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.

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.

Love Chagrin Falls. It is a quaint little town filled with shops, restaurants, boutiques, bakeries,…read moreice cream parlor, parks, and on and on and on. We had a wonderful breakfast there this morning. Took a leisurely stroll by the falls. Stopped at the bakery for a fresh loaf of bread. Just had a wonderful time.

You can hear but not see the falls as you are walking down the wooden stairs from town. Once I saw…read morethe falls they were larger than I imagined. There is a long stairway from the main street down to the falls. There are areas to stop and rest, it is a long walk down and back up. The falls are very picturesque and it is worth the trip to see them. The water was running pretty fast during my visit. I am sure other times of the year it is much slower.

What a great park! Two areas for parking to fit about 20 cars each, a great nature center open…read moredaily with good kid activities, and well marked trails for walking, riding, and skiing. The trails are not too strenuous or long but give you enough to feel accomplished. I walked to cave trail and was incredibly satisfied. Cannot wait to bring my family!

Hands down one of the best places for a walk in the forest! They also have a nice (needs…read morerefreshing) nature education building & a couple great pavilions with picnic tables & grills that can be reserved.

Finally had the opportunity to come here with a few of my friends while on vacation. For a while…read moregetting here, I thought I was in the wrong area but I assure you, the GPS takes you to the right place. This place is quiet and peaceful! There's a great deal of trails and rivers. Most of which I didn't have time to fully discover but everything here is well maintained! Thankfully not alot of people come here but this place also features an outhouse and a grill. Definitely reccomend coming here!

This place is gorgeous. It's a photographer's go-to. Hikers love it, too. It's pristine and…read morewell-kept. Miles of hiking and gorgeous scenery. There are several falls that are beautiful. Watch out for the stairs--there are a lot! From anywhere in NE Ohio, it's not a far drive, and so worth it.

Saw horses on the trail today as we walked in the woods. Paths are gravel. Enclosed shelter looks…read morelike a great venue for parties or group meetings.

Great trails and activities. Beware of ticks. Even at the…read morepicnic tables by the parking lot, I had ticks crawling on me. I usually do the loop around the grassy area, but there are trails that goes through the woods too.

I love the Metroparks, and this park is a big reason why. It has a little bit of everything- paved…read moretrails, trails through the woods, plenty of pavilion space, multiple parking sites, clean bathrooms, nature center, water fountains, educational programs, festivals...the list goes on and on. Every time I'm in the area, I stop by.

Although we did not go inside the nature center we did walk the trails. I feel it's a great walk…read more So much to see and the terrain was ever changing and can be a great workout. Walking in snow was fun and the views were amazing. Really nice picture opportunities. My favorite images being the trees that have roots exposed. The different patterns and shading make the pictures interesting.

This past weekend my boyfriend and I made the trip to the Brecksville Nature Center to feed…read morechickadees. It was honestly one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I grew up on a large piece of land and always loved watching the small creatures who lived near my house. I feed the animals who live in my backyard now, and I love watching various forms of wildlife frolic in my trees. I've always jokingly said that it would be cool to be able to feed birds from my hand (Cinderella style) but I never knew that would be actually possible. It's a pretty simple process. You go into the nature center, they give you sunflower seeds, and then you patiently and quietly wait with your hand outstretched and full of seeds. I was skeptical at first, but...the chickadees and other birds were quick to scope me out. They'd fly close enough to look at me, briefly make eye contact, and then swoop in for some food. They are so light! And beautiful! And amazingly brave, I think. I know I had a hand full of food, but...I'm a heck of a lot bigger than a chickadee. I had about a dozen birds land on me while I was outside. (and I wasn't out there very long - it was coooollllldd) The highlight was having a bird land on my head! This is a super fun (and free) wintertime thing to do. Chickadee feeding is held from late December through February (weather permitting). It's such a cool experience and totally worth the drive, no matter where you live. (and it's especially fun for the little ones! they can warm up inside by the fire afterwards)

Always a nice walk. Lots of birds chatting back and worth. One trail is paved. One trail is gravel…read morethat you ride a bicycle on. The gravel path is an old railroad line that went from Cleveland and split toward Chardon and Middlefield. Signs tell the history. The Blue Heron rookery is way out in the woods, and is not visible to see.

Enjoyed this hike! The short path is approx half a mile. Longer path is about 1.5. We had no idea…read morethat their used to be a Trolley that ran from Middlefield to Cleveland and this trail teaches you all about it. Tons of wildlife! Birds and snakes. Beautiful water views. Flat trails nice for running. Ends with a golf course view. There are restroom facilities and pavilion rentals we did not utilize.

I am a BIG fan of the entire Northeast Ohio Metro Parks system... BIG, BIG FAN…read more The only thing I have seen that is comparable is the "Nature Center at Shaker Lakes". This location is beautiful. The folks that manage it are committed to returning it to it's original wild beauty. They are in the midst of a large project to remove all the invasive species and replant with everything native to the area. So far they have done a marvelous job. I can't even imagine the cost involved. They are taking donations if you want to help. There is a large marsh area you can walk through on raised walkways and see all the work going on. There is another very large wooded area with nicely marked and maintained trails you can stroll through and just enjoy the beauty of the natural habitat. The main lodge is a very nice facility with plenty of room for children to play and classrooms for education. I highly recommend you take a sunny day and visit the "Nature Center at Shaker Lakes". See for yourself. It's a worthwhile project.

What a lovely green oasis! The free nature center itself is small, but it is surrounded by a…read moreterrific network of trails, bridges and boardwalks. It's a great place for kids as well as adults of all ages to explore. The Rise Foundation Gazebo is stunning.

Im from the Dayton area but came near Cleveland on my hubby's work trip. I met up with ol friends…read morehere to walk and catch up after 18 yrs apart. Weather was absolutely gorgeous low 70s sunny no bugs no mud. I had never been here and they hadn't done the trails with the rock ledges and caves. We started with the easy meadow loops then went in the woods. The trail in the woods wasn't marked and there were times it was questionable which way to go. I regretted not bringing a stick or hiking poles for the woods but all turned out great. Nice park! I saw in a review someone complained dogs weren't allowed but I think that was just certain trails because several were walking with dogs.

Today we walked in the woods a ways, then walked the paved circle path through field. We stopped at…read morethe Nature Center. Here you can get snow shoes, brochures, play Chess, sit near the fire place, play games. In aquariums are a snake and turtle. There are a few hands-on activities. Next door is an open shelter house with a fireplace you can reserve. Restrooms are plentiful. This is a nice park with trail signs. Plenty of parking.