Explore Ohio's Sand Dunes At This Underrated State Park Near Cleveland
By Nikki Rhoades|Published July 05, 2022
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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.
When you think of beaches and sand dunes, Ohio landscapes aren’t likely to come to mind. In fact, you might even think of a place like Kitty Hawk, NC, where two Ohioans set out to put their brand new invention — the airplane — to the test. However, there are beautiful sand dunes in Ohio, and they’re truly not all that far from Cleveland. Visit the longest stretch of sandy beach in Ohio and check out stunning sand dunes in one trip… you can kill two birds with one stone! Check it out:
No, this boardwalk isn't taking you out to Myrtle Beach. In fact, it's not even located in a particularly tropical locale.
Believe it or not, you're still in Ohio. This park is managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, but it boasts a vibe that's almost tropical. Almost.
This is Headlands Beach State Park, a 35-acre Lake Erie beach that's actually the longest naturally-occurring beach in the state.
Headlands Beach State Park is a unique day drip destination near Cleveland. It's just barely over 30 minutes outside of Downtown Cleveland, and the area is best reached via I-90.
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Stretching through Mentor and Painesville Township, this gorgeous park encompasses a variety of landscapes.
As you can see, this property is nestled against the Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light. As one of the more iconic lighthouses near Cleveland, this landmark makes an incredible backdrop for your adventure.
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With a sandy lakeshore and sand dunes, this park has grown to host a variety of unique and rare plants.
There's no other environment in the state that quite compares to the size and scale of this landscape. Lake Erie may get a bad rap, but its might and power have formed some pretty amazing things.
Interestingly, these dunes are a fairly modern formation... they began to appear around 1820.
When you consider how ancient many portions of Ohio feel, it's incredible to think that this park formed in response to the creation of the Federal Breakwall project. The past two centuries have allowed the landscape to flourish, and Mother Nature has done something magical with it.
Here, unique plants most common on the Atlantic coastal plain have flourished.
Though rare in Ohio, species like seaside spurge and beach grass are thriving here. Truly, if you've visited any beaches on the East Coast, this might feel like a faraway destination rather than an Ohio natural landmark.
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The park opens a half-hour before sunrise and closes half an hour after sunset, and it's a magical place to watch the sun and Lake Erie's horizon converge.
If you do decide to stay late, make sure you're prepared for the trek back to the car. This landscape is populated by native fauna, so you might bump into a fox or a deer.
And whether you're hiking or sunbathing here, you won't believe just how stunning this landscape is.
You can visit Headlands Beach State Park at 9601 Headlands Rd, Mentor, OH 44060.
These beautiful sand dunes in Ohio are almost unexpected… after all, we’re not the beachiest state! However, this unique landscape is a true gem, and it’s one many Clevelanders have yet to witness in person. Have you visited? We’d love to see photos and hear about your experience in the comments!
Looking for more unique landscapes near Cleveland? If you haven’t visited Towpath Mounds yet, it belongs on your local bucket list!
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