Very beautiful scenery and a great place to escape the everyday hustle and bustle…read more This is a great place for people who love to be outside and who love nature.

Great park with a lot of options for recreation. This parks also stretches a few different cities…read moreso you have the option for longer walks, runs, or bike rides. Wallace Lake is inside this park and has different boating options. Lots of fishing spots as well. You also have paved and trail options to choose from. There are a few big parking areas along with smaller ones. If you go early you are fine usually to find parking wherever. There is also a fitness trail so you can use it in conjection with other workouts.

Liberty Playground in Elmwood Park is so nice for children! All was cleaned and there was only two…read moremissing items to utilize the park fully. People were socially distanced at the park. The bathrooms were available near by however we didn't use them. There is a bicycle park as well for children called safety town. There were various slides; zip line, rock climbing and swings!

The city of Independence, Ohio has a lot going for it but their Elmwood park simply outshines parks…read moreof neighboring areas. The crown jewel being their Liberty Playground which is great for toddlers to preteens. It has a generous section for a mini-town, complete with is fire station, traffic light, pedestrian crossing etc. Of note, clean restrooms by the kids area enhances the experience. The soccer field is gorgeous....and well maintained. Tennis courts are fantastic....and well maintained. Excellent baseball fields, multiple....are well maintained. Swimming pool for kids and adults....look great although I haven't benefited from it. The walking areas connecting all the above to independence branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library are paved with lush green grass and colorful floral arrangements with a lot of attention owing laid to landscaping. The Elmwood pond within the grounds of the park is a serene place to sit by. I've had the pleasure of visiting there many times with family, a generation up and also a generation down. We all love sitting there, chatting, snacking,in a peaceful environment in awe of the ducks, geese and if we're lucky, seeing the blue herons that come by there.

Hidden gem This is…read morethe coolest park for pictures in the area. A great little hike down and you are at the river. The large rocks are perfect for taking pictures. There is a picnic area and some bathrooms but the bathrooms are very old. I remember coming to this park as a kid and being my kids as well.

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

Brecksville Reservation is the jewel of the Metroparks Emerald Necklace. It is the largest of the…read moreMetroparks, it is the park that links the East and West Sides. It anchors the North end of the National Park. It is a key station of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. It provides access to the Cuyahoga River Water Trail. It has a stable and an extensive system of bridal trails. It is home to 2 golf course including one of the best public golf course in the area. It has one of the key junctions on the Buckeye Trail. It also has some backcountry overnight camping sites. I enjoy hiking at Brecksville Reservation, it provides trails of all levels, from mellow to some of the most challenging in Northeast Ohio. My most frequent hike here is from the Station Road Bridge to Jaite on the Buckeye Trail and back on the Towpath Trail. This is a 10 mile hike with about 10,000 feet of vertical, plenty of scenery and variety and usually a nice mix of flora and fauna. There are also some very nice hikes within the park itself. You can hike along the river, along the creek, through the woods, up and down the gorges. Trails are easy to follow with clear signage and blazes. Among the sights are a waterfall at the Chippewa Gorge overlook, Deer Lick Cave a small overhang cave, My Mountain Overlook, the Brecksville Nature Center and the Station Road Bridge. The Buckeye Trail runs through the park, connecting to the North with Bedford Reservation, to the South with CVNP and to the Southwest with Hinckley Reservation. There is also the parkway that connects to Mill Stream Reservation and then the Rocky River Reservation. Brecksville Reservation offers reservable overnight backwoods camping sites off of the Buckeye Trail near the Ottawa Point Reservable Picnic Area; these sites are well set up and feel very remote; there is a kitchen area and each site overlooks the gorge. For those who love Horses there is Brecksville Stables and an extensive network of bridal trails, including the North end of the Valley Bridal Trail. The bridal trails also provide a great opportunity for challenging hiking. There are a number of picnic areas, playgrounds, and the nature center that provide opportunities to picnic, relax, learn and have some fun. Chippewa Creek flows through the park, with a cool gorge to the West; there is a path that allows you to get to the creek level among the large boulders; at the East end there is access to wade in the creek. The Station Road Bridge area is a stop on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, access to the Towpath Trail and is a put in and take out for the Cuyahoga River Water Trail. You can put into the river at Peninsula or Boston and have a really fun paddle to Brecksville or you can put in at Brecksville and to Rockside Road or even all the way to the Flats Downtown. If you want to get outdoors and have some fun, get some exercise, enjoy nature or just mellow out Brecksville Reservation is well worth a visit. Get out and experience what Cleveland Metroparks has to offer.

Beautiful park. Lots of hills that go down and meet up with CVNP. It's one of my favorite spots to…read morebring a lunch and eat. They have a nature center, stables, fields and woods to choose from.

Having done another hike at Hinckley Reservation I realized I had not posted a review for one of…read morethe gems of the Cleveland Metroparks system. Hinckley offers as diverse a range of activities and some of the best view as any other park in the area. Most people know Hinckley from the annual Buzzard festival, the nice lake and the awesome ledges, but that is just scratching the surface. With the newly renovated dam and the lake refilled Hinckley Reservation is once again at its peak. I have often hiked at Hinckley, my most recent hike started at the Top of the Ledges picnic area, went down through the Ledges, along the North side of the Hinckley Lake Loop, on the Bridal Trails and then the Buckeye Trail back through the Ledges. If you are looking for some interesting hiking the Bridal Trails provide some nice variety from open fields, stream crossings, hills and narrow winding trails. Whipp's Ledges are some of the most impressive you will see; they provide multiple routes and views, plus there is actual rock climbing allowed. Less well known are Worden's Ledges on the other side of the park which while smaller still are lots of fun and they have some interesting carvings that are well worth visiting. The Lake provides the opportunity for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. There is a nice boathouse where you can rent a boat at reasonable rate, and while not terribly challenging, the lake is picturesque and getting out on the water is always a great time. Although I have never taken advantage at the bottom of the dam there is a nice beach and swimming area. Hinckley Reservation is a wonderful asset and a great way to get outside and enjoy yourself. This is a large park with plenty to do and see. Never been disappointed with a visit here.

I love that this park is never boring. I start my visit at the park store. The employees are…read moreexceptionally nice, I think they love when people stop by and say hello. They had so many t-shirts and sweatshirts with the Cleveland Metro Park logos and scenery. I bought one months ago in pink with a squirrel on it. I also like their selection of plush toys, kids gifts, socks, etc. Please go in and have a cup of coffee and support the park. The trail is definitely an adventure as you walk around the park, and now IT's FULL OF WATER AGAIN!! As you walk look at the color of the trees, the trees that are barely hanging on, and the trees that became part of the waterscape! Beauty! As you get to the beach are and new dam you can appreciate all of the work put into getting this back and better than it was. So get your FITBIT, Apple Watch or any pedometer type technology and start steppin'. Say hello to my friends at the store. Let them know Cee Cee sent you! Lol

This is my favorite mountain bike trail, so far…read more As of April, 2012, there were two new mountain bike trails built in the Strongsville Metroparks Reservation just south of Route 82. Royalview is located off the main road in the park. It's not a challenging trail by CAMBA standards, but it is a fun, fast trail that you can maintain a lot of speed on. You won't need a full suspension bike for these trails, but it's always nice to have. I would definitely recommend a front suspension system, however. The two new trails are in great condition. One is yellow (novice) and one is red (intermediate). I don't think either trail is particularly challenging in terms of difficulty of obstacles (there really are none), but the red trail will definitely give you more of a workout. I believe, combined, the trails stretch approximately nine miles. I am adding this review to my list of mountain bike trails around Cleveland, so feel free to browse.

Great place to run, bike, lose yourself in secluded and peaceful areas. Really awesome fall…read morecolors. Horse trails, too. Monkey run on a quiet weekday and just listened to the trees rustling in the wind. Scored a saved-the-day-toilet 3 miles out. Park Ranger on patrol made me feel safe. Can't wait to return in the fall for another scenic run.

Went to the Live on the Lake concert with OLD SKL CLE it was as so fun! Come lake in general is…read morevery nice and put together. Walkable, fishing, jungle gyms, hanging out, and you can have events there as well like weddings. It's very nice and a good use of space. This was the last concert of summer 2026. It was fun and packed. Lots of food trucks and people having picnics and dancing, singing and enjoying themselves. Overall very good time. Parking for this was a challenge but normally parking at the lake is easy and right there. No problems. This is a very nice venue and city park. Berea has done a great job with this and their downtown. Cure little town with a lot to offer.

Coe Lake is an incredibly beautiful park that is well manicured and lots of photo-worthy locations…read morenear the Cleveland airport. I boil with envy that west siders have such an incredible public park they can visit while I have to drive 40 minutes to get here! Every time I come here, I am always happy to see lots of people utilizing the park. There's a beautiful pagoda, a new and extensive playground, and a great walking trails around the very clean lake. The Berea Public Library is also in this complex, which I will also be giving its own review of 5 stars! I guess Berea resident's tax dollars are being used more wisely than those of us on the east side, haha!

What a cool park with a scenic railway that comes through the area - waterfalls, woodlands and all…read morethe things you would expect for a national park to have - plus it's close to the city(ites) of Akron and Cleveland! I have driven through several times as I work in the area. It's a beautiful site and so refreshing to drink in the natural beauty and enjoy a fresh relief from work!

Cuyahoga Valley wasn't so much a National Park as it was a collection of overgrown back yards that…read moreyou had to drive between. The layout of the "park" makes it feel like a constellation of loosely connected pockets of nature in an otherwise developed suburb. I visited the major sites, including Brandywine Falls, Beaver Marsh, and the Ledges. They were fine, some decent hikes and views of different natural formations. Did I feel like I was seeing something truly unique, a natural wonder? No. Of the 20+ parks I've been to, Cuyahoga Valley struck me as the most ordinary and least cohesive experience thus far.

Beautiful park for exploring nature. The trails all go along pond and marsh areas so you always get…read moreto see a variety of birds, fish, snakes, etc. The parking lot is located by An ice cream store. They have bathrooms attached to one end and a put putt course behind. The parking lot goes back a little further by some of the trail entrances and there is a playground. Paths are mostly paved or covered in stone. The path branches off to the high school and back to a event building. If it's your first time there I suggest taking a picture of the map so you can stay on course. If you choose the path that goes under the road it loops around a pond. The pond has a small floating dock. Great park if you have a little time to explore.

A beautiful park to walk, right behind Sundae Funday's! Not very hilly, beautiful trees and…read morewell-maintained paths. I deducted 1 star because I wish the trails were clearly marked. It's easy to get turned around and I feel that a few trail markers would go a long way in assuring the public that they're going the right way.

This reservation is spread out over multiple cities. There are many parking areas to stop and enjoy…read morealong the way. We stopped near snow road and we're able to have a nice picnic lunch. Plenty of picnic tables and covered areas to eat. My kids loved the river ford and being able to walk down by the river. There are only port o potties by the area we stopped so that is always hard with kids.

A nice trail in the cleveland metoparks. It's usually pretty quiet and peaceful. It's a good place…read morefor a walk or to go bird watching. It is part of the lake to lake trail. The bridge area is my favorite part and there is a small kids play area.