'''Lorain County''' is in Northeast Ohio. Located a short distance west of Cleveland, Ohio and east of Sandusky, Ohio, along the North Coast and shore of Lake Erie. The county seat is Elyria, Ohio. The Black River flows north through the county and into Lake Erie at Lorain

Regions

Cities

  • Amherst
  • Avon
  • Avon Lake
  • Brighton
  • Brownhelm
  • Carlisle
  • Columbia Station
  • Eaton Estates
  • Elyria
  • Grafton
  • Huntington
  • Kipton
  • LaGrange
  • Lorain
  • New Russia
  • North Ridgeville
  • Oberlin
  • Penfield
  • Rochester
  • Sheffield
  • Sheffield Lake
  • South Amherst
  • Vermilion part of.
  • Wellington
  • Other destinations

  • '''Findley State Park''' southern Lorain County, 25381 State Route 58, Wellington, 272 non-electric camp sites, fully stocked camp store, sand volleyball, basketball court, two horseshoe pits, 93-acre lake, two launch ramps, canoes, rowboats, paddleboats and ten miles of hiking trails. Eight miles of singletrack mountain biking.
  • '''Findley Lake and Dam'''
  • '''Lake Erie''' Lake Erie is the shallowest, warmeest and southernmost of the Great Lakes, and is the 12th largest freshwater lake in the world. Erie's shallowness adds to its treacherous reputation; she can go from flat calm to a raging beast in less than 20 minutes. (Dave Kelch, Ohio State University Extension Specialist, Ohio Sea Grant)
  • '''Lake Erie Shipwrecks''' Lake Erie has over 1700 shipwrecks [http://www.ohioshipwrecks.org], of which only approximately 277 have been found and salvaged, or located by divers and remain on the bottom. Over 6000 shipwrecks are known to have occurred Great Lakes-wide, with Lake Erie claiming the most at 1700. Lorain's offshore waters hold some of the best wrecks for diving in Lake Erie. Popular destination shipwrecks offshore of the Lorain area include: Morning Star, City of Concord, Courtland, Hickory Stick, Sarah Sheldon, Ivanhoe, Craftsman, Alva B, John Pridgeon Jr., and the Duke Luedtke just to mention a few. (Dave Kelch, Ohio State University Extension Specialist, Ohio Sea Grant)
  • '''Back Roads and Beaches Bike and Multi-Sport Route''' [http://www.backroadsandbeachesohio.com] Miles of rolling, rural roads with beautiful scenery ranging from farmland and forest to the nautical flavor of the Lake Erie Shoreline. The route provides the most scenic and low traffic routes that lead riders through some of Ohio's best landscape. It also highlights some of the area's most relevant history, culture, arts and cutting-edge environmental initiatives. The BRaB tour only highlights eateries that feature locally grown produce, organics, healthy choices and spectacular outdoor views of natural areas. The route travels through several small towns and cities in Lorain County. The tour is popular with both touring cyclists as well as training athletes and triathletes. The tour features abundant Underground Railroad history as well as six wineries and a number of art galleries along the way.
  • Mileage and Terrain: Most of the route is relatively flat with a few rolling sections. You will find some challenging climbs in the northwest section, just south of Vermilion.

  • '''Black River and Lake Erie Kayaking'''[http://backroadsandbeachesohio.com/2008/07/kayaking-trip-up-black-river-in-lorain.html] Kayakers of all skill levels will be comfortable on the Black River and/or Lake Erie. Lake Erie offers spectacular scenery, birding and up-close views of the Lorain Lighthouse. From here you can kayak on Lake Erie, inside or outside the breakwall.
  • '''Mountain Biking''' The almost 10 mile Thorn Mountain Biking trail at Findley State Park has beautiful forested single track with options for beginner to expert. [http://backroadsandbeachesohio.com/2008/10/hit-trail.html]
  • '''Cascade Park''' Elyria. Features beautiful twin waterfalls that mark the union of the east and west branches of the Black River. Explore the shale cliffs and natural formations created by the retreat of the Wisconsin glacier over 12,000 years ago.
  • '''Lakeview Beach and Park''' On SR 6 in Lorain. Newly restored, this is one of the nicest beaches on Lake Erie with a brand new bathhouse that overlooks Lake Erie and the Lorain Lighthouse. It is one of Lorain County's most picturesque beaches. Historic fountain is lit up at night. [http://www.byways.org/stories/74838]
  • '''Lake Erie Central Basin Sport Fishing''' [http://www.visitloraincounty.com/outdoor-adventure-nature/fishing] Sport fishing in Lorain County consists of walleye fishing in Lake Erie, to fishing the numerous tributary streams for trophy steelhead. Walleye are considered the most-pursued game fish on Lake Erie, and in Lorain County waters, they are caught along Lorain County's rocky nearshore beginning in the spring and continuing through the entire season. Deeper offshore waters offer anglers plenty of walleye action during the summer and fall months, with both trolling and drifting/cast methods being productive. Limit catches and trophy sized fish are trademarks of our Lake Erie waters. The well-known sandbar, located between Lorain and Vermilion, creates a natural habitat for summer and fall walleye, producing many trophy-size walleye in late October and November. Smallmouth bass are plentiful along the entire lenght of Lorain County's rocky shoreline and artificial reef structures, providing fast action from spring through fall. (Dave Kelch, Ohio State University Extension Specialist, Ohio Sea Grant)
  • '''Underground Railroad History''' While northern Lorain County established itself as a manufacturing mecca, a tiny town miles to the south put itself on the map for a different reason. Oberlin would come to be known as "The Town that Started the Civil War." Students and faculty of Oberlin College were especially sympathetic to fugitive slaves. Today the college's Underground Railroad sculpture, dramatic railroad tracks that emerge from the ground, is surrounded by a healing garden of flowering and leafed plants used by slaves on their road to freedom. The Oberlin Heritage Center [http://www.oberlinheritage.org] and the Spirit of '76 Museum in Wellington are valuable resources for more on the area's role in the civil War. Throughout Lorain County, churches, cemeteries, historic homes and peaceful parks collectively tell America's story of freedom. "On the Trail to Freedom," is a program developed in 1992 by Visit Lorain County which guides visitors to points of interest on the Underground Railroad. [http://www.visitloraincounty.com/railroad]
  • '''Allen Memorial Art Museum''' [http://www.oberlin.edu/amam] One of the finest college or university collections in the United States, comprising more than 12,000 works of art from virtually every culture.
  • '''Frank Lloyd Wright - Weltzheimer/Johnson House''' [http://www.oberlin.edu/amam/flwright] The first Usonian house in Ohio and one of the few in the nation open to the public.
  • Understand

    Lorain county is rich with history, with almost every city within having some kind of historical museums. However you will find that most residents especially younger people will not even be aware of their own town's history. Take a trip to the local Historical Society in whichever town you are visiting to get a good overview of the history

    Talk

    Get in

    By Air

  • '''Cleveland Hopkins International Airport''' (''CLE'')
  • By Boat

    There is no public transportation available via boat, how ever there are day site seeing cruises available on Lake Erie.

    By Car

  • '''SR 6 E/W''' 2 lane follows lake shore. Scenic.
  • '''SR 2 E/W''' 4 lane.
  • '''I 80/90 Turnpike''' E/W Indiana to Pennsylvania
  • '''SR 58''' 2 lane N/S
  • '''SR 53''' 2 lane N/S
  • By Train

    Amtrak: [http://www.amtrak.com] Nearest station: 410 E. River Rd. Elyria

    Get around

    You may Rent a car at the Cleveland Hopkins Airport if you are flying in. Taxies are available, but for long distances you will pay a pretty penny.

    Lorain County Transit: [http://www.loraincountytransit.com] Provides bus service within Lorain County.

    See

    Itineraries

    Do

    The Lorain County Fair offeres a fantastic familey activity complete with rides, crafts, live music, and there famous demolition derby. You can also take a ride on on old fashon steam train for 15$

    Eat

  • Bread-N-Brew. 00 S. Main St., Wellington, OH 44090. R 58. 40-647-0082. ttp://www.breadnbrew.com.
  • Eat' N Park. 524 W. River Rd. N., Elyria, OH 44035. 40-324-3286. ttp://www.eatnpark.com. Casual neighborhood restaurant featuring an Espresso Bar, cafe, an in-house bakery, seasonal specials, bountiful soup and salad bar, Eat'n Smart selections and a breakfast and fruit buffet.
  • Garden Restaurant at Oberlin Inn. N. Main St., Oberlin, OH 44074. 40-775-1111. ttp://www.oberlininn.com. The chef prepares fine traditional American cuisine that has received recognition for dining excellence.
  • Jackalope Lakeside. 01 Lakeside Ave., Lorain, OH. 40-288-2051. ttp://www.jackalopelakeside.com. Lorain's casual restaurant with a fine dining menu situated on the shores of Lake Erie overlooking the Lorain Lighthouse. Great steaks, seafood, pasta, and more.

    Drink

    Stay safe

    Lorain County is a safe place to be. Theft can be an issue however. Make sure your car is locked, and all personal items within your possession.

    Get out

  • '''Akron'''
  • '''Cedar Point'''
  • '''Sandusky'''
  • Adjacent Counties

  • Ashland County
  • Cuyahoga County
  • Erie County
  • Huron County
  • Medina County