While not directly on Lake Erie, the city is shaped by its regional watershed.
* **Doan Brook**: A historically significant creek that runs through a deeply cut gorge in Cleveland Heights, ultimately flowing through University Circle and into Lake Erie. * **Dugway Brook**: A waterway that traverses parts of the city, largely channeled through historic culverts but visible in some park areas. * **Lake Erie**: The vast recreational and scenic resources of Lake Erie (boating, beaches, and fishing) are just a 15-minute drive north of the city limits.