Kelleys Island on Lake Erie: Ohio’s One of a Kind Destination

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Did you know that Ohio has its own islands? Ohio sits along the southern edge of Lake Erie, the fourth-largest of the Great Lakes. On Lake Erie, you’ll find 4 Ohio islands. They are Kelleys Island, North Bass Island, Middle Bass Island, and South Bass Island. South Bass Island is home to Put-in-Bay.

I’ve lived in Ohio most of my life and had never even heard of any of the islands, except Put-in-Bay. I’d always wanted to visit but had no idea where to start, so I reached out to Jill from Shores & Islands Ohio to plan my adventure.

Jill was so helpful! I wanted to visit the State Parks on the islands but it was already the off-season. She helped me get my ferry ticket to Kelleys Island and plan my activities. Unfortunately, activities are limited in the off-season, however, there was so much still to see and do!

Exploring the Island

When I first arrived on the island, I decided to do some exploring. Keep in mind that this is a small island, and depending on where you’re staying, you may not need a vehicle, as so many things are walkable. I chose to bring my vehicle since I wanted to explore then entire island.

When thinking about lodging, there are several rental possibilities on the island, as well as a campground. I chose to do the campground, which I completely suggest! My campsite was right on the water, which made a great place to see the sun set and rise!

I then made my to the shops and restaurants area and explored around there as well.

Glacial Grooves Geological Preserve

Glacial Grooves Geological Preserve is a National Natural Landmark located on Kelleys Island. About 2.5 million years ago, massive glaciers formed and moved along this area. When the ice melted, these breathtaking grooves were left behind.

Since the grooves on Kelley’s Island are the most easily accessible, they have become the most famous in the world! If you haven’t been to see them, you definitely should. Check out the video below to see more of these magnificent grooves.

Inscription Rock

Inscription Rock is located on the south shore of the island, near the Jet Express dock. It’s estimated to be approximately 400-800 years old. Native tribes of the time had used this large chunk of limestone to inscribe petroglyphs. The meaning of the petroglyphs is currently unknown.

North Shore Loop

There are some beautiful trails on Kelleys Island as well. The first one that I did was North Shore Loop, which is near the Glacial Grooves and the campground. This is a short 1.2 mile loop that has some of the most incredible views and is worth every step.

At the beginning of the trail, you’ll find the remains of the Kelleys Island Lime and Transport Company. It’s a pretty cool spot to explore. According to the sign on the premises, quarrying ended there in 1941.

After taking some time to explore the ruins, continue down the trail because it will take you down to the waters edge for even more incredible views.

Quarry Rim Trail

Another trail on the island that you should check out is the Quarry Rim Trail. This trail feels very different than the the North Shore Loop since it actually takes you through and around the quarry. It also takes you around Horseshoe Lake. The water was VERY low when I was there, but it was still unbelievably beautiful!

There were lots of beautiful views of the water, but even the woods were beautiful. It was an easy trail, with very little inclines and a nice wide path.

Herndon Gallery & Sculpture Garden

Another stop you should make is to explore the Herndon Gallery and Sculpture Garden. I arrived early in the morning, so unfortunately it wasn’t open, but I did explore the garden, which had some amazing sculptures.

This was an overnight trip for me in the fall and I had so much fun on Kelleys Island. There are plenty of things to do here, especially if you come in the summer.

Have you visited Kelleys Island? What was your favorite part?

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