The Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve Near Cleveland Will Bring Out The Explorer In You
By Nikki Rhoades|Published September 09, 2019
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Northeast Ohio is absolutely filled to the brim with natural oases, especially in and around Cleveland. Lovers of the great outdoors, however, have more than likely explored a good chunk of them. While going to the Rocky River Reservation a few hundred times is totally acceptable (after all, its beauty never grows old), it’s easy to long for a new stretch of unspoiled landscape to explore. Turns out, you will find just that at Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve & Marina, a site which made state history when voters affirmed eminent domain acquisition to save it from development. If you live in Northeast Ohio, you must plan a trip to this nature preserve near Cleveland as soon as possible!
Welcome to Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve & Marina!
Once upon a time, the land on which this park is situated was at risk of being developed. As a result, the landscape was purchased and preserved by the City of Mentor in 1997 and 1998.
This charming and diverse 450-acre landscape is roughly 30 minutes from Cleveland, so it's an ideal day trip destination for lovers of nature.
Unlike most city-operated parks, this incredible stretch of land includes 1.5 miles of shoreline. Its crescent-shaped shore is beautiful and untamed, making it a truly unspoiled beach.
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And, interestingly, the park hides the largest unbroken bluff forest in the entire region.
There's an incredible diversity in this park, both in terms of flora and fauna. It is considered by many to be the top birding site in the region, and photographers adore this little-known site for that very reason.
Throughout this park, visitors can explore over three miles of hiking trails.
If this park's acreage isn't enough to keep you entertained, you'll be happy to know that it is the western boundary of Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve.
Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve is, like this park, one of the finest birding areas in the region. Many Clevelanders have visited it, but a great number of those have missed Mentor Lagoons Park on the way. For a truly immersive day, you'll find that it is incredible to visit both outdoor spaces!
But you'll more than likely find yourself enchanted by the park and its distinctive vistas.
Artifacts of indigenous tribes have been found here, some dating back a few thousand years. This site was initially surveyed by a member of Moses Cleaveland's survey party and was set aside as a "Marsh Settlement."
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No matter what brings you in, you'll find your breath taken away by the beauty of this beloved landscape.
While this lovely park is often overshadowed by the nearby Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve, it’s every bit as enchanting as its older sibling. Have you ever visited this pretty landscape? We’d love to hear about your visit in the comments!
