We get wanting to just stay bundled up on the couch in front of the TV during the cold fall and frigid winter. But Ohio has so much natural beauty that it really is worth braving the temperatures outside, come rain, sleet or snow. Check out these trails (whether by foot, snowshoe or ski) this fall and winter for some of the most stunning scenery in the state.
Whipps Ledges
Hinckley Lake Loop Trail, Hinckley
You will find the famous Whipps Ledges at Hinckley Reservation. These rock formations are natural and breathtaking. Spend an afternoon hiking and end the day relaxing by Hinckley Lake.
Photo via kellylewflynn/InstagramArc of Appalachia Preserve
7660 Cave Rd., Bainbridge
This nature preserve is run by a non-profit working to preserve more than 5,000 acres of land east of Cincinnati. Hike around the snaking Serpent Mound for a look at the world’s biggest prehistoric effigy mound.
Photo via jen.hindy/InstagramThe Towpath at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
1550 Boston Mills Rd., Peninsula
This popular trail, which receives over 2 million visitors per year, extends 81 miles through the gorgeous Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Explore the Ohio Canal, the historic scenic railroad and much more.
Photo via @MarcJSolis/InstagramNorth Chagrin Reservation
3037 SOM Center Rd., Willoughby Hills
Known mostly for Squires’ Castle, the North Chagrin Reservation also boasts hiking trails to go through the woods. Sunset Pond and Sanctuary Marsh are two other popular tourist sites.
Photo via @Chagrin_Falls_OH/InstagramQuail Hollow
13480 Congress Lake Ave. NE, Hartville
Hartville offers more than fabulous pies, you can also visit one of the most beautiful parks around. Quail Hollow Park offers, count ’em, eight different trails that take journeyers through moss-covered arches, forest and marsh. You can even stay at a manor on the property for a weekend affair.
Photo via @Pubshrub86/InstagramEuclid Creek Reservation
850 Euclid Creek Pkwy., Cleveland
This urban enclave of the Metroparks is the closest reserve to the city of Cleveland. Covering 2.5 miles, part runs along the Lake Erie shoreline and goes through the area that used to be Euclid Beach Park.
Photo via @Lilo563/InstagramMiller Nature Sanctuary
2739 Center Rd., Avon
This Avon nature preserve is home of the Rocky Fork Gorge, and has three miles of trails to explore amongst beautiful scenery.
Photo via @BuzzyBuzzin/InstagramNelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park
12440 OH-282, Garrettsville
Covering 167 acres, this state park is known for their beautiful waterfalls and ledges that are great for jumping off of. While you might not want to do that in the winter, the waterfalls are beautiful to see when frozen and there are four scenic trails to explore.
Photo via @MrLambert007/InstagramMentor Marsh
5185 Corduroy Rd., Mentor
This marsh is a mixed swamp forest, one of the last of its kind in the Lake Erie region. There is also a sugar-maple forest bordering the marsh. While it may be more scenic in the fall, you can still hike it in the winter, and it’ll probably be much less crowded.
Photo via @KelseyDoherty/InstagramLake Erie Bluffs
2901 Clark Rd., Perry
Lake Erie Bluffs provides a combination of wetland hiking and dry trails. There is access to a natural lake and areas open for fishing. The park also has a 50-foot coastal observation tower, providing a view of the lake as well as the surrounding forest.
Photo via sherrylabonne/InstagramHolden Arboretum
9550 Sperry Rd., Kirtland
Out east in the Kirtland/Mentor area, you’ll find Holden Arboretum, home to over 3,500 hundred acres of trees, plants, wildlife and scenic views. With over 200 miles of trails, you can visit this place multiple times per season and always see something new.
Photo via @Jen2000Nay/InstagramGorge Metro Park
1160 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls
The Gorge Metropark offers activities for every season, including ice skating in the winter. Explore the miles of trails which include access to Mary Campbell Cave and a clear view of the Cuyahoga River.
Photo via @JMWarfe/InstagramChapin Forest Reservation
9938 Chillicothe Rd., Kirtland
With six miles of trail, this reservation is open year-round for entertainment. Hike, run or ski through the thick forest, or check out Lucky Stone Loop trail for a spectacular view of Lake Erie.
Photo via bri_gavin13/Instagram Credit:@bri_gavin13/InstagramBrecksville Reservation
9000 Chippewa Creek Dr., Brecksville
This Metroparks’ reservation has the picturesque Chippewa Creek running through it, which makes for great scenery in the snow. A glacier actually once covered this park and the creek now runs through this gorge.
Photo via @CatTheKat/InstagramBlue Hen Falls
2001 Boston Mills Rd., Brecksville
Blue Hen Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It requires a short walk, less than a half mile, if you park at the trailhead, and the view is spectacular.
Photo via @PedalStomper78/InstagramBedford Reservation
14505 Button Rd., Bedford
Probably most known locally for Shawnee Hills Golf Course, this reservation is home to a deep gorge that was declared a national natural landmark. Because of the gorge, and Tinker’s Creek, the 2,200 acres of this reservation are some of the most scenic in the Metroparks system.
Photo via @CleveMetroparks/InstagramRocky River Reservation
24000 Valley Pkwy., North Olmsted
The Rocky River Reservation expands all the way through Berea, Brook Park, Cleveland, Fairview Park, Lakewood, North Olmsted, Olmsted Township, and Rocky River. With numerous trails throughout the reservation, there’s a great hike and colors for everyone and you may even see some deer roaming around.
Photo via @HolaSoyMeg/InstagramSouth Chagrin Reservation
37374 Miles Rd, Bentleyville
Expanding through Moreland Hills, Bentleyville, Chagrin Falls and Solon, this beautiful Metroparks reservation is known for Henry Church Rock (formerly Squaw Rock), a rock formation carved in 1885 that runs along the Chagrin River.
Photo via @Peters_Outside_Adventures/InstagramAugusta-Anne Olsen Nature Preserve
4934 W. River Rd., Vermillion
This small nature preserve is a hidden gem, with several trails running through the forest and out to Vermillion Lake. Enjoy a quiet hike in an area not many know about.
Photo via Alana WhelanMill Creek Falls
24000 Valley Pkwy., North Olmsted
Located in the Garfield Park Reservation area of the Metroparks, Mill Creek Falls has the tallest waterfall in Cuyahoga County. And the views are breathtaking.
Photo via @CleveMetroParks/Instagram
