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Headland Dunes State Nature Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 435 Google reviews · Running trail in Mentor, Ohio · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Headland Dunes State Nature Preserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Spacious beach with walkways through dunes and picnic tables, as well as a lighthouse.
What runners say about Headland Dunes State Nature Preserve
“This park is very clean, well looked after with ample parking and public restrooms.”
“We hiked all the way out to the lighthouse which offered great views of the lake and Fairport harbor.”
“I spent a nice couple of hours walking in this peaceful preserve, walking along the shore of lake Erie, and learning about the wildlife there.”
One of my favorite thing to do is go on extreme hikes that require jumping between borders. Likely enough this park has just that. From the fishing area past the light house you'll find boulders. The best part of the park with lots of shade you will find by entrance to the fishing path.
Beautiful part of lake Erie. The public beach is great for beach combing, but the tiny pebbles & broken shells are treacherous for your feet. If you're looking for a sandy beach this isn't the spot for you. There is sand but not at the waters edge. The lighthouse view is spectacular & you can walk right up to it.
Well kept and a nice area to walk. I always hike through here and head out to the break wall. Very pretty in the spring and fall. Occasionally see the eagles out that are nested over off 44. Fishing spots over by the breakwall. Beautiful views. Good place to relax.
We really enjoyed our visit to the Headland Dunes State Nature Preserve . It is located at the Northern Terminus of the Buckeye Trail. We visited during the week and it was fairly deserted.
Trail conditions & character
“We hiked all the way out to the lighthouse which offered great views of the lake and Fairport harbor.”
“The Nature Preserve is adjacent to the Headlands Beach State Park and offers numerous hiking trails including a boardwalk through the dunes to an observation deck.”
“This park is very clean, well looked after with ample parking and public restrooms.”
“You can hike through the dunes to the light house and you can watch a beautiful sunset.”
“I spent a nice couple of hours walking in this peaceful preserve, walking along the shore of lake Erie, and learning about the wildlife there.”
“This park is very clean, well looked after with ample parking and public restrooms.”
Plan your run at Headland Dunes State Nature Preserve
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websiteohiodnr.gov
- Phone(614) 265-6561
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–8 PM |
Running trails near Mentor
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Headlands Beach State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 2,192 reviews
Enormous, year-round sandy beach, the largest in Ohio, popular with picnickers & swimmers.
Carol H Sweet Nature Center
4.5 ★★★★★ 254 reviews
Interpretive center for Mentor Marsh, offering weekly guided family hikes & summer camps.
Wake Robin Boardwalk Trail
4.5 ★★★★★ 75 reviews
Hiking area known for its birding opportunities and a boardwalk, plus turtles.
Painesville Township Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 593 reviews
Park with a playground and picnic facilities, a pier, and a rentable hall, plus baseball fields.
