Mentor Lagoons is a 450-acre nature preserve strung along the Lake Erie shoreline, encompassing marshes, meadows, a beach, and two lagoons connected to the lake. It is managed by the City of Mentor and offers 8 km of walking and cycling trails through varied habitats. The lagoons attract a steady flow of waterfowl, herons, and shorebirds, and the area is well worth visiting in spring and autumn when migrating birds are moving through.
The preserve includes a marina on one of the lagoons, where kayaks and paddleboards can be rented during the summer months. The beach section gives access to a quieter stretch of Lake Erie than the busier Headlands Beach to the northeast. Dogs are welcome on the trails. The preserve entrance is on Headlands Road, about three miles north of central Mentor.