Field NotesOhio
Upper Falls in the Old Man's Cave gorge, Hocking Hills, with visitors on the rocks

An independent field guide · 365 places

The field guide to outdoor Ohio

Parks and forests, ancient mounds, caves, waterfalls and back roads, with the story behind each place and where to eat and fuel up nearby.
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Old Man's Cave, Hocking Hills · Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0

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Lake ErieWest Virginia36 places368 places813 places135 places523 places2321 places2124 places2416 places1613 places134 places418 places182 places217 places1710 places1014 places142 places27 places76 places613 places133 places34 places414 places143 places3Harrison Lake State Park2 places22 places22 places26 places64 places4

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Parks, forests & wildlife areas

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117 parks in 7 regions
Sunset over Lake Erie from Headlands Beach

Headlands Beach State Park

Mentor · Lake County · Lake Erie
State park
About a milebeach
Freecost

Headlands Beach State Park · Photo: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0

Ohio's longest natural sand beach, 35 acres and about a mile long, with dunes, beach glass and the Buckeye Trail's northern terminus.

Length
About a mile of natural sand, on 35 acres
Setting
A state park next to the Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve
Facilities
Restrooms, a concession stand in season, picnic areas with grills and a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk
Trails
A paved 1.5-mile trail along the back dunes, which is the start of the Buckeye Trail
Dogs
The park is pet-friendly, but the dunes are not

Known for beach glass and Lake Erie sunsets.

Before you swim

Check for algal bloom and bacteria advisories before you go; the Ohio Department of Health posts them for Ohio beaches. Swim in designated areas, and stay out of the water when the surf is rough.

Visiting information you can trust

Primary official source
ODNR park finder (search this park)
Location confidence
Verified property location
Within 1.5 miles of the park's verified entrance
Check current conditions
Official conditions or closures
Beach advisory
Ohio EPA BeachGuard — current water-quality advisories

Prices, hours, closures, campsite availability and trail conditions shown elsewhere on this page are not live — always confirm with the official source before you go.

Visiting

Lifeguards
Sources differ: some list summer lifeguards, one county tourism page says none
Cost
Free
Address
9601 Headlands Rd, Mentor, OH 44060
DirectionsShow on the map

The park

Headlands Beach State Park
The state park this beach is part of, with camping and trails.
Open

Nearby history

Fairport Harbor Lighthouse and Marine Museum
A sandstone lighthouse on Lake Erie beside the Grand River
Open

More on this stretch of coast

Details last checked 2026-09-22. Confirm hours and prices before you go.

Know a place that belongs here, or spotted something out of date? Email hello@fieldnotesohio.com.