Euclid Creek Reservation--Villa Angela

Tips for Birding

These contiguous sites form the Euclid Creek Reservation. Take I-90 east and exit at East 152nd Street. Follow East 152 north until it intersects with Lake Shore Boulevard and follow Lake Shore Boulevard east.

The entrance to the Euclid Beach area will be on the left in less than one mile. This unit contains picnic tables, a concession stand and a swimming beach protected by small artificial islands, and is a good spot for gulls, shorebirds, waterfowl and migrant passerines. An asphalt bike trail proceeds east along the shore and connects this unit with the Villa Angela unit.

The Villa Angela unit, only recently added to the park, is still fairly wild with small stands of trees and bushes and some overgrown fields and is a good place to look for warblers, sparrows, thrushes and other passerines. The Villa Angela unit also provides a beach where gulls loaf and shorebirds can be found. Proceed east to the Wildwood unit, located across Euclid Creek from Villa Angela.

You can walk over the bridge from Villa Angela, or exit Euclid Beach and proceed east on Lake Shore Boulevard for about a quarter mile to the access road for Wildwood. Wildwood Park contains a marina and boat ramps, and a trail that follows the shore of Euclid Creek that is excellent for spring and fall migrants. Check the marina docks and walls for Snowy Owls.

About Euclid Creek Reservation

See all hotspots at Euclid Creek Reservation

Follow Euclid Creek Valley along 2.5 miles of interesting geology along this verdant corridor, from Quarry Picnic Area to Highland Picnic Area. Historic points of interest include former Bluestone quarries, CCC camp, and Euclid Beach Park. As the creek flows northward to Lake Erie, so does the reservation. Part of Euclid Creek Reservation includes Wildwood Marina, Villa Angela Park and Beach, and Euclid Beach.

Euclid Creek Reservation is named for Euclid Creek which runs the length of the reservation. It features wooded hillsides where the rare rock chestnut oak grows. The reservation is located in Cleveland, Euclid, South Euclid and Richmond Heights.

The southern portion of the reservation is the site of a “ghost town.” The village of Bluestone flourished in the late 1800s and early 1900s when its populace quarried the blue-gray siltstone used in building sidewalks and other construction. Today, the only remaining exposure of bluestone is in Quarry Picnic Area.

Euclid Creek Reservation expanded in June 2013 to include the northern portion of the reservation consisting of Euclid Beach Park, Villa Angela Park, and Wildwood Park runs along the Lake Erie shoreline.

Once the site of the famous Euclid Beach Amusement Park, Euclid Beach Park now features a 650’ swimming beach with shaded picnic areas, a scenic observation pier, and a reservable pavilion. Though it closed in 1969, signs of the amusement park including the shuffleboard area, remnants of the beachside fountain and concrete footers of the Flying Turns roller coaster are still visible.

Adjacent to Euclid Beach Park is Villa Angela Park and Wildwood Park. Scenic overlooks and a wide variety of plant species can be seen along Villa Angela Park’s scenic boardwalk that leads out to a fishing pier and the 900’ sandy beach.

An angler’s paradise, Wildwood Park has a boat launch providing access to Lake Erie, access to the summer Lake Erie walleye fishery, access to Euclid Creek for spring coho salmon, and two lengthy rock breakwalls to accommodate shore anglers.

The 17-mile Cleveland Lakefront Bike Trail traces the Lake Erie shoreline providing access to Edgewater Park, the E. 55th St. Marina, Gordon Park, Euclid Beach Park, Villa Angela Park, and Wildwood Park.

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

  • Roadside viewing

Content from Euclid Creek Reservation Official Website and Dick Hoffman