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.

We were looking for a simple, no-fuss walk along Lake Erie, and this spot fit the bill. If you're…read moreexpecting dramatic vistas or Instagram-worthy scenery, you'll probably be underwhelmed. There's a small bench with a partial view of the water--pleasant peaceful. The trail itself is flat and easy, though the lake is mostly hidden behind a solid wall of brush there are a few spots w nice views. Still, it was quiet, uncrowded, and gave us what we wanted: a short, peaceful stroll without any surprises. Mission accomplished.

Beautiful Oarks, but the best experience was an unexpected fishing trip and stay at a rustic cabin…read moreat # Unclesamstroutfushing. The boys caught over twenty fish over two hours but lived spending the night at Uncke Sam's trout camp cabin.

The entire Lake Metropark system is something all residents should experience! Each park is unique…read morein it's own way. And now, they have added camping to their parks! Varying locations, one campsite each location (except Lake Erie Bluffs, they have 2 sites a good distance from each other. We've been to two sites already and going to a third this weekend. Metroparks has lots of cheap and free programs for all ages and abilities. Really a class act.

Chagrin River Park is a nice area. It of course is located along the Chagrin River. You can cross a…read morenice bridge over this. Also there's many athletic facilities. This is located off Lost Nation Road in Willoughby. A lot of good things to do here. It has some great trails for exercise or sightseeing. The best is the one that goes over the river, where you can get a good view. A popular place is the picnic areas. These are located close to the parking lots so you don't have to go far to haul things. It has a few parking lots but these are small so it these get filled up fast. This is why it's good to bring a bike here. It always is enjoyable in good weather here to walk around. It's mostly a very safe park. The best thing are the views.

one of the best and easiest parks to walk! Options of paved or gravel walking paths, access to…read moreriver always has interesting birds (eagles!) , and visibility on trails adds to a feeling of overall safety.

Such a beautiful place, especially now in the fall. I only had a VERY quick visit, but I can tell…read morethat there are TONS of things to do here, and just a walk on the beach alone worked WONDERS for my road trip weary soul. Ohio has recently won awards for its state parks, and this is yet another jewel in its crown!! Scenic trails, ample picnic areas, clean facilities, a GORGEOUS view of the lake... 1000% worth a visit!! Hope to be back again in the warmer months!! Enjoy!!

Beach review only,…read more We live about 15min from GOTL State Park. This is our go to beach a bunch of times during the summer. Its not very crowded and there are tons of things to do around the area after the beach. Lets start with cons: -Beach is rocky towards the water, sand is nicer the further back you sit. If youre looking for Fairport Harbor raked beach sand, this is not for you. -Water is rocky for about 20' or so out, then turns into sand. -Foot wash was not working, however it has worked in the past. -No showers, but do offer a changing area. -No breakwall, so occasional driftwood shows up, this could be a good thing or bad thing depending how you view it The Pros -Never crowded like the other beaches around -Water is cleaner than other beaches around -Bike and walkable, and a grassy area up top for family parties -Sand walkway to help the Dads wheeling a wagon full of kid toys, chairs, umbrelllas, while the wife holds her stanley cup in one hand and her beach tote in the other. -5min from GOTL -Everyone seems to follow the rules, never an issue there. Great spot with tons of stuff to do around the area. Its like a mini vacation!

Tony and I went to Nelson Ledges State Park outside of Garrettsville, Ohio. The Park was free!…read moreThere is a nice parking lot, with bathrooms and signage! A great park area w picnic tables and grills! The Park with the actual trails are located across the road. The huge limestone rocks are covered w pebbles that are embedded. There are caves, canyons of rocks w deep crevices and waterfalls !! A great Park for adventure! Definitely recommend and would love to go again! So fun and peaceful

I seen this on social media. And knew immediately that I needed to come check this out. And just…read morelike what I already seen. I was not disappointed. It is a smooth 50 minute drive from downtown Cleveland. Taking 422 most of the way there with back roads the remainder. I was there in know time doing the speed limit. There are a few locations to pull off I noticed. So make sure you choose the Nelson Kennedy Ledges state park for gps. Have walking tennis shoes or boots on. Do not wear flip flops. The trail can be a challenge in anything else. You will fall in love with the beauty of nature. And of course the glass bridge is something that is amazing. I throughly enjoyed it and am already planning it trip back next month. Get there. You'll be glad that you listened and went.

Had such a nice time camping here! I liked how many trees…read morethere were, they provided plenty of shade and places to put up hammocks. The toilets at the campsite were cleaned out every morning we were there. It also felt safe, it gave a sense of being more remote because of the tree density, but not so much that I was worried about anything. The lake is beautiful, they had kayaking available which was fun! No swimming in the lake though. But there were plenty of of other campers who were out fishing at the lake. I would definitely recommend camping here! I wish we could have checked out more of the trails around. Overall rating: 5/5 stars

Company picnic.... my dh had his company picnic at this park. I am not sure what happened but we…read moredidn't get to use the canoe's because the office was closed up. Which was kind of a bummer because I wanted to try it. Overall the cabin that we had our picnic in was clean and well kept. This place is great for fishing, hiking and canoeing. It looks like you are able to rent the canoes to go fishing on the lake or bring your own. The boathouse wasn't open to find out any more info on this campsite but I would recommend taking a look at it.

Very good nature center with lots of history of the marsh and the surrounding area! Overall 8/10…read more(4.0 stars) it's just a little small. (My review of the nature center from Google Maps)

Here is a nice little place to hike some trails in a marsh. It basically is a combination of marsh…read moreand woods within a preserve. Mentor Marsh is located close to Headlands Beach so you can get here easily from there. Around here it's much quieter than at the beach. This attracts mosquitos so use bug spray. Entrance is hard to find. It has a parking lot next to the nature center, which is an old house. There's a few trails to choose from. Kerven Trail takes you around the marsh area. There's a large open area once you get out of the woods. If it has rained recently, this place is pretty damp. There also will be lots of mosquitos. It's a marsh after all. The trails are kept pretty clean and clear. It overall is a nice place when you want to get away from the beach. It's larger than it looks. The trails will also take you to the beach if you feel like going all that way.

This is a nice family park in a residential area to picnic on the lake, but there is no beach. A…read morenice swing set area allows for good play. The yard is large for ball playing, badminton, kids and pets running around, etc. The pavilion is large with two rooms to rent. There are picnics table under the hanging roof. Tho smaller than a lot of lake parks, this one is really nice. There is lot of parking, and handicapped parking is near the pavilion.

When hubbs and I found ourselves in Ohio for a wedding I knew that I had to take the opportunity to…read morecheck out what makes the Great Lakes so "great." So we hopped in our rental car and headed off for a little adventure to do just that. Mentor Beach Park was by far the cutest way for me to see the Great Lakes for the first time! ++ There was plenty of parking for our little rental car! ++ There's a wide variety of play equipment for the youngsters (or the young at heart) to play on! ++ So much open grassy space littered with trees would make this a great spot for any picnic! ++ There's a community center located on the premises as well for all your event needs! ++ Steps near the aforementioned community center lead you right down to Lake Erie! Yay! While this was my first visit to Ohio, I'd gladly come back and check out more this quaint little park has to offer.

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.

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.