Jan 10

Jan 10 Lake Metroparks: Hiking Guide

Located in Northeast Ohio in Lake County lies over 35 parks with miles and miles of trails. Within the Lake Metroparks, you’ll find two wild and scenic rivers (along with many tributaries), golf courses, an agriculturally-themed park, nature centers, and a wildlife rehabilitation center.

While there’s over 50 miles of trails to explore, these are some of the most popular (and my favorite) ones worth checking out.

Most of the trails range from mostly flat to hilly and some trails get muddier than others after a rainfall. Ticks can be found on some trails in the summertime and there’s lots of bugs (like gnats!) on muggy weather days.

1. Lucky Stone Loop

Located in the Chapin Forest Reservation, here you can walk through the Chapin Ledges and check out an amazing overlook of the surrounding area with the Cleveland skyline and Lake Erie way in the distance. Along the trail, you’ll also come across the historic Chapin Quarry.

Length: 1.5 miles, loop
Difficulty: moderate/difficult, heavily trafficked

>> Related: Fall Hiking in Northeast Ohio <<

2. Oak Leaf Loop

Located in the Girdled Road Reservation, this trail leads you past some ponds and a section of Big Creek. If you venture off onto the Creek Crossing trail, you’ll come across the popular swinging bridge that goes across the creek.

Length: 4.09 miles, loop
Difficulty: moderate/difficult, moderately trafficked

3. Chair Factory Falls Via the Greenway Corridor

Such a nice waterfall hidden away right next to the highway. This multilevel waterfall is surrounded by a shady hemlock ravine. There are a few ways to get to it, all involve walking along the Greenway Corridor multipurpose trail till you see the sign for the falls and then hiking down. I recommend parking at the Environmental Learning Center.

Length: 1.3 miles, out & back
Difficulty: easy, moderately trafficked

4. Beech Ridge & Wildcat Loop

These short trails are the only ones found in the Hell Hollow Wilderness Area, though many people venture off into Paine Creek or off-trail as there’s a bunch of hidden waterfalls throughout.

Length: 0.75 miles, loop
Difficulty: moderate, moderately trafficked

5. Gorge Rim Loop

This trail is located in the popular Penitentiary Glen Reservation. The main attraction of this trail is Stoneybrook Falls, a small but gorgeous little waterfall. I’d recommend extending this to the Rabbit Run or another connector trail for an extra few miles.

Length: 0.88 miles, loop
Difficulty: easy, heavily trafficked

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