Cascades Park is not your typical neighborhood patch of Earth; yes it has a baseball diamond &…read moreshelter house, but if offers so much more. In very congested surroundings, this cute little park offers an educational experience as well as pleasurable. Here you will find tree plaques throughout the trail that inform you about the local species. There is also a number of exercise stations, generous playground, a small fraction of ledges hugging a tiny stream and an adorable butterfly garden! With two trails to choose from, you think it would be impossible to get lost. However, the old carved map is slightly misleading. Whichever trail you decide to explore you'll begin at the same starting point ;straight ahead you'll see a tiny wooden bridge- this path leads you wandering around...you cannot distinct between path & surroundings as nothing is marked. If you avoid this & veer to the right, one trail loops around the park while the other eventually takes you through a series of backyards & a golf course. Each trail is made up of twisting roots & tiny gravel so if you have a decent stroller (avoid the trail with a street name & take the loop only) you should be able to enjoy the park without any hiccups.

Literally the biggest playground slides I've ever seen. My 4 year old looooves this place, and…read morethere's also a small play area good for toddlers. We love the wooded walking trail, too.

Gorgeous waterfall within Cuyahoga Valley Nat.Park, second most photographed (after Brandywine)…read morecan be reached by steep Buckeye Trail from Boston Mill Visitor Center. Pictured in a late summer..

One of my bucket list falls has finally been checked off -- Blue Hen Falls! It's quite a hike but,…read morepersonally, worthwhile for a nature lover like myself. It's not a huge fall but, definitely a beautiful, scenic view and easy to miss. GPS will definitely guide you directly to the fall but, it guides you right above the fall.

Having done another hike at Hinckley Reservation I realized I had not posted a review for one of…read morethe gems of the Cleveland Metroparks system. Hinckley offers as diverse a range of activities and some of the best view as any other park in the area. Most people know Hinckley from the annual Buzzard festival, the nice lake and the awesome ledges, but that is just scratching the surface. With the newly renovated dam and the lake refilled Hinckley Reservation is once again at its peak. I have often hiked at Hinckley, my most recent hike started at the Top of the Ledges picnic area, went down through the Ledges, along the North side of the Hinckley Lake Loop, on the Bridal Trails and then the Buckeye Trail back through the Ledges. If you are looking for some interesting hiking the Bridal Trails provide some nice variety from open fields, stream crossings, hills and narrow winding trails. Whipp's Ledges are some of the most impressive you will see; they provide multiple routes and views, plus there is actual rock climbing allowed. Less well known are Worden's Ledges on the other side of the park which while smaller still are lots of fun and they have some interesting carvings that are well worth visiting. The Lake provides the opportunity for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. There is a nice boathouse where you can rent a boat at reasonable rate, and while not terribly challenging, the lake is picturesque and getting out on the water is always a great time. Although I have never taken advantage at the bottom of the dam there is a nice beach and swimming area. Hinckley Reservation is a wonderful asset and a great way to get outside and enjoy yourself. This is a large park with plenty to do and see. Never been disappointed with a visit here.

The dam is a lot better after the reconstruction. Nice 3 mile walk around the lake. Concession…read morestand open during the summer.

Stopped here to eat my subway. It had a nice size parking…read morelot and I saw a few picnic tables. It wasn't that busy when I stopped, but the area is very nice and I can see it being very busy on the weekend.

This is a nice area. We opted for the Rock Creek Trail through the woods, meandering alongside the…read morecreek of its name. It's an enjoyable place to walk. There is a lodge near the parking lot, which looks like a great event space. A good-sized paved parking lot is available.

I made a 20 minute trip here in hopes it could possibly be my new park away from where I live…read morecurrently. This park is so cute, theres lots of space, it's vibrantly colored, equipment is stable, the blue surface is squishy, the area is fenced in so I actually felt like I could breathe and look away for a second without fearing my child would be in the parking lot. Also the older kids were friendly and polite towards my two year old which was refreshing.

I actually came here to enjoy the trails they had here and enjoy the basketball court as well. The…read moretrails are great, and they're perfect for those who don't want to walk too far. Beautiful bridges to cross, plenty of great information listed too.

Beautiful park. Lots of hills that go down and meet up with CVNP. It's one of my favorite spots to…read morebring a lunch and eat. They have a nature center, stables, fields and woods to choose from.

Brecksville Reservation is considered to be the largest urban park (3,026-acre) in Ohio. We're so…read morelucky to have this nature's treasure in our city. This park is an ideal destination for easy hiking, wildflower and butterfly sightseeing, workshops, and nature education for kids. I visited this park for Birch Bark Basket Workshop , and LOVED it. I also wandered in the park, visited the nature center, and checked out the prairie. All highly recommended experiences. Park: GPS'ing "9000 Chippewa Rd, Brecksville" will direct you right to the large parking lot by the Harriet Keeler Memorial Picnic Area. The picnic area has a lodge covered gazebo and a very lively playground. Take the path to your right to discover Brecksville Nature Center and Trailside Program Center. Both buildings are newly updated and clearly labeled. The Nature Center offers a sensory inclusive location for all ages. Inside the nature center you'll find creatures (frogs, bugs, and snakes), a cozy bird watching window, a kids play area, and scavenger hunts for the kids. There is a scenic Tallgrass Prairie with tall grass, plants, and beautiful wildflowers. I did not wander deep into the park, but noticed that hiking paths are flat, and easy to navigate. Park maps are available online and right by the parking lot. You can also find a folded map in the Nature Center. While the park is vast, I didn't have any issues with navigation. That's coming from someone who can get lost anywhere. Service: I interacted with a few park employees and volunteers over the phone and during my visit. Everyone was very friendly, patient with me during registration, and workshop. It's definitely the friendliest Metropark! Workshops/Events: Brecksville Reservation (and other Metroparks) host really fun nature-related programs for all ages. I'm surprised that more people haven't yet discovered these programs. Some programs are free, others have low cost. Look for programs online or grab flyers at the Nature Center. The next most anticipated event at the Brecksville Reservation is FallFest: 18th Century Festival. It's a free event with folk music, American Revolution flair, cider, and more! My recent visit was to partake in the Birch Bark Basket Workshop at the Trailside Program Center. The center is very minimalistic and is used for programming. It's spacious and comfortable to craft in. All attendees had so much fun! We made our own baskets from birch bark, learned about the many uses and types of birch, and interacted with each other. I loved my experience and plan to make more birch tree crafts at home! I highly recommend visiting the Brecksville Reservation. You'll love the vastness if you're a hiker. You'll enjoy the easy hiking trails and the predominance of wildflowers if you're a wanderer. Your kids will enjoy the playground, the Nature Center, and being in nature. The park feels suitable for all to enjoy. I can't wait until my next visit in the fall to watch gorgeous foliage.

Brandywine Falls located in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is one of my favorite places to hike…read more The Brandywine Falls area is easy to access, the main parking lot is located on Brandywine Road and is next to the falls themselves. There is a bathroom and water fountain here, so it is a nice stop on the bike and hike trail which passes by the falls. The falls is the tallest, one of the largest and most visited falls in Ohio, it is also one of the highlights of the National Park. The park has created a boardwalk that allows you to go into the gorge and get some great views of the falls. The boardwalk does have some steep stairs and you should be careful on your way down and back up. The falls is very picturesque and will give you different looks depending on the amount of water in the stream, the time of the year and the time of day. While the falls are great I really enjoy the hikes that are available in connection with the falls. The hikes take you down the gorge and there is a bridge that allows you to cross the stream and come back up the other side. The South side hike is a bit away from the stream and is mainly through the woods on hard dirt trails; there is a bit of ups and downs including some stairs and stream crossings on bridges. The North side trail is along the river and gorge and is steeper and can be a bit of a scramble. The total loop is about 1 1/2 miles with a nice bit of vertical for its length. You can also do longer hikes to the Stanford House or the Boston Mills visitor center. One of the things I enjoy is seeing the falls and the gorge in different seasons. During the summer the lot is usually full during most of the day, the gorge offers a rather cool and shady area when the day is hot. Fall has the changing leaves and cooler temperatures. Winter creates a whole different look. Finally, spring gives you the rushing stream and the transition from winter to summer. If you haven't been to Brandywine Falls you need to plan a visit, if you haven't been there recently it is well worth a return visit.

I love visiting this part of the CVNP. The parking lot here is usually pretty full, but I can…read moreusually find a place to park. There are bathrooms located here as well. This waterfall is impressive for being in Ohio and it attracts many people to it. If you are able to do stairs, I recommend checking it out. It's a short walk from the parking lot. The entrance is easily seen from the parking lot. The ramp/stairs (wood) can be slippery due to the weather, so be careful. The rock formation hangs slightly over as well. You are also able to hike the border too. It's a very nice area. I definitely recommend checking it out just be mindful and keep it clean. Respect the area.

Once, Horseshoe Pond belonged to a man who built a fine home on its shores. Now, decades later, it…read morebelongs to me. Oh, and you, too. It belongs to everyone, now that it is a part of the Cuyahoga National Park. What a glorious setting: sitting high above the valley, above the quarries where the canal stones were hewn, nearly two centuries ago. Surrounded by trees, but with a few large, grassy areas carved out it is perfect for hiking, picnics, bird-watching, fishing. Barred owls sit in the pines, small-mouth bass and bluegill rise to a #18 Parachute Adams and a hiking trail connects you with the rest of the park. I can stand at the south-east edge, casting into the algae-covered waters, and imagine I am high in the Rockies, or perhaps at a private preserve in Scotland. Yet another fine and free benefit afforded by this, our great democracy.