Allen's Cove

Allen's Cove is just a little remnant natural area squeezed between Luna Pier and the Toledo Beach Marina on Monroe's Lake Erie shore.

It can sometimes be accessed in a couple of ways. The first is to head north out of Luna Pier on Harold Drive and onto Allen Cove Rd. You can stop along Allen Cove for a distant view of the open water and marsh of the cove and the wooded area on the other side.

In fact, this is probably the BEST way to see Allen Cove. And I'd recommend making a little walk of it by starting at the boat ramp on the south side of Luna Pier, walking through town, along the pier and then on the bike lane on Harold Drive until you reach Allen Cove. It would make a nice little walk.

Allen Cove is interesting for three reasons. First, it's a marshy natural area that attracts birds and wildlife. Second, there are American Lotus beds in the cove. My favorite reason, however, is that there is a bald eagle's nest in the wooded area close to Lake Erie. With good binoculars, you might be able to see it.

There is, of course, another way to see the nest and that's within the Toledo Beach Marina itself. I have, in fact, driven to the marina and shopped at the little store there. As I was walking out, I asked if I could walk into the wooded area. I was given permission and walked towards the nest. It was pretty cool. This was several years ago and that type of permission is by no means guaranteed, especially since there are new owners at Toledo Beach.

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