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.

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.

Although we did not go inside the nature center we did walk the trails. I feel it's a great walk…read more So much to see and the terrain was ever changing and can be a great workout. Walking in snow was fun and the views were amazing. Really nice picture opportunities. My favorite images being the trees that have roots exposed. The different patterns and shading make the pictures interesting.

This past weekend my boyfriend and I made the trip to the Brecksville Nature Center to feed…read morechickadees. It was honestly one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I grew up on a large piece of land and always loved watching the small creatures who lived near my house. I feed the animals who live in my backyard now, and I love watching various forms of wildlife frolic in my trees. I've always jokingly said that it would be cool to be able to feed birds from my hand (Cinderella style) but I never knew that would be actually possible. It's a pretty simple process. You go into the nature center, they give you sunflower seeds, and then you patiently and quietly wait with your hand outstretched and full of seeds. I was skeptical at first, but...the chickadees and other birds were quick to scope me out. They'd fly close enough to look at me, briefly make eye contact, and then swoop in for some food. They are so light! And beautiful! And amazingly brave, I think. I know I had a hand full of food, but...I'm a heck of a lot bigger than a chickadee. I had about a dozen birds land on me while I was outside. (and I wasn't out there very long - it was coooollllldd) The highlight was having a bird land on my head! This is a super fun (and free) wintertime thing to do. Chickadee feeding is held from late December through February (weather permitting). It's such a cool experience and totally worth the drive, no matter where you live. (and it's especially fun for the little ones! they can warm up inside by the fire afterwards)

We stopped here to do some work on photo development at one of their picnic benches. It was a nice…read morequiet spot with some trails.

So pretty. Love the sound of the waterfalls. The upper path is cool too with a stone stairway…read morethat's enclosed on both sides. It can get muddy since it's not paved. Hike back up is worse than the hike down especially after the stone cavern. Moderate difficulty.

We took the trail down to the dam, which it turns out they are actually preparing to remove. There…read moreis also a nearby little cave/recess which we hiked up to see. It's very pleasant in the trees. Restroom facilities and a parking lot are available near the trailhead.

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.

very poorly marked trails. multiple lost people on the trail today. the carvings were coolread more

This is a beautiful park with spectacular carvings! Some of the carvings just make you wonder, how…read morelong did this take to make? There are very cool and interesting rock formations, overall 10/10 (5.0 stars) (My review from Google Map)

Interesting park for kiddos! All wooden playsets & things!…read more They have a wooden tractor (why we went there) my son loved it! A big tire swing. A turf hill you can slide or roll down. A climbing net going back up that hill. & a slide going down that same hill. Along with steps, mommas lol Picnic tables under a cool roof. Dog walking park also! Saw lots of people walking their dogs. Looks like a lot of pretty trails, but we didn't experience those. All play areas are visible from closest picnic area, except the bottom of the turf slide hill. 4 stars due to it being on the smaller side, but my kids really enjoyed it. Mostly stayed at the turf hill though & the tractor. Wouldn't make a long trip here as kiddos might get bored after awhile. But def nice if close for picnics, short play, or dog walks!

Amazing park! Has a picnic area that's covered, very dog friendly. Has paved trails but the nature…read moretrails are the main attraction. (My review from Google Map)