Ten Places to View the Monarch Migration
Monarch migration is heavily affected by weather conditions. Knowing the right weather ingredients for monarch movements assists in your experiencing migration. Vast numbers of monarchs take advantage of warm days with strong winds out of the north, giving them lift and push as they travel south across Lake Erie's open waters. The first three weeks of September are PRIME: this is THE window for best observation. Most monarch migration observations involve searching for newly-arrived monarchs nectaring on wildflowers or passing overhead on lakefront shorelines as they finish their flight over Lake Erie. The most highly-sought-after observations are of monarch ROOSTS, where dozens to hundreds to thousands form overnight social clumps in trees. These social roosts typically form at lakefront sites like Wendy Park. The majority of these roosts form after a very warm day with north winds that are followed by afternoon or evening thunderstorms. These conditions drive monarchs to seek shelter in treelines.
The meadows of Euclid Creek Reservation meander with the creek as it makes its way to Lake Erie. These meadows are bursting with yellows, purples, and pinks as fall wildflowers bloom for migrating monarchs. During the peak of migration, thousands of monarch butterflies can be seen nectaring and resting on these flowers.
Gordon Park, Lakefront Reservation (near Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve)
Gordon Park's no-mow area around the Lakefront Administration Building is sprinkled with wildflowers that draw exhausted and hungry monarchs to nectar, and the surrounding trees provide shelter from any inclement September storms.
Wendy Park, Lakefront Reservation
Wendy Park's location on the immediate shoreline of Lake Erie makes it a prime site for exhausted monarchs seeking food and shelter after their long journey over Lake Erie from Canada. On warm September days with winds coming out of the north, watch for monarchs roosting in trees in the evenings and nectaring on wildflowers. Prime dates for observation fall between the second and third weeks of September.
Roger's Meadow, North Chagrin Reservation
Explore the diverse plant communities at Roger's Meadow for goldenrod, ironweed, tall boneset, and New England aster. These native fall blooming wildflowers are essential nectar sources for migrating monarch butterflies and native bee species.
Tallgrass Prairie, Brecksville Reservation
The Tallgrass Prairie in Brecksville Reservation offers a spectacular display of late summer flowers and a variety of grasses while providing a great habitat for many birds and insects. Many butterflies, including monarchs can be seen visiting the flowers as they search for nectar. The prairie is located near Brecksville Nature Center and is accessible via a paved trail.
Wolf Picnic Area, Huntington Reservation
The wildflower meadow adjacent to Wolf Picnic Area is only a few years old but has already played host to hundreds upon hundreds of migrating monarchs as the native summer wildflowers provide vital nectar for these exhausted insects on their epic journey south.
Bluebird Point Meadow, West Creek Reservation
Tall native grasses mixed with native wildflowers flourish in the center of the all-purpose-trail loop in West Creek Reservation. This paved, accessible trail allows for all to view the many monarchs, swallowtails and other butterflies that visit the meadows as they flutter around the compass plant, goldenrods, ironweed and more.
Acacia Reservation
Cleveland Metroparks is restoring the former Acacia Country Club golf course to an open space mosaic of forests, wetlands, streams, open water, and meadows—an ideal respite for traveling monarch butterflies.
Edgewater Park, Lakefront Reservation
Edgewater's open views of Lake Erie allow for observers to see monarchs coming ashore as they finish up their long flights over Lake Erie. On warm September days with winds coming out of the north, watch for monarchs gliding overhead or landing on the beach and grass near the shoreline. In the evenings, you may find some roosting in trees along the shore.
Jackson Field, South Chagrin Reservation
Landing along the Chagrin River is hugely attractive for wildlife. Take a short, immersive hike on a natural surface path alongside native wildflowers, witness nectaring pollinators like monarch butterflies. These forests and fields are among the most serene in South Chagrin Reservation.