Who said the fun had to be over once the days start getting shorter? We’re a long way off from dusting off those winter parkas, so take your pick of outdoorsy fun in and near Cleveland this fall season.
Photos courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons, FB & IG.
Ash Cave, Hocking Hills State Park – Ash Cave is named after the huge pile of ashes found under the shelter by early settlers. The largest pile was recorded as being 100 feet long, 30 feet wide and 3 feet deep. The source of the ashes is unknown but is believed to be from Indian campfires built up over hundreds of years. 19852 Ohio 664, Logan, OH 43138, (740) 385-6842.Beaver Creek State Park – The park includes Little Beaver Creek, a state and national wild and scenic river, and 2,722 acres of forest wilderness. The site is located in Columbiana County. 12021 Echo Dell Rd, East Liverpool, OH 43920, (330) 385-3091.Cleveland Lakefront Trail (Courtesy David B.) – The Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway spans all 17 miles of Cleveland’s shoreline. If you begin bicycling on Cleveland’s on the west side, visit the Cultural Gardens in Rockefeller Park via the Harrison- Dillard Trail on the city’s east side. If you begin on the east side, visit Edgewater Park at the end of your trip for an incredible panorama of downtown Cleveland. planning.city.cleveland.oh.usCuyahoga Valley National Park – Of course, a national park in our own background would be a top choice for camping. The features winding hiking and cycling trails, including the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail. There’s also the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Hale Farm & Village and other attractions you tackle in-between exploring. 15610 Vaughn Road, Brecksville, OH 44141, (330) 657-2752 .Emerald Necklace (Courtesy Ruthie Burnside) – This trail (47 miles including the Big Creek side trip) travels through wooded areas and over and along several hillsides. This allows for some natural obstacles on the trail surface. This snake-like path quickly challenges your riding skills by taking you up and down small hills and through an assortment of curves of varying degrees of sharpness. The asphalt path is quite narrow at only 8-9′ wide, which makes negotiating the terrain while passing other trail users quite challenging. ohiobikeways.net/emerald.htmGreat Seal State Park is a 1,862-acre green area with biking, hiking & equestrian trails, plus campsites, hunting spots & more located in Chillicothe, Ohio. 4908 Marietta Rd, Chillicothe, OH 45601. (740) 887-4818.Geneva State Park – Located on Ohio’s northeastern shoreline, 698-acre Geneva State Park rests on the shores of Lake Erie where campers can go boating, fishing or check out the freshwater marshes. 4499 Padanarum Rd, Geneva, OH 44041. (440) 466-8400.Guilford Lake State Park is a 396-acre is a quiet fishing lake located in northeastern Ohio on the west fork of the Little Beaver Creek. 6835 East Lake Road, Lisbon, OH 44432, (330) 222-1712.John Bryan State Park, part of the Buck Creek/John Bryan State Park Region, is a 752-acre Ohio state park in Greene County, Ohio. The park surrounds Clifton Gorge, a deep cut of the Little Miami River between Yellow Springs and Clifton. 3790 State Route 370, Yellow Springs, OH 45387, (937) 767-1274.Kelleys Island State Park is a 676-acre Ohio, United States, state park established in 1956 that makes up almost all of the northern third of Kelleys Island in Lake Erie. 920 Division St, Kelleys Island, OH 43438, (419) 746-2546.Lake Loramie State Park is a 407-acre Ohio State Park in Minster, Ohio. It is located around 1,655-acre Lake Loramie and is one of the original canal feeder lakes. 4401 Ft. Loramie Swanders Road, (937) 295-2011.Metro Parks Freedom Trail (Courtesy Kimberley Ardelian) – Starting near the Portage Hike & Bike Trail in Kent, this multipurpose trail – on land owned by METRO Regional Transit Authority – follows an unused railroad corridor. Phase II construction, now complete, extends to Eastwood Avenue in Akron. Eventually, it will connect with downtown near The University of Akron campus.The railroad corridor provides wildlife with a linear connection between green spaces. Bald eagles, coyote and white-tailed deer use these grounds as their home. summitmetroparks.org/freedom-trail.aspxMosquito Lake State Park is one of the largest lakes in Ohio and perfect for fishing and boating along with camping. 1439 OH-305, Cortland, OH 44410, (330) 637-2856.New Western Reserve Greenway (Courtesy Vicki Shiely) -45 miles of asphalt currently traverse Ashtabula County beginning near Lake Erie and TrumbullCounty, called the Western Reserve Greenway. If you thought the North Coast Inland Trail wasincredible, listen to this: Ohio plans to connect the Ohio River beginning in East Liverpool to LakeErie (called the Great Ohio Lake-to- River Bikeway) with the Western Reserve Greenway Serving asa principle portion.www.ashtabulametroparks.com, www.trumbullmetroparks.orgNorth Coast Inland Trail – The plan: connect Indiana to Pennsylvania via 270 miles of bike trails paralleling Lake Erie. Thegroundbreaking plan has long been underway and many portions of the interstate trail west ofCleveland are already complete. The trail will have more destinations than we can name. Untilcompleted, check out other bikeways and trails Northeast Ohio has to offer. Visit their page onOhiobikeways.net for updates and closures.www.ohiobikeways.netOak Openings Preserve Metropark is the largest of the Toledo Area Metroparks. It is a nature preserve located between Whitehouse, Ohio and Swanton, Ohio and is part of the Toledo Metroparks. 4139 Girdham Rd, Swanton, OH 43558, (419) 407-9700.Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail – This 85mi trail attracts 2.5 million attendees annually. This hard packed gravel and asphalt trailfollows the now disused Erie Canal from Cleveland to New Philadelphia, bisecting Northeast Ohio.The most notable scenic destination: Cuyahoga Valley National Park. There you’ll find trails,seasonal events, and the rich history of Ohio.www.ohioanderiecanalway.comOhio to Erie Trail (Courtesy Wikipedia) – Much like the Western Reserve Greenway, the Ohio to Erie Trail will link Lake Erie to the OhioRiver; however, this trail links Lake Erie to the Ohio River beginning in Cincinnati. The 325minetwork of trails is currently under construction, but large portions between Cincinnati andColumbus are already open for use. See their website for updates and progress.www.ohiotoerietrail.orgRichland B and O Trail (Courtesy Colleen Smith) -The Richland B & O Trail traverses 18.5 miles of former rail corridor from Butler to Mansfield, Ohio in Richland County. It is primarily a rural rail-trail with short sections through three small towns and the west end of Mansfield. This creates a fairly diverse change in scenery along the trail: From open farmlands, woods and river crossings to short sections alongside a factory and former grain stations.The trail takes a northwesterly route out of Butler passing a former lumber yard and a local campground before heading out to open countryside. ohiobikeways.net/bno.htmSippo Valley Trail -If you want a taste of quaint rural Ohio, Sippo Valley Bike Trail is an excellent option. Over thecourse of the 10mi asphalt and stone trail, you’ll cross bridges, navigate the both farmland andforest, and follow streams and rivers. The trail is part of the much larger Ohio to Erie Trail. Visittheir page on Ohiobikeways.net for more informationwww.ohiobikeways.netStavich Trail (Courtesy Allen Lavalliere) – Ohio’s trails don’t stop in Ohio. Some, like the Stavich Velley Trail connect states. This 10mi asphalt trail can be a workout, but we promise it’s worth the effort. The scenic trail traverses hills withmoderate grades, navigates forests, and abuts the wetlands pictured here. Visit their page onOhiobikeways.net for more informationwww.ohiobikeways.netStrouds Run State Park is an Ohio state park located primarily in Canaan Township, Athens County, Ohio, with a small part in Ames Township. It’s 2,606 acres of wildlife and camping grounds to explore. 11661 State Park Rd, Athens, OH 45701, (740) 384-4474.
