Lakeshore Reservation

Lakeshore Reservation

4799 Lockwood Road North Perry Village, Ohio 44081

Official Website
Lakeshore Reservation map

Also, see all the hotspots at:
Lake County Lakeshore Birding Drive

Tips for Birding

 Lakeshore Reservation is 83.94 acres in size. The park property was once a series of home sites. The habitat is a mix of small woods, shrub habitat, and coniferous stands. There is an abundance of fruit-bearing trees and shrubs. A series of paved and unpaved trails crisscross the park. The bluffs overlooking Lake Erie are excellent for viewing spring and fall waterbird flights. In the spring songbird migration is often intense, and hawk flights are possible.

Take OH-2 east from Painesville, OH-2 will end and will merge to US-20. Take US-20 east 4.5 miles to Antioch Road. Take Antioch Road north till it dead ends at the park entrance.

Lakeshore Reservation as that small park can have large numbers of migrants in spring.

Birds of Interest

Winter
When the lake is open, it is an excellent area to watch passing ducks and gulls. The numerous conifer stands, alders, and fruit-bearing shrubs attract winter finches (in season).
Spring
During southwest winds, strong movements of songbirds can be seen.
Summer
The numerous conifers attract occasional nesting siskins, purple finches, and red-breasted nuthatches. Pine and Blackburnian warblers have also nested.
Fall
This is one of the better areas in northeast Ohio for watching passing waterbirds. The bluffs provide excellent viewing. Songbird migration can also be excellent.

About this Location

This property was once owned by ten individuals who had summer or permanent residences along Lake Erie. Several property boundaries are still visible because of the treelines that remain. The largest piece of property was owned by Charles Irish, a well-known arborist. He planted various non-native ornamental trees and shrubs amidst the native trees, including a large number of rhododendrons near the east boundary of the park.

The property was developed as a park because the site had the most naturally stable beach conditions with a mature stand of trees along Lake Erie in Lake County. The park district received assistance to purchase the lakeshore properties from the U.S. Bureau of Outdoor Recreation through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The parcels of land were acquired between 1967 and 1973.

Lakeshore Reservation is an 84-acre, Lake Metroparks-owned and managed facility in North Perry. It is located on Lockwood Road at Antioch Road.

The reservation features a 2,780-foot undeveloped beach. Fishing is permitted. The beach is accessible via two access staircases at either end of the park. The west staircase is accessible from the dirt-surfaced 0.2-mile Birdwatcher’s Trail and the east staircase is accessible from the 0.5-mile All Peoples Trail. Additional trails at Lakefront Reservation are all paved and include the 0.35-mile Meadow Edge Loop and the 0.21-mile Ramble Lane.

Scenic views of Lake Erie are available at the Lakeview Overlook. The reservation also includes two picnic shelters, restrooms, and the Strock Sculpture Garden.

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

  • Roadside viewing

Content from Official Website, Ohio Ornithological Society, Birding Lake County’s Often Overlooked Birding Hotspots by Haans Petruschke, and Lake Erie Public Access Guide