Take a hike! There’s a trail for every age and ability.
Lake Metroparks maintains more than 60 miles of trails throughout Lake County, including a 4.8-mile bike/hike trail. Explore hemlock ravines, open meadows, mature forests and the Lake Erie shoreline. Discover fascinating clues to our past.
Most trails are gravel-surfaced. Some are hard-surfaced and suitable for strollers and wheelchairs, and others include steps and inclines that challenge any hiker. Horses and bicycles are permitted on specially designated trails, and your dog on a leash is welcome at most parks. Hiking trails are open every day of the year from 6 am to 11 pm unless otherwise posted. Please respect park boundaries to avoid trespassing on private property.
Hiking is one of the most popular forms of outdoor leisure—surveys suggest that one in three Americans rate it as one of their three favorite forms of outdoor recreation. Hiking combines several pursuits—interests in scenery, wildlife, discovery and solitude—all in a low-impact form of healthy activity.
Hiking in the great outdoors provides exercise and interest for people of any age. Just getting out and walking around is a wonderful way to exercise and see nature. Since unexpected things happen, however, the best way to help guarantee a good time for all is to plan ahead carefully and follow safety precautions. Click here for hiking safety tips.
Download park trail maps below and head out to the parks to explore on your own!
Arcola Creek Park Baker Road Park Beaty Landing Big Creek at Liberty Hollow Blair Landing Blair Ridge Park Canine Meadow Chagrin River Park Chapin Forest Reservation Concord Woods Nature Park Farmpark Girdled Road Reservation Greenway Corridor Gully Brook Park Helen Hazen Wyman Park Hell Hollow Wilderness Area Hidden Lake Hidden Valley Park Hogback Ridge Park Indian Point Park Jordan Creek Park Lake Erie Bluffs Lakeshore Reservation Paine Falls Park Penitentiary Glen Reservation Pete’s Pond Preserve Pleasant Valley Park River Road Park Riverview Park Veterans Park
Lake Metroparks provides seniors and others with mobility impairments access to enjoy nature beyond the parking lot in several of our parks. Paved accessible trails (or boardwalks) are found in the following parks:
Chagrin River Park (Erie Rd entrance, Willoughby) Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park (Fairport Harbor) Farmpark (Kirtland) Greenway Corridor (Painesville, Painesville Township to Concord Twp.) Lakeshore Reservation (North Perry Village) Painesville Township Park (Painesville Twp.) Penitentiary Glen Reservation (Kirtland) Veterans Park (Mentor)
Lake Metroparks offers more than 50 miles of hiking trails throughout Lake County. Enjoy a hike along beautiful trails to scenic views while taking in the gorgeous fall foliage. Pick a park with a shelter and make a picnic out of it. Try out some of our favorite hikes this fall to take in the majesty nature has to offer.
Chapin Forest Reservation With a panoramic view of everything from Lake Erie to the Cleveland skyline, the view of fall colors is one of the best overlooks anywhere.
Lake Erie Bluffs Enter through Lane Road or Clark Road. Lake Erie Bluffs features the natural wonder of Lake Erie in Lake County’s front yard. In addition to the more than three miles of trails, a 50-foot coastal observation tower overlooks the lakeshore with multiple viewing platforms along a staircase that culminates in a deck featuring 360-degree views. The height and location of the tower provide visitors with a unique view of the lake and the surrounding woods, fields and wetlands, along with a variety of wildlife.
Girdled Road Reservation (Skok Meadow) Enter from State Route 608/Concord Hambden Road Stroll Skok Meadow Loop Trail (1.09 miles) to the scenic overlook and deck. A meadow of 30 acres of native wildflowers unfolds before you with many flowers blooming through late summer and into the fall. Enjoy this peaceful view with the backdrop of trees lining the Big Creek valley.
Hell Hollow Wilderness Area Enter from Leroy Center Road Walk Beech Ridge Loop Trail (0.5 mile) to a stunning overlook of the Paine Creek valley, more than 200 feet below. From this unique view, the breathtaking beauty of the season stretches out before you.
Hidden Valley Park Enter from Klasen Road Take the River Breeze Trail; this riverside trail has excellent views of the forested hillside on the opposite bank. The display of colors never ends along the entire half-mile trail.
Hogback Ridge Park Enter from Emerson Road Few areas of this park offer the viewing vistas of some of the other parks, but here you walk through the colors. From the start of the Hemlock Ridge Loop Trail to the finish, fall colors will surround and envelope you. Come on a sunny day when the yellow leaves are at peak color and everything in the forest takes on a yellow glow.
Indian Point Park Enter from the upper parking lot on Seeley Road Hike one mile along Point Overlook Loop Trail to Lookout Ridge Scenic Trail, which will provide a spectacular view over the Grand River valley and the hillsides will be alive with colorful leaves.
Pete’s Pond Preserve Enter from Rockefeller Road. Follow Carraige Lane Trail (0.56 mile) to reach beautiful vistas seen from two observation decks. The 1.15 mile trail provides exercise and exploration in a 70-acre oasis for suburban wildlife.
Lake Metroparks trails provide countless opportunities to fight off cabin fever this winter.
Veterans Park – Cardinal Loop Trail Walk through some of the last remnants of original Ohio swamp forest and along the edge of Granger’s Pond, the largest inland lake in the county.
Chagrin River Park – Riverwood Trail Meander along the river and enjoy scenic views of the water. Keep your eyes open near woodland edges for perching hawks and other raptors this winter.
Pete’s Pond Preserve – Carriage Lane Trail The combination of forest, edge and fresh water has created an oasis for suburban wildlife.
Lakeshore Reservation – All Peoples Trail Discover a huge sundial and other sculptures on this easy trail suitable for all abilities. Check out the beach for icy snow dunes along Lake Erie.
Gully Brook Park – Gully Brook Valley Trail This trail gives us a unique view into the park’s 100-year history. The young trees along Gully Brook are evidence that this land was farmed in the mid 1900s. There is also a large beech tree with the initials LOL carved into it—a sign post for an old fur trapping route.
Feel free to hike under the lights this winter at Chapin Forest Reservation! A mile of trail lights will be turned on on the Arbor Lane Loop Trail (Hobart Road entrance) each evening from dusk until park closes, regardless of ski conditions.
If hiking and snow is on the trail: • Watch for skiers • Respect groomed trails • Do not walk in ski tracks
To see current, live conditions outside of Pine Lodge, click here to view the webcam at Chapin Forest Reservation.
Chagrin River Park – Woodland Run & Songbird Loop Trails Possibly the perfect dog-walking park, and judging by the number of dog walkers here, the public seems to agree. From access to the river to let your dog get a drink to cool off, to an ample supply of flat trails and mutt mitts, there is hardly a reason not to take your dog here.
Veterans Park – Cardinal Loop Trail Flat trails, a large lake to get your feet wet and a nice shady forest to walk through means your dog will love a trip to this park.
Pete’s Pond Preserve – Carriage Lane Trail This nice shady trail is rapidly becoming a favorite for dog walkers.
Gully Brook Park – Gully Brook Valley Trail At a little more than a mile, this shady trail is perfect to take Fido to for an after-work stroll.
Lakeshore Reservation – All Peoples Trail Numerous trail options, views of Lake Erie and another one of our dog walkers’ favorite picks for a hike.
Looking for somewhere to cool off? Why not visit the parks for a creek walk or wade in the river? During the heat of summer, these locations offer great opportunities to cool off with a hike through the water. Our local waters are important homes for many plants and animals, so while hiking around keep your eyes open for fish, frogs, crayfish or even a bald eagle. Check out these parks for some fun this summer: