One of my favorite places to walk, run and bike. Every time I am in the area, the towpath is a…read moremust. I have been fortunate to see beavers, herons, redwing blackbirds and many other beautiful creatures. Everyone that I pass is always friendly. I always feel safe- especially when I see trail ambassadors.

Don't get fat with your corporate coworkers. Walk down the hill away from the salty restaurants and…read morepeople. You might see a duck or a heron in the canal. Or a Wooly Bear that will tell you how the coming winter will be.

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

Of all the things we did in Clevland during our trip this was our favorite. I can't stop thinking…read moreof this little slice of heaven. There is a main trail that loops around and borders the lake. Most of the rim there is foliage blocking the view but there are a few open spots and the overlook spot if you want a view of the lake. I would recommend verring onto the Northern Harrier Trail which was our favorite. Felt very whimsical with all of the wildflowers and deer. This is an excellent spot for birding. Saw a few groups with binoculars. I broke our my bird call app and had dozens of birds identified that we then tried to find. Very fun! The trail itself is pretty short but it's worth doing a few laps if you've got the time. Or taking it really slow to soak it up. There is large parking lot available. Google maps takes you right to it.

Great Metroparks Reservation with some seriously underrated views of the lake and the city skyline…read more This is located right off the highway at the MLK exit. It's super easy to get to, with good parking and signage. I was surprised that there was no paved trail/path. There is a bird watching path and another running trail and they all connect, but nothing is paved. Be sure to bring your bug spray and there were warning signs that there are ticks. There's a great lookout spot with a few benches less than a mile into the trail. Excellent views.

Walking the woodpecker loop 1.8 miles and it was beautiful. Water features, few places to sit and…read morerest, trash cans and a covered spot in case of rain. Ample bird watching opportunities. Saw blue jay, yellow finch, robins, etc. beautiful! Ample parking. Water fountains too.

If you walk or jog this is the place, and it's suitable for wheelchairs and scooters. The park is a…read moreformer golf course so the paths are along lots of trees and plants that were once the fairways. A cool memory of the course are the wooden steps leading up to the former first tee. Signs show the distances of the many paths. There is shade, but bring a water bottle. A few benches are along the way. Call to get a tour with a naturalist using golf cars! Along our walk we saw a baby mole scurrying along the grass. A Monarch caterpillar was on a milkweed plant, and the milkweeds are everywhere. Love trees? Lots of oak trees and others line the paths. Redwing blackbirds were chirping. In the mornings and evenings I've was told you can see a lot of deer. A shelter is available for group events. There are a few picnic tables under the trees. More tables are needed. Large parking area. Handicapped accessible.

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.

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.

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.

A beautiful place with a lovely waterfall and stunning natural surroundings. It's the perfect spot…read moreto relax, refresh your body and mind, and enjoy the peaceful beauty of nature. Definitely worth visiting!

Once we found the waterfall at Viaduct Park, it was a short walk on a paved path down to the…read morewaterfall. We went through the small cave to get another view of it. The area was nice and well kept.

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.

Came during March I know half the animals are not outside they are hibernating or sleeping a lot…read morebut saw a good amount of animals, the food and drink prices are outrageous

I absolutely love adventures in the park. I am about 10 mins from the Little Met golf course and…read moreRocky River . It's just so peaceful down in the park. I highly suggest going for a walk, hike or bike ride.