CLEVELAND —A water trail in northeast Ohio is being formed to bring the beauty of Lake Erie and its waterways closer to Ohioans.

"Most people know that Lake Erie is here, but they don't always have the chance to experience Lake Erie," said Cleveland Metroparks outdoor recreation manager Rachel Nagle

The Metroparks, along with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, is designating the Lake Erie Water Trail in an effort to connect Downtown Cleveland and its surrounding neighborhoods to its water ways.

"The Lake Erie Water Trail is a way to give people educational information,” Nagle said. “There's 13 access points. It stretches 20 plus miles from Huntington Beach to the West, all the way to Simms Park in the East.” 

The Lake Erie Water Trail will be officially designated at the Whiskey Island Paddle Fest on Saturday, July 17.

The seventh-annual Paddle Fest includes a 2-mile, 6-mile, youth or kids’ stand up paddleboard or kayak race.

"It allows people to realize that this beautiful place, Lake Erie that is in their backyard is accessible...because when you get out there on the lake, and you look up for the first time, and you see the beauty of the Cleveland skyline,” Nagle said. “It almost takes your breath away.