zero at the mouth. The key to identifying the amenity symbols and a map legend are found in this introductory section.
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Where to Get a Rivers Edition
Pick up a free copy of the new Ohio's Lake Erie Public Access Guidebook – Rivers Edition a distribution location near you!
Blue placemark = Distribution location (inventory supplied by OCM)
Green placemark = Secondary distribution location (stocked by managing entity; supplies may vary)
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River Hazards/River Safety
To ensure a safe visit, there are many hazards to be mindful of when boating, fishing, wading or playing in or alongside a river. The following hazards are common dangers and are not specific to any one river.
 Lowhead Dams - Lowhead dams pose a significant danger to boaters, especially in swollen streams. Under no circumstances should a boater attempt to negotiate a dam. Lowhead dams are deceptively dangerous because of the turbulence and rotating hydraulic forces that can form at the base of the dam. Boats, debris and people can easily become trapped in these circulating waters (see picture below). It is advised to keep a safe distance and to carry boats around all dams.
Waterfalls - From a river’s bank, a waterfall is an incredible scenic spectacle, but for boaters a waterfall is a significant obstruction. It is important to scout a river prior to launching a boat to avoid such a catastrophic hazard. Like lowhead dams, waterfalls too should be carefully portaged.
Floods and Swift Water - Extreme caution should be taken during flooding and swift-flowing water events. Paddlers should avoid boating rivers when water is spilling out of the banks. High water causes hazards such as lowhead dams to become even more dangerous. Other hazards, which may be unseen obstacles, like submerged trees, rocks and floating debris also pose a threat to boaters. For the reasons expressed above, paddlers, anglers and swimmers are advised to not enter a river when the water is fast-flowing. Additional dangers include being uncontrollably carried downstream with the current, the inability to stay above water and foot entrapments.
 Strainers - A strainer is an obstruction in the river that allows water to flow through, but blocks, or “strains,” people or boats from freely passing. Strainers include overhanging branches, log jams and flooded islands. All strainers should be avoided, especially in swift water.
 Foot Entrapments - Paddlers, anglers and waders are encouraged to not stand up or walk in fast-flowing water to avoid foot entrapments. A foot entrapment occurs when a foot becomes pinned between submerged rocks. Once pinned, the force of the current can pull a person’s body underwater. If attempting to recover from a capsized boat, it is recommended to keep feet up and pointed downstream, and swim to calmer water before standing.
More River Words:
downstream - situated or moving in the direction in which a stream or river flows.
meander - follow a winding course.
oxbow - a U-shaped bend in the course of a river.
portage - the carrying of a boat or its cargo between two navigable waters. You may need to portage your boat to safely go around a low-head dam on a river.
tributary - a river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake.
upstream - moving or situated in the opposite direction from that in which a stream or river flows; nearer to the source.
Learn More:
ODNR Division of Watercraft Rivers and Streams Potential Hazards
http://watercraft.ohiodnr.gov/where-to-boat/rivers-streams
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Why A Rivers Edition
In the summer of 2010, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Office of Coastal Management created Ohio’s Lake Erie Public Access Guidebook (a.k.a. Coast Edition), a comprehensive resource for exploring the recreational and scenic publicly accessible sites in Ohio that border Lake Erie. From well-known parks and beaches to secluded shore vistas, Ohio’s Lake Erie Public Access Guidebook mapped 164 publicly accessible locations and outlined the amenities, activities and services available at each site.
Recognizing the popularity of the guidebook, the Office of Coastal Management began an initiative to develop a companion guidebook that shifts the focus from Ohio’s coast to a collection of tributaries that flow through Ohio’s portion of the Lake Erie Watershed.
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Ohio's Lake Erie Watershed
Where the Water Flows
A watershed is the area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same common waterbody, such as a river, pond, lake or ocean.
Lake Erie's 30,140 square mile watershed is shown in yellow on the above map.
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The 30,140 square mile Lake Erie Watershed, part of the larger Great Lakes Watershed, includes portions of land in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania and the Canadian province of Ontario. Ohio’s portion of the Lake Erie Watershed covers 11,649 square miles and drains all or portions of 35 counties.
The glacially-influenced landscape of the Lake Erie Watershed ranges from the low, flat topography of the lake plains, prevalent in northwest Ohio and eastward along the edge of the shore, to rolling hills and elevated highlands in north-central and northeast Ohio.
Ancient beach ridges run parallel to the lake shore, providing a snapshot of prehistoric lake levels during the various phases of Lake Erie’s formation. Many of Lake Erie’s rivers flow from higher-relief upland areas, across sandy ridges and into the lake plain lowlands before emptying into the lake.
Rivers in northwest Ohio traverse extensive tracts of highly fertile agricultural land that were once part of the Great Black Swamp.
The headwaters of the Huron, Vermilion, Black and Rocky rivers wind through gently sloping moraines (rolling hills made from glacial deposits) before flowing into their respective main branches.
The Cuyahoga, Chagrin and Grand, originate elevations greater than 1,000 feet above sea level that are affected by lake-effect snow. These rivers follow bedrock-influenced courses that resemble letters of the alphabet (“U,” “V” and “J/L” respectively).
Downriver sections of the Vermilion, Black, Rocky, Chagrin and Grand, feature valleys characterized by lush forests and impressively high, steep shale cliffs.
The Lake Erie Watershed’s tributaries provide valuable forested, wetland and riparian habitat for a great number of avian, aquatic and terrestrial species. The watershed provides vital stopover locations during waterfowl and neotropical songbird migrations. To that end, portions of the Maumee, Sandusky, Vermilion, Black, Rocky, Cuyahoga, Chagrin and Grand rivers have been designated as Important Bird Areas by Ohio’s chapter of the National Audubon Society. Many locations are public access sites featured in this guide. Numerous bald eagle and other raptor nests are located along the banks or within close proximity to a major river system including the Maumee, Sandusky and Cuyahoga rivers.
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Rivers' Importance
The rivers of the Lake Erie Watershed have played a vital role throughout the history of northern Ohio. Lake Erie’s tributaries were once important transportation corridors and provided Native Americans, British, French and Americans scenic and strategic backdrops for trading posts and defensive forts.
Portage trails from the Maumee via the Auglaize and St. Marys rivers, Sandusky and Cuyahoga rivers connected to the Great Miami, Scioto and Tuscarawas rivers, respectively, creating nearly-continuous water passages between Lake Erie and the Ohio River.
Canal Connections - In the early 19th century, construction began on the Ohio and Erie Canal, the Miami and Erie Canal and the Milan Canal to transport goods between Lake Erie and the Ohio River.
- Running alongside the Cuyahoga River, the Ohio and Erie Canal connected Cleveland with Portsmouth, via Akron, and operated between 1833 and 1913.
- Adjacent to the Maumee River, the Miami and Erie Canal connected Toledo with Cincinnati and started operation in 1845. It was gradually phased out between 1906 and 1929.
- Adjacent to the Huron River, the Milan Canal was located entirely within Erie County between Milan and Huron and operated between 1839 and 1868. The canal provided a vital transportation link for the abundant lands in northern Ohio area making Milan the second largest grain exporting port in the entire world during the canal’s active days.
Ohio’s canals were unable to compete with the railroad and all were ultimately abandoned after catastrophic flood events damaged much of their infrastructure. Many miles of former canal land and towpath trails, as well as many remnant locks, are publicly accessible and found at sites featured in this guide.
 Ports of Call - Lake Erie’s rivers play an important role in Ohio’s economic viability, particularly for the role they play in commerce. Most of Ohio’s major commercial port cities are located at the mouth of a tributary.
Dredging of materials from the harbor areas and river bottoms allow freighters to enter and travel upriver to port destinations. The navigable shipping channel in the Cuyahoga River is over 5 miles long, and the Maumee River shipping channel extends 7 miles upriver to the Interstate 75 bridge.
Sources of Power - Rivers in the Lake Erie Watershed have also served as important sources of power, drinking water and irrigation. From early gristmills to hydroelectric-power-generating dams, Ohioans have harnessed the flowing waters of the lake’s tributaries.
Recreation - Reservoirs, created by the damming of rivers, have provided recreational opportunities, flood control and drinking water. The city of Akron, for example, owns and manages 19,000 acres of land and three reservoirs (Lake Rockwell, LaDue Reservoir and the East Branch Reservoir) in the upper Cuyahoga River Watershed. In more recent years, it has been recognized that the damming of rivers, isolates upriver habitat and limits the connectivity for spawning fish. Many dams have been or are in the process of being removed to restore habitat accessibility and stream quality.
Source of Water - Water intakes found along Lake Erie’s rivers are used for agricultural and industrial purposes, including crop irrigation, livestock production, quarrying and fish and waterfowl propagation.
Water withdrawals from the rivers and the lake are regulated by the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and further guided by state guidelines.
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Boating
Boat access on Ohio’s Lake Erie tributaries (those that flow through the Lake Erie Basin portion of the map at right) ranges from small, unpaved canoe and kayak launches to concrete ramps intended for motorized watercraft. The ramps, docks and carry-in paddling launches identified in this guidebook do not include commercial facilities, private facilities or unmarked roadside pull-offs.
For a complete inventory of these additional resources, and a comprehensive listing of dams and other navigation hazards, refer to the ODNR Division of Watercraft websites:
(see webpage Lake Erie Boating)
(see webpage Lake Erie Basin Paddling Access)
Registration - Registrations are required for every recreational boat in Ohio, including canoes, kayaks, pedal, inflatable boats and paddle boards. Boats can be registered online, through the mail, at a Division of Watercraft office or through an independent registration agent. Field offices within the Lake Erie Watershed are located in Akron, Ashtabula, Cleveland, Oregon (Maumee Bay), Sandusky and Wapakoneta.
(see webpage registrations)
Education - People born on or after January 1, 1982, who operate a boat on Ohio water which is powered by a 10 horsepower or larger engine, must successfully pass the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved boating education course or proficiency exam.
(see webpage boater education)
Life jackets - Ohio law requires life jackets to be worn while riding a personal watercraft, while waterskiing or while being towed on a similar device, and by children less than 10 years of age on any vessel less than 18-feet long.
(see webpage life jackets)
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Ohio Water Trails 
Over the past few years, the Ohio Water Trails Program has evolved into a cooperative partnership between ODNR, various levels of government and non-profit conservation groups. The program promotes paddling routes that combine recreation with low-impact use. This is accomplished by designating waterways as State Water Trails and by providing funding for site/launch improvements and development; purchasing and installing access and hazard signage; and producing and distributing educational maps and brochures.
In the Lake Erie Watershed, Ohio has nine designated water trails, including the 27-mile Vermilion-Lorain Water Trail and the 15.3-mile East Sandusky Bay Water Trail.
Five of the nine water trail access sites on the Vermilion-Lorain Water Trail are found along the Vermilion and Black rivers and listed in this guide. The trail’s other four access sites are located along the Lake Erie shore, between the mouths of the Vermilion and Black rivers, and are listed in Ohio’s Lake Erie Public Access Guidebook - Coast Edition.
Learn more:
http://watercraft.ohiodnr.gov/watertrails
http://lakeerie.ohiodnr.com/GoCoast
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Ohio Scenic Rivers Program
Ohio Scenic Rivers Program works with local governments, businesses, landowners, non-profit organizations and other state and federal agencies to protect the aquatic resources and terrestrial communities dependent on healthy riparian habitats.
State legislation (ORC §1547-81 to §1547-85) passed in 1968 created the nation’s first state Scenic River Program which is today administered by the ODNR Division of Watercraft.
Scenic rivers are classified according to the qualities a stream possesses. The three categories include wild, scenic and recreational.
Factors that determine a stream’s potential designation include length, adjacent forestation, biological characteristics, water quality, present use of the river and natural conditions. Designation of a river as wild, scenic or recreational is not intended to be used as a restoration tool for bringing degraded streams back to an improved natural condition.
Rather, the designation recognizes the unique characteristics of a stream and coordinates river preservation activities among diverse state and local agencies, organizations and individuals. Designation helps ensure that decisions and activities which may impact a river are conducted in an environmentally sensitive and responsible manner.
The Ohio Scenic Rivers Program has designated portions of seven Lake Erie tributaries including (from west to east):
- Maumee River State Scenic River (1974) - 43 miles designated Scenic River; 53 miles designated Recreational River
- Sandusky River State Scenic River (1970) - 65 miles designated Scenic River. The Sandusky, Ohio’s second scenic river, was the first in the Lake Erie Watershed to receive a designation.
- Upper Cuyahoga State Scenic River (1974) - 25 miles designated Scenic River
- Chagrin State Scenic River (1979) - 71 total river miles on three segments; the Chagrin, East Branch Chagrin and Aurora Branch Chagrin rivers
- Grand Wild & Scenic River (1974) - 33 miles designated Scenic River; 23 miles designated Wild River
- Ashtabula State Scenic River (2008) - 46 continuous river miles on three stream segments; the Ashtabula, East Branch Ashtabula and West Branch Ashtabula rivers
- Conneaut Creek State Wild & Scenic River (2005) - 21 miles designated Scenic River; 16.4 designated Wild River
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Scenic Byways
 The Ohio Scenic Byways program recognizes and promotes the importance of preserving and protecting the natural and cultural resources along Ohio’s historic and scenic roadways.
There are eight designated byways in the Lake Erie Watershed, including:
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The Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail which follows a route along the Lake Erie shore from Toledo to Conneaut
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The Maumee Valley Scenic Byway which follows a route along the Maumee River from Defiance to Rossford
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The Ohio & Erie Canalway Scenic Byway which follows a route along the Cuyahoga River and former Ohio & Erie Canal from Cleveland to Dover
Additionally, the National Scenic Byways Program within the U.S. Department of Transportation designates roads as National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads and collectively refers to them as America’s Byways. Those in Ohio include the Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail and the Ohio & Erie Canalway in Ohio’s Lake Erie Watershed.
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Fishing, Hunting and Trapping
Lake Erie and its tributaries are integrally connected in the life cycles of many fish species. Even though the water flows downstream into the lake, many fish travel upstream to spawn.
The Maumee and Sandusky rivers are nationally-renowned for their walleye fishing. The Vermilion, Rocky, Cuyahoga, Chagrin, Grand and Ashtabula rivers and the Conneaut Creek, when free of ice, are recognized for steelhead trout fishing. Bluegill, crappie, yellow perch and walleye are popular catches near river mouths and within harbor areas during winter months.
Most Ohio residents and visitors, older than 16 years of age, will need the appropriate fishing, hunting or trapping licenses, permits and/or stamps to partake in these activities in Ohio. Certain exemptions may apply. Be advised that local communities may also have regulations regarding where firearms may be discharged.
Anglers, hunters and trappers can find regulations and purchase and print licenses and permits online, from home or at a license agency. Anglers and hunters may also request a mail order license form by calling
1-800-WILDLIFE.
Anglers wishing to purchase a 1- or 3-day fishing license may do so by telephone by dialing 1-866-703-1928 (live operator) or
1-855-764-3474 (interactive voice response system/special convenience fees apply).
To report fishing, hunting, trapping or other wildlife violations, call:
1-800-POACHER.
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Ohio Sport Fish Health and Consumption Advisory (Ohio EPA)
Ohio's current sport fish consumption advisory committee functions under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among Ohio EPA, Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Department of Health. Technical staff from each agency meet several times a year as needed to coordinate fish advisories and other issues related to fish contaminants.
The methodology used for issuing fish advisories is described in the 1993 Protocol for a Uniform Great Lakes Sport Fish Consumption Advisory and its subsequent addenda. In cases where an advisory decision is needed for constituents not addressed in the protocol, the protocol is used as a framework for developing appropriate thresholds.
Each year, the new fish contaminant data is evaluated, and advisories are issued or modified annually. Advisories are released concurrently when fishing license renewals are required, near the end of February. The advisories are updated on the website, and updated outreach materials are distributed to WIC clinics and to anglers and citizens upon request.
The full Ohio Sport Fish Consumption Advisory is found online.
Learn more:
http://epa.ohio.gov/dsw/fishadvisory/index.aspx
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Lake Erie Birding Trail
Developed by the ODNR Division of Wildlife in partnership with the Ohio Sea Grant College Program, the Lake Erie Birding Trail is an online resource intended to provide a guide to the best birding locations along Lake Erie and some of its tributaries. The Lake Erie Birding Trail highlights 84 publicly accessible sites, many of which are included in Ohio's Lake Erie Public Access Guides to the coast and to the rivers. Collectively, nearly 400 species of birds, ranging from migrant songbirds to marsh-loving waterbirds to majestic raptors have been spotted in the featured areas.
Learn more:
ODNR Division of Wildlife, Lake Erie Birding Trail
www.lakeerieohiobirding.info
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Stream Flow Rates
U.S. Geological Survey real-time water data with daily streamflow conditions
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/oh/nwis/rt
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List of all river access sites
Ottawa River - Webpage PDF
OT1 President Drive Launch
OT2 Belpre Drive Launch
OT3 Hammond Drive Launch
OT4 Howard Pinkley Landing at Riviera Park
OT5 Jermain Park
OT6 Ottawa Park
OT7 Wildwood Preserve Metropark
OT8 Harroun Community Park
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Maumee River - Webpage PDF
MA1 Toledo Skyway Marina
MA2 International Park
MA3 Promenade Park and Maritime Plaza
MA4 Veteran’s Memorial Park and Rossford Marina
MA5 Walbridge Park
MA6 Island View Park
MA7 Corey Street Boat Ramp
MA8 Fort Miamis National Historic Site
MA9 Maple Street Boat Ramp
MA10 Louisiana Avenue Dock at Hood Park
MA11 Riverside Park
MA12 Audubon Islands State Nature Preserve
MA13 Orleans Park
MA14 Klewer Towpath Park
MA15 Fort Meigs Maumee River Access
MA16 Side Cut Metropark
MA17 Buttonwood Park
MA18 Memorial Park
MA19 Waterworks Park
MA20 Miltonville Fishing Access
MA21 Farnsworth Metropark
MA22 Missionary Islands State Wildlife Area
MA23 Bend View Metropark
MA24 Maumee River Weirs Rapids Wildlife Access
MA25 Otsego Park
MA26 Van Tassel State Wildlife Area
MA27 Providence Metropark
MA28 Dominick Labino Historic Marker
MA29 Bluebell Island Park
MA30 West Street Boat Launch
MA31 Gilead Canal Public Boat Dock
MA32 Mary Jane Thurston State Park
MA33 Miami Wabash and Erie Canal Access
MA34 Dry Creek State Wildlife Area
MA35 South Turkeyfoot Creek Maumee River Access
MA36 North Turkeyfoot Area of Mary Jane Thurston State Park
MA37 Vorwerk Park
MA38 East Riverdowns Park
MA39 Ritter Park
MA40 Oberhaus Park
MA41 Meyerholtz Maumee River Access
MA42 Florida State Wildlife Area
MA43 Independence Dam State Park
MA44 Pontiac Park
MA45 Kingsbury Park
MA46 Fort Defiance
MA47 Bend Access
MA48 Riverside Park
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Cooley Canal - Webpage PDF
CC1 Cooley Canal Boat Ramp
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Toussaint River - Webpage PDF
TO1 Toussaint State Wildlife Area
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Portage River - Webpage PDF
PO1 Waterworks Park
PO2 Jefferson Street Plaza
PO3 Harry Stensen Memorial Plaza
PO4 Portage River State Wildlife Area
PO5 Little Portage State Wildlife Area
PO6 Elmore Riverbend Park
PO7 Harry Witty Memorial Park
PO8 H.W. Busdiecker Park
PO9 Trail Marker Park
PO10 Lovers Portage River Fishing Access
PO11 William Henry Harrison Park
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West Harbor - PDF
WH1 West Harbor Public Boat Launching Ramp
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Sandusky River - Webpage PDF
SA1 Fisher Road Fishing Access
SA2 Rodger Young Park
SA3 Robert L. Walsh Memorial Park
SA4 Riverside Mill
SA5 South River Road Pull-Off
SA6 Tindall Bridge Access
SA7 South River Access Park
SA8 Wolf Creek Park
SA9 Old Fort Bridge Park
SA10 Abbott’s Bridge Scenic River Access
SA11 Steyer Nature Preserve
SA12 Schekelhoff Nature Preserve
SA13 Junior Home Memorial Park
SA14 Patterson Park
SA15 Nature Trails Park
SA16 Rotary Fort Ball Park
SA17 Tiffin Community Fitness Trail
SA18 St. Johns Bridge Scenic River Access
SA19 Howard Collier State Nature Preserve
SA20 Hecks Bridge Scenic River Access
SA21 Indian Mill Scenic River Access
SA22 Indian Mill State Memorial
SA23 Stepping Stones Park
SA24 Harrison Smith Park
SA25 Upper Sandusky Reservoir Park
SA26 Water Works Park
SA27 Sears Woods State Nature Preserve
SA28 Sandusky Wildlife Area
SA29 Unger Park
SA30 Aumiller Park
SA31 Harmon Field
SA32 Lowe-Volk Park
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Huron River - Webpage PDF
HU1 Huron Harbor West Pier (Lighthouse Pier)
HU2 Flemmond’s Landing
HU3 Huron Municipal Boat Basin
HU4 Huron River Boat Access
HU5 DuPont Marsh State Nature Preserve
HU6A Huron River Greenway MetroPark – DuPont Marsh Trailhead
HU6B Huron River Greenway MetroPark – Milan Trailhead
HU7 The Coupling MetroPark
HU8 Milan State Wildlife Area
West Branch Huron River
WHU1 Marsh Park
WHU2 Clark Park
WHU3 Kiwanis Park
WHU4 Mary Fate Park
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Vermilion River - Webpage PDF
VE1 Wakefield MetroPark
VE2 Harbour Town Municipal Boat Docks
VE3 East Exchange Park
VE4 McGarvey’s Landing
VE5 Vermilion Rotary Centennial Park
VE6 South Street Launch Ramp
VE7 Vermilion River Reservation
VE8 Schoepfle Garden
VE9 Augusta-Anne Olsen State Nature Preserve
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Black River - Webpage PDF
BL1 Lorain Public Fishing Pier
BL2 Riverside Park
BL3 Black River Landing
BL4 Black River Wharf Boat Launch
BL5 French Creek Reservation
BL6 Black River Reservation
BL7 Elywood Park
BL8 Cascade Park
East Branch Black River
EBL1 East Falls Riverwalk
EBL2 Indian Hollow Reservation
West Branch Black River
WBL1 Carlisle Reservation
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Rocky River - Webpage PDF
RO1 Port of Lakewood Courtesy Dock
RO2 Rocky River Reservation
East Branch Rocky River
ERO1 Rocky River Reservation
ERO2 Mill Stream Run Reservation
ERO3 Hinckley Reservation
ERO4 Hinckley Reservation – Rising Valley Picnic Area
West Branch Rocky River
WRO1 Olmsted Falls East River Park
WRO2 Dave Fortier River Park
WRO3 Columbia Reservation
WRO4 Mill Stream Park
WRO5 Lake Medina
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Cuyahoga River - Webpage PDF
CU1 Wendy Park
CU2 Settlers Landing
CU3 Heritage Park East Bank
CU4 Heritage Park West Bank
CU5 Rivergate Park
CU6 Hart Crane Park
CU7 Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation
CU8 Cuyahoga Valley National Park
CU9 Brecksville Reservation
CU10 Deep Lock Quarry Metro Park
CU11 Ohio & Erie Canal Portage Path Trailhead
CU12 Sand Run Metro Park – Big Bend Area
CU13 Cascade Valley Metro Park – North (Schumacher Valley Area)
CU14 Cascade Valley Metro Park – South
CU15 Babb Run Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary
CU16 Gorge Metro Park
CU17 High Bridge Glens Park
CU18 Cuyahoga Falls River Square
CU19 River Front Park
CU20 Water Works Park
CU21 Brust Park
CU22 Portage Hike & Bike Trail
CU23 Fred Fuller Park
CU24 John Brown Tannery Park
CU25 Franklin Mills Riveredge Park
CU26 Brady’s Leap Park
CU27 Tummonds State Nature Preserve
CU28 Headwaters Trail
CU29 Gerald E. Buchert Memorial Park
CU30 Eldon Russell Park
CU31 Headwaters Park
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Chagrin River - Webpage PDF
CH1 Eastlake Port Authority Boat Ramp
CH2 Chagrin River Park
CH3 Gilson Park
CH4 Todd Field Park
CH5 Daniels Park
CH6 Hach-Otis Sanctuary State Nature Preserve
CH7 Pleasant Valley Park
CH8 North Chagrin Reservation
CH9 South Chagrin Reservation
CH10 River Run Park
CH11 Riverside Park
CH12 Whitesburg Nature Preserve
CH13 West Geauga Commons
CH14 The Rookery
CH15 Bass Lake Preserve
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Grand River - Webpage PDF
GR1 Fairport Harbor Short Pier
GR2 Robert “Buck” Benson Memorial Docks
GR3 Olive Street Transient Dock Access
GR4 Bucky Rutherford Memorial Park
GR5 Grand River Landing
GR6 Kiwanis Recreation Park
GR7 Beaty Landing
GR8 Helen Hazen Wyman Park
GR9 Mason’s Landing Park
GR10 Indian Point Park
GR11 Baker Road Park
GR12 River Run Park
GR13 Hidden Valley Park
GR14 Riverview Park
GR15 Hogback Ridge Park
GR16 Harpersfield Covered Bridge Metropark
GR17 Tote Road Park
GR18 Morgan Swamp Preserve
GR19 Grand River Conservation Center
GR20 Grand River Jersey Farm Canoe Access
GR21 Grand River State Wildlife Area – Geis Property
GR22 Grand River State Wildlife Area
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Ashtabula River - Webpage PDF
AS1 Ashtabula Transient Docks
AS2 Indian Trails Park
AS3 Benetka Road Covered Bridge
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Conneaut Creek - Webpage PDF
CO1 Woodworth Road Public Boat Ramp
CO2 Conneaut Creek Access at Old Main Street
CO3 Conneaut Creek Access at Center Road
CO4 Creek Road Covered Bridge
CO5 State Road Covered Bridge
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Amenities Legend
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Map Legend
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Data Collection and Sources
Public access information in Ohio’s Lake Erie Public Access Guidebook – Rivers Edition was collected by ODNR Office of Coastal Management staff in 2011 using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies. The primary data collection method was on-the-ground fieldwork, supplemented by sources including:
- County parcel data
- County and local maps
Metro Park and park district maps
- ODNR Division of Watercraft’s 2004 Boating Access data
- ODNR Division of Watercraft’s Boating on Ohio’s Streams; Northeast & Southeast Regions (2004) and Northwest & Southwest Regions (2006) brochures
- ODNR Division of Wildlife’s Ohio Public Hunting, Fishing & Wildlife Viewing Areas map (2005)
- The state of Ohio’s 2006 Statewide Imagery Program aerial photography
In 2011 and 2012, coastal staff verified locations and amenities with local officials, including recreation directors, park managers and other local authorities.
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