A nice park. A lovely and secluded oasis of nature. Great for walks…read more A church friend invited me to a picnic with her and her family after church one Sunday in September 2025. I don't think this is a great park for picnics because upon entry, I only saw one picnic table with benches so other people will have to sit on the ground if the table is occupied. Sitting on the ground is fine but it may not be convenient for some people. This park is a good option for walking or taking a mini hike with friends and family. There is a rocky area with some water that is cool to see as it is a mini waterfall. Bring sturdy shoes and a water bottle. Overall, I had fun at David Fortier River Park. It seems to be a hidden gem unless you live in the area. **** GOAL of 250 reviews in 2026 - 187/250 total reviews in 2026 - 1028 total Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 11 September 2026

Beautiful man made waterfall with a viewing deck! Long paths that go down close to it, overall…read more10/10 (5.0 stars) (My review from Google maps)

Peaceful, Beautiful, and Always Worth the Walk…read more Sheldon Marsh is one of those places that just hits every time, no matter the season. The paved trail makes it super easy for anyone to enjoy--perfect for a peaceful walk, birdwatching, or just soaking in some fresh air. It's quiet, full of wildlife, and there's always something new to catch your eye. One of my favorite parts is when the path opens up to the beach. You get this wide view of Lake Erie, and if you look out far enough, you'll spot the Cedar Point coasters in the distance. It's a cool little reminder of home--nature in front of you, thrill rides in the background. If you're up for a bit of a longer walk, you can follow the beach all the way down to the Point Retreat condos and back. It's a beautiful stretch along the water and gives you even more time to enjoy the lake breeze. And if you're a golf fan, the newly updated Sawmill Creek Golf Course runs right alongside the preserve. You might catch a few swings and even spot a bird or two between shots. Whether I'm home with family or just need a place to reset, Sheldon Marsh is always worth the visit. One of the best spots in Ohio, hands down.

Beautiful trails and scenery, and the beach at the end was a pleasant surprise! Highly recommend…read morefor a quality dose of nature!

Now that the Covid restrictions have been lifted there is lots to do in the nature center area…read more They have a photo op area with a kayak setup and pretend fish to catch. The animal area now has interactive exhibits. Lots for kids to learn about wildlife, water pollution, etc. they even have a history of ship building of Lorain with some fun exhibits on display. The kids play area is also now open with water table play, things to climb, puzzles and bird watching. Great for families!

We love nature walks and this is one of my favorites. The paths are easy to walk and the trees…read moreare lush. You can hear the stream from many of the trails. There are benches along the way if you wish to rest and take in the beauty. Other than squirrels and a few birds, I haven't seen much wildlife, but the greenery is enough to please me.

Duck pond My kids…read morelove this section of the park. They have a newer playground, lots of picnic areas, bathroom and 2 ponds. You can fish in the ponds but we generally just walk around and look for fish, turtles, frogs, snakes, birds, etc. Plenty of parking and easy to navigate

This is a good Metropark. Carlisle Reservation isn't large but there's some neat stuff. The reason…read moremost people like it seems to be the Holiday Lights event. It also has other things going on. The park itself provides good trails for hiking, and there's also a train. It has several exhibits for children. It has a dinosaur exhibit they can run around in. There's also a live animal area they can get up and close with. It has a large variety of birds. There's a few other animals like turtles. If you would like to see nature outside the exhibit, there's plenty of that as well. It has a good amount of hiking trails that go around the park. The other cool thing is that there's a train so you can avoid walking. It's not needed since the park is fun to walk around. The train goes around the park so you can see the exhibits. One other big event is at Halloween. It has lots of mildly scary characters lurking around. This is scary enough for kids but it's not like it's so scary they crap themselves.

Stan and Esther Allard were early pioneers of soils conservation and forestry. They loved their…read morethree-generation farm and trees so much that in 1992 they gave it away. Now, the Medina County Park District lovingly cares for and preserves this land and all those magnificent woods for everyone to enjoy. (They've added 212 acres, too!) When it was still a farm, we rode sleds and inner tubes down the sledding hill; now, you can bring your family out for some "coasting." There were no real trails, back then; now, there is a nice, paved half-miler and an upaved mile-long trek up over the ridge, then back down along the stream. No matter the season there are wonderful things to see here. The number and variety of trees is staggering. You are nearly assured of seeing at least one type of tree you've never seen in Ohio. Dog-friendly (on-leash), has a nice pavilion, restrooms, plenty of parking and some of the most wonderful scenery this state has to offer. A true diamond in the rough, sitting as it does hard by an interstate highway. Come on out for a visit.

Interesting park for kiddos! All wooden playsets & things!…read more They have a wooden tractor (why we went there) my son loved it! A big tire swing. A turf hill you can slide or roll down. A climbing net going back up that hill. & a slide going down that same hill. Along with steps, mommas lol Picnic tables under a cool roof. Dog walking park also! Saw lots of people walking their dogs. Looks like a lot of pretty trails, but we didn't experience those. All play areas are visible from closest picnic area, except the bottom of the turf slide hill. 4 stars due to it being on the smaller side, but my kids really enjoyed it. Mostly stayed at the turf hill though & the tractor. Wouldn't make a long trip here as kiddos might get bored after awhile. But def nice if close for picnics, short play, or dog walks!

This is a review of several trails in the reservation. Please see the many photos I uploaded that…read moredon't appear below but appear in the photos for this site. I started on the Buckeye Trail at SOM Center Rd and Hawthorne Parkway (the road was blocked there due to a downed tree). I followed the Buckeye trail to the Hatchet Ridge trail where I circled the Henry Church Rock Loop and headed back to my starting place along the Buckeye trail. It was about 4.5 mile loop The Buckeye Trail is some asphalt and some dirt and small rocks. It is easy to follow and well marked. It follows some of the BridleTrail which horses can trek. I saw many runners on this trail. It was mostly shaded and wide enough at points for three people to walk side by side. It was an easy trail. I saw people of all ages on this trail and families. The Hatchet trail and the portion of the Henry Church Rock trail that runs along the river is "somewhat dangerous" according to a gentleman probably in his 60's who stopped to give me directions. The trail is narrow (enough for people to pass each other) and a dirt path with some rocks and roots along the way. All under the shade of the trees. To get down to the river you have to descended several flights of stairs. See my attached pics for elevation rise and fall on the trail. There are several Emergency Location stations along the path so you can share your exact location to EMS in an. I saw lots of people walking along the river shores, wading through the water, swimming with their families, and even jumping from the top of the water fall. It looked like the kids and adults were having a blast in the water and exploring the area. It was a very warm day when I went and the Henry Church Rock area was busy with hikers and kids. The Buckeye trail was quiet. The area is busy with walkers, runners, hikers, families, and bicycles. It's fun and relaxing trail.

One of the best of the metroparks. They have paved trails, off trail paths, multiple waterfalls,…read morecreeks, streams, fire pits, pavilions w grills and Henry Church Rock.

East Harbor is situated on a peninsula stretching into the waters of Lake Erie…read more The park also lies on the fringe of Ohio's prairie marsh zone. These wetlands are remnants of the Great Black Swamp, which once covered an area 120 miles long and 30-40 miles wide. Nature enthusiasts enjoy viewing an abundance of waterfowl and shorebirds in the park's scenic wetlands, as well as from the swimming beach and picnic areas along the lake. Our family and Apache camper began a series of visits in 1967, and East Harbor has remained a favorite. Greatly enjoyed the beaches, which now have a three-foot stone barrier to prevent erosion. We visit year round. The surrounding area has become somewhat commercialized. Lots of campers and fisher folks. In our early visits, we discussed a holiday at the State Park rather than a trip to the Outer Banks or to Hilton Head... My dear wife observed that an annual Atlantic Ocean Beach holiday was elemental to our life style.

We really enjoyed the views of the wetlands. It seems like a great place to do some birdwatching…read morefor those who like to do that. The park is good-sized and located right along the water. It also offers a campsite, a playground, and a public swimming beach.

Our tour guide was Trinity - she was fantastic! The multiple levels of the cave were well…read morepresented. However, the tour lets small children go on the tour and it isn't easy for them to get up and down. They slowed us down. The caves need to have an age limit in my opinion.

What a cool place. Amazing cave system in flat farmland in M Ohio! Clean, well organized, friendly…read morespot reminiscent of the best of roadside attractions from yesteryear before mega corporations decided to get into the recreation business. Our tour guide was well informed and just great. Nice little gift shop w some memorabilia from long ago. This place has been around since the 1930s! Definitely a sort of go at your own risk experience, which is fine. Very natural descent assisted by a well lit path and some hand rails. Watch your step!

I'm from the east side, and for years I've driven over the bridges telling myself, "One day I'm…read moregoing to stop and wander through that park." I'm so happy I finally did. Now I already know I'll be back, because we only explored part of it -- but what my sister, her pup, and I wandered through was fun, peaceful, and a little adventurous. At one point there was literally a giant mallard just standing in the middle of the woods like he owned the place. And then there were stairs that climb straight up the side of the mountain -- okay, hill -- but it felt like a mountain in the best way. The whole walk made me feel free. If you ever find yourself wanting a moment outside, a breath of fresh air, or just a place to wander, stop here. It's worth it.

Rocky River Reservation is so pretty. There are many trails and walking paths in this park. They…read morehave a popular nature center as well. The park has plenty of parking, depending on what area you would like to explore. There is a golf course and multiple areas for fishing. You can also take your kayak and kayak the emerald necklace. Very pretty during the fall. I recommend bringing a picnic to one of the many picnic areas or sitting on one of the many benches throughout the park and enjoying mother nature.

Walking the woodpecker loop 1.8 miles and it was beautiful. Water features, few places to sit and…read morerest, trash cans and a covered spot in case of rain. Ample bird watching opportunities. Saw blue jay, yellow finch, robins, etc. beautiful! Ample parking. Water fountains too.

If you walk or jog this is the place, and it's suitable for wheelchairs and scooters. The park is a…read moreformer golf course so the paths are along lots of trees and plants that were once the fairways. A cool memory of the course are the wooden steps leading up to the former first tee. Signs show the distances of the many paths. There is shade, but bring a water bottle. A few benches are along the way. Call to get a tour with a naturalist using golf cars! Along our walk we saw a baby mole scurrying along the grass. A Monarch caterpillar was on a milkweed plant, and the milkweeds are everywhere. Love trees? Lots of oak trees and others line the paths. Redwing blackbirds were chirping. In the mornings and evenings I've was told you can see a lot of deer. A shelter is available for group events. There are a few picnic tables under the trees. More tables are needed. Large parking area. Handicapped accessible.