Tag Archives: creeks in erie pa

Chautauqua Park

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Chautauqua Park

Our quest to find the perfect sunst watching destination brought us to Chautauqua Park. If you’re looking for parks in Erie, PA, the simplicity and beautiful views of Chautauqua Park may be perfect for you.

Location:

Chautauqua Park is located at Lakeside Drive and Chautauqua Boulevard, Erie, PA 16511.

Great spot to watch the sun go down

Property Description:

This has a very “park like” setting, with a picnic pavilion and plenty of benches to sit on so that you can relax and enjoy the view of beautiful Lake Erie. The park is open from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.

There is a small parking lot located on the edge of the park right at the meeting of Lakeside Drive and Chautauqua Boulevard, but there are not many spaces, so be aware of that if you plan on meeting up with a large group.

What to Do:

Chautauqua Park is a great place to watch the sunset in Erie, PA, and in fact, the reason we visited in the first place. However, once there, we realized that the park had more to offer.

This would be a great place to come to for a family gathering, a meet up with friends, or a simple date. Because of the picnic pavilion and tables provided, we thought it might be a good place to bring a meal, hang out, and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you.

Picnic pavilion and other seating

There is a utility road with access to a creek, but you cannot get into the water. It is, however, a nice place to enjoy the views of the lake.

Creek Access

Clearly, watching the sunset from this location can be stunning. The park provides several benches that allow you to take a load off your feet and watch the beauty that is an Erie sunset. If you enjoy photography, this would be a great place to post up for the evening and capture some beautiful photos.

Sunset

Who Can Go:

We think this park is very accessible by anyone, except if you’d like to walk down to the actual shoreline. There at stairs to get down, but they are built into the earth and very, very steep. One of us was brave enough to venture down and take some photos.

Yep. This is how you get down to the beach.

If you’re looking for beach glass in Erie, this might be the perfect park for you as we found a ton of it on the shoreline at the beach. You do have to walk down steep steps, but if you’re an adventurer and enjoy collecting or crafting with beach glass, this could be a great spot for you!

Pets are welcome at Chautauqua Park, but be sure to keep them on a leash and clean up after them!

Final Thoughts:

We enjoyed Chautauqua Park, especially as an option to go to when wanting to watch the sunset in Erie, PA. This is not a place to swim, so if that’s what you’re looking to do, we would advise to steer clear of this location. It’s a park we think would be great to spend a little bit of time at, whether you want to just take in the beauty of your surroundings, or enjoy a simple meal in the picnic pavillion.

Sunset view from a park bench

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Chautauqua Oark in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around the Erie area as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA can be hard.]

Elk Creek Access

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Elk Creek Access

We’re coming to find that there are many different lake access points in the Erie area, such as Shorewood Park and Walnut Creek Marina. Elk Creek Access is not only one of these Lake Erie access points, but a great spot to visit!

Location:

You’ll find Elk Creek Access at the end of Elk Creek Road, Lake City, PA 16423. We’ve included a map below to help you figure out where the destination is.

Brought to you by Google Maps

Property Description:

This is beach and water access, near homes and summer cottages. There’s not a ton of space to park, but you should be able to find a spot being that this is a pretty unfilled area when it comes to outside traffic. You’ll find a little sand, but it is mostly rocks and pebbles on the beach.

What to Do:

There is no lifeguard available, so we would advise staying out of the water for swimming purposes. We did dip our feet in, walk along the edge, and look for beach glass, and we found so many pieces! This beach was full of it, so we highly recommend coming here if collecting beach glass is something you like to do. We heard the best time to pan for beach glass is after a storm, so this may be the perfect place to come the morning after one of Erie’s nighttime thunderstorms.

Beach glass among rocks and pebbles
Our beach glass haul

We are sometimes lucky enough to view things that we wouldn’t even think of, and our trip to Elk Creek Access was one of those times. A couple of guys had brought their dog, who they were teaching how to retrieve in the water. The kids loved watching him run back and forth, and it got us thinking that this beach in particular is probably a great place to bring your dog to play because it is definitely not a busy as some of the other beaches in Erie, such as Presque Isle.

If you’re looking for the best place to watch the sunset in Erie, add this to your list of options. We did come to this beach at sunset, and noticed that although there were still people there, the actual beach itself wasn’t very busy. The people who live in the area were watching, but mainly from their own property; we saw roughly 3 groups besides ourselves on the beach.

Who Can Go:

All are welcome at this beach and creek access point in Lake City. This is definitely a cozy place for a date night in Erie, but it’s also a great place to hang out with your family and friends or bring your dog to run and play. You do have to walk across rocks, so it’s not most easily accessible place to visit if you want to get close to the water.

Be aware that there is some private property in this area, so not all points are accessible to the public.

Final Thoughts:

We really enjoyed our evening at Elk Creek Access. We highly recommend this beach if you are looking for beach glass in Erie, PA and the area surrounding the lake.

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Elk Creek Access in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around the Erie area as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA can be hard.]

Shorewood Park

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Shorewood Park

On our mission to bring you several locations to enjoy the beauty of the sunset in Erie, PA (click here for more locations), we were lucky enough to stumble across Shorewood Beach in Harborcreek, PA.

Unedited. Unfiltered. The beauty of a sunset on Shorewood Beach.

Location:

Shorewood Park is located along Lake Erie at the intersection of East Lake Road and Moorheadville Road.

Property Description:

Shorewood Park has over 14 acres of land. 12 Mile Creek intersects with the property, and we saw some great views from the beach. The park has over 1,200 feet of shoreline, which is known as Shorewood Beach.

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Be aware that the park and the beach both close at 10:00 p.m. daily.

What to Do:

Shorewood Park is beautiful, with many stunning views of nature. You can enjoy some time staring at beautiful Lake Erie on the rocky beach, or enjoy the lush, vivid greens of the leaves on the trees on the land surrounding.

You will see a playground when driving towards the beach, and alongside is a picnic table with a charcoal grill, making this a great place to enjoy a meal with your family.

One of the things we would highly recommend doing here is watching the sunset. We have only visited Shorewood Beach once, so we’re not sure if we got super lucky, but the sunset was absolutely phenomenal from this location.

We were also very fortunate on our trip to see a helicopter flying over the water as the sun set. It got extremely close to the water, and seemed like it was coming in right over our heads! It was honestly one of the coolest things we’ve ever seen, and we’re not sure if it was a one time thing or not, but you just might see it for yourself if you decide to visit!

Who Can Go:

Anyone is welcome at this park, but please be aware that accessibility to the shore isn’t necessarily easy. The shore is surrounded by rocks, making it very hard for anything to wheel near the water. Before the rocks, there is a sand and concrete parking area with ledges that reach out towards the water, and those ledges allow anyone who is unable to get into the rocks the ability to look out over the water. The good thing is between the creek and the countless feet of beach, you won’t ever feel cramped or shoved up against other people if you decide to come here. And while this might not be the beach most think of if they are searching for the best beach in Erie, PA, this is certainly one of the calmer beaches we have been to.

Final Thoughts:

We really appreciated the simplicity of this Shorewood Beach. The park was not crowded at all, and we only saw about 3 other groups of people besides us. This is highly desirable compared to a place like Presque Isle that is a high traffic area.

We really enjoyed our time at Shorewood Park. The views were stunning, and the waves rolling in made for the perfect soundtrack to our evening.

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[Editor’s Note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Shorewood Park in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around the Erie area as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA can be hard.]

Browns Farm

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It was a great opportunity to go out and see the waves while collecting glass at Avonia Beach. As you know, we have continued to find opportunities to get outdoors and social distance, but also to try and find some shade from the sun. It has been warm over the last few weeks with temperatures easily reaching into the 80’s and 90’s consistently. That’s why we decided to wander around Brown’s Farm in Millcreek, Erie, PA.

Location

Brown’s Farm itself is an interesting place with respect to the location. While the main entrance of Brown’s Farm has the actual barn and a parking lot, the farm itself goes from a field with trails, then connects into woods along Walnut Creek, crosses a bridge, and eventually links up with Asbury Woods. This is a large property and easily one you can wander for hours. The specific location is on Sterrettania Road, across the street from Asbury Elementary School and Walnut Creek Middle School, and just North of Frank’s Farm Market and Bakery.

Property Description:

The property does have a Barn which is used for special events, educational programs, and more. The property also has a strong focus on understanding agriculture, watersheds, and land maintenance. The trails are long as well, as local schools continue to use Brown’s farm as their course for cross country running events. Brown’s Farm also uses the land in conjunction with Asbury woods, where they have multiple trail races and can easily fit a 5-mile-run onto the property.

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Things to do:

The trails themselves are a great item to explore. There is access to Walnut Creek, room to walk, jog, or run, bike, fish, watch birds and look for other wildlife. This is an excellent spot for photography as there are many locations such as hills, bridges, and foliage throughout the property.

The woods also have more hills, while the front of the property is more of a field. This means you can venture as deep as you would like while being able to complete one of many loops or trails, depending on your preferred level of exercise in the day.

Even in the cooler weather Brown’s Farm remains popular, as the fall brings changing of the leaves and bright colors, while the winter allows for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Pets are also welcome here, as numerous dogs are found along the trails. As always, be sure to be responsible for your pet, and remember that dogs must remain on leashes. There is also a dog waste station at Brown’s Farm Barn. A note of warning, Pets are not permitted at festivals or events, and this is just for the safety of all guests as well as pets.

Who Can Go:

The trails are for anyone who wants to go, including pets, as already mentioned. The trails are open year-round during daylight hours, so whether you want to take a morning jog at sunrise, or go for a stroll in the evening, this is a great spot. Be aware that some of the terrain may be more difficult for those who don’t get around as easily. We had to leave the stroller in the car. And, while carrying a little one isn’t too difficult for most of this property, be aware the trails and paths do contain some hills, some roots, and some slightly uneven terrain.

Final Thoughts:

Remember that Erie, PA is in a cool climate. Depending on when you are watching or reading this, we are down to only a couple of weeks left of official summer. The days will get cooler soon, and if you are trying to enjoy the warm weather and sunshine before fall arrives, you really only have another month or two left. With that being said, Brown’s Farm is not just a great place to wander in the late summer, but even as we transition to fall.

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Girard Waterworks Park

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After spending a few different days picking fruit, including raspberry picking at Mason Farms, we got back into the parks and trails. We visited Waterworks Park, also known as the old Girard Borough Park, in Girard, PA. This is definitely a longer trail and one with large amounts of nature, multiple elements, and not a lot of competition for space when it comes to this social distancing season.

Location & Property Description:

The official park is located off of Lake Street, shortly before the high school if you are headed north, in Girard. Once you have turned to head down into the park, there are multiple access points and things to do. You first come to a pond at the bottom of the hill. This pond is suitable for fishing and includes a fishing pier, and while there you may be able to catch some wildlife here. There is also a small shelter in case of rain or wind.

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When you get to the fork, you can either head left to go down past the sewage treatment plant to find access to Elk Creek and a trail, or you can head right. By heading right, you can see one of the most popular sled riding hills in the area. This spot is always crowded in the winter. Continue driving down the path and you arrive at a one-way loop which circles around the multiple baseball/softball fields, which are popular during normal summer seasons.

If you follow the loop, you will also arrive at another access point to Elk Creek where you can fish, swim, or just take a walk along the water. There is also a picnic shelter which can be rented out by reservation, and there are bathrooms available as well.

Things to do:

Girard Waterworks park is certainly quiet. There are many acres and not a lot of crowds. It’s also important to know that they are pet friendly. You can fish (with the proper license), and in the winter individuals have been known to skate on the pond as well. (Please skate at your own risk, and verify whether the ice is completely frozen!)

In addition to the sights and activities you can do right within the park itself, it’s important to know that the park itself is the start of the Elk Creek trail. This trail follows along Elk Creek for about 1.75 miles, and makes for a peaceful jogging trail or biking trail out in nature. The other end of the trail comes out very close to Elk Valley Elementary school, where long distance runners can simply take lake street to jog back and make it a longer loop, or you can turn around and head back for a 3.5-mile run.

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While the exact amount of wildlife you will see is never predictable, there are many different birds, fish, and animals in this park. On the trails you can see multiple tracks, and there is ample evidence of nature. We saw a lot of very small frogs jumping around the stones by the water; make sure you watch your step! These guys are super tiny and easy to miss; please be careful not to hurt them!

Who Can Go:

There are some targeted activities in this park, so it really depends on what you want to do. In normal seasons, you can find organized activities like softball games being scheduled. In addition, there are spots to fish and swim. Jogging, biking, or running are also the case. And, while it makes the most sense to drive to the park, some individuals in the area will walk down as well from lake street. Keep in mind that the front portion of the park is paved and easy to navigate, but for the most part you are on a dirt and stone road. This can be great for joggers and mountain bikes, but this is not the long slow park for anyone with trouble walking or who may need assistance. Even by the water you don’t find sandy beaches, but rather many rocks. This is expected at a fishing creek or when you go swimming, but it’s probably best to be aware of this before you go.

Final Thoughts:

As long as you have a purpose to go to the Girard Waterworks park, then this is a great location to go. In addition, the park is so large that there is always space available. Whether you want to wander the dirt-paved roads, the trails, or just sit by the water, it certainly is a great location to explore. 

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Frontier Park

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The Walnut Creek Marina was a way to get to a beach, enjoy the sun, and find a place a little less crowded while beating the heat. While the crowds aren’t too large, we did see a lot of people at the ever-popular Frontier Park. And while there were a lot of people enjoying different activities, there certainly is a lot to do in the downtown location.

Location:

Frontier Park is located on West 8th street, West 6th Street, and along the Bayfront Parkway. There are multiple entrance points as it takes up a handful of city blocks, but there is no “true” entrance. That being said, there is a lot to do, and this location provides a great bit of nature right in the heart of the downtown area. There are fields, paths, and a creek that runs through the middle of the property.  There is also an amphitheater with seating, tennis courts, playgrounds, and the Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier. Throw in the fact that long stretches of bike paths go around the park as well as extend deeper into the city, and you can quickly see the appeal of this park.  

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In addition to everything that the park itself has to offer, it has great proximity to many other adjacent locations. Romolo Chocolates, Donatos Pizza, and PopLuck Gourmet Popcorn are all directly across the street from the park to the south, and more locations are in the area as well if you are looking for a snack while you are at the park.

Property Description:

Frontier park provides access to walking, jogging, biking, sled riding, and more. While we were there, some student athletes were working out and playing catch. Many people were playing tennis on the tennis courts. A few dozen were walking or jogging the trails, and yet others were just sitting out enjoying the view. While there are different routes to take within and around the park, the main path around the perimeter of the park is very close to a one-mile loop (out specific route mapped out .92 miles).

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At the present time, the LEAF building is closed due to COVID 19. Under normal circumstances, however, you are able to rent the building. The building itself has capacity for 80 people with 10 tables and 80 chairs. It also has a large sink, white boards and projector screens, and an outdoor patio with restrooms and ample parking space.  

Things to do:

The park is open to the public, so it has ample space for large gatherings, activities such as frisbee, throwing a ball around and playing catch, or even participating in the various courses which are offered in the area, including yoga.

Many people in the general area use the space to avoid seeing the cars and hearing the noise from the city atmosphere. You can quickly forget you are right in the middle of the downtown area, and within a handful of steps you are not only surrounded by considerable wildlife, but you have a tremendous number of birds to listen to as well.

There are also a handful of popular spaces along the creek to watch the water, including as you cross over the couple of bridges.

This is another great location to bring a dog, but remember that they must be on a leash and you are responsible for your pet.

Who Can Go:

This is a great location for the general area. If you live close by, want to take a quick lunch break while you are working downtown, need to get in a jog or short run, or you even want to just relax and watch the birds and listen to the water, this is a great location. It is yet another place we visited to specifically get out of the house, log some steps, and maintain social distancing, and this location had many people present, but made it easy to keep distance from others.

Final Thoughts:

It all depends on what you are looking for. This park is right in the downtown and allows for an excellent walking or jogging trail, as well as a tremendous amount of space to do many different activities. While the park isn’t at it’s “full capabilities” due to the current pandemic, there are many more activities that normally occur within the boundaries of this park, such as the playground, classes, use of the amphitheater, and more.

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If you treat this location as another bucket-list item to travel to in Erie and just want to check it out once, or you come back time and again for the scenery, this is a tremendous park. It may be a somewhat hidden park as it is nestled right in the middle of the city, but with so many reasons to check out Frontier park and pass the time while being there, we fully recommend you find a reason to wander about Frontier Park soon!

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Wintergreen Gorge

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While we already explored a park recently with Pleasant Ridge Park, we wanted to find balance with something to do on the other side of town. With that, we headed to Wintergreen Gorge and wandered the trails.

Wintergreen Gorge

Location:

Wintergreen Gorge is located on the east side of town. The physical address for the primary entrance is at 3399 Cooper Rd, Erie, PA 16510. This main location has just been renovated and there is now a physical parking lot as well as signage to help you know where you are going. The trails run along and around Fourmile Creek, North into Harborcreek, and South where it crosses through Penn State Behrend. There are also a handful of other ways to link up with the trails, including a few on the Behrend property, in case the parking is full at the lower entrance.

Those locations include the southwest corner of the Prischak parking lot, by the science building on Penn State’s campus, as well as the southern side of the Ohio parking lot, behind the residences of Ohio Hall and Trippe Hall at the top of the campus. You can easily navigate the campus with the use of a map if you are unfamiliar with the territory. Please note that if you are going to park in the parking lots on campus, you may need to stop into the campus police and safety building to request a visitor’s pass in order to avoid a possible parking ticket.

Property Description:

The main trail is sourced to span roughly 1.2 miles, however, because of the vast student population there have been many unofficial trails added. If you enter from the Cooper Road end, there are flatted dirt paths that allow wheelchairs and bikes to have easy mobility. There has also been the construction of a few wooden bridges and other additions to make travel easier if you are starting from that side. If you choose to come in from either of the campus entrances, however, the paths are clearly marked but they do become steep at points. They are fully able to be traveled, but you are certainly at an incline. At some places, you will want to proceed with caution because of the steep grades.

While we chose not to venture off of the main path, there are also many sub paths that offshoot from the main path. Following those paths will take you deeper into the woods, allow you to continue to follow the creek, and will even take you to a waterfall approximately 15 feet high and a watering hole to swim in below. That path isn’t hard to find, but will require a more difficult route to get to. Just follow the creek south when the path veers steeply towards campus at the giant piping system.

Wooden Bridge

Things to do:

This trail has become a favorite for many residents because of the fact that you quickly dive into nature despite being so close to the city. There is ample wildlife, and following the creek means no shortage of nature in either sight or sound. In addition to walking, jogging, or running, this trail welcomes dogs and bicycles. And, while swimming is not permitted, with the right shoes you are able to wade into the water and walk up the creek in places as well.

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In addition, just at the top of the hill from the Cooper road entrance, if you head west on Cooper, you will find The Ice Cream Shoppe. They not only serve ice cream, milk shakes, and frozen yogurt, but they also have Smith’s hot dogs and Mighty Fine donuts. If you are looking for something to snack on before, after, or during your walk through the gorge, then this could be an ideal stop.

The Ice Cream Shoppe

Who Can Go:

People, dogs, and bikes are all welcomed at this trail. The various activity levels mean you can aim to take a leisurely stroll, or you could walk the high-inclined paths. There are some flat and easily manageable surfaces, but you also will want to be cautious with younger individuals because at certain locations there can be cliffs along the path, if even only 5 or 10 feet high. This also is a path designed for many people, but it is completely in nature so it may be difficult for some to venture too far into, especially as you get deeper into the path and it becomes gradually more of an incline.

As mentioned, there is one main trail which is paved smooth and is very wide to allow for multiple people to walk shoulder to shoulder. However, the fact that college students and wildlife are active in the Wintergreen Gorge means there are many unofficial paths for exploration which head in many different directions. This is certainly a multiple day event, if you are more of a hiker and are comfortable getting off of the beaten path.

One of the larger paths

Final Thoughts:

One note about safety: Wintergreen Gorge does have some cliffs. One area we did not visit but is located near the entrance in the Ohio parking lot on Penn State Behrend’s campus is known as “the backbone,” because you literally only have about two feet wide worth of path, and then a cliff on either side. Smaller cliffs of only a few feet high are scattered across the paths, and while some of the best views come with larger cliffs, if you don’t take it seriously and proceed with legitimate caution, a fun hike or run could quickly turn dangerous.

It should also be noted that the Wintergreen Gorge truly is wild. While smaller, cuter animals like rabbits, squirrels, and birds can easily be found, you should know that within the creek itself there can be snakes. Proceed with caution as in any area of the wild, and be aware of the rules because this property is one for all to enjoy without anyone taking advantage of it.

Still, despite these few warnings, it should be noted that Wintergreen Gorge is a beautiful destination for any. Individuals come from miles around and will travel hours just to see the sights, the waterfalls, and explore the miles of trails. This is certainly an excellent destination to burn off some energy and get back to nature. It can also be a destination that you come back to time and time again.

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