The Most Scenic Hiking Trails Near Cleveland, OH

June 14th, 2022 by

Northeast Ohio is a terrific destination for outdoor adventures, like hiking. This activity is excellent for nature lovers of all fitness levels, from beginners to expert backpackers. So whether you call the Forest City home or are just visiting the area, use our guide to explore the most scenic trails near Cleveland.

Mill Stream Run Reservation

The Cleveland Metropark system provides ample opportunities for outdoor recreation, including hiking. Officials provide numerous trails across the city’s 18 neighborhood parks, encompassing 24,000 acres. One of our favorites is Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville.

The staff at Mill Stream Run offers locals a variety of guided hikes. In one past event, the Interurban Railway History, hikers learned about the importance of this mode of transportation and saw ruins of the old tracks on this easy, mile-long excursion. You can also join staff for a leisurely 2-mile walk searching for wildflowers and other seasonal happenings with the Mid-week Meander.

Sign up for the Metropark’s 2022 Trail Challenge and discover a few new trails around the city. You can even earn awards along the way. You’ll improve your health while discovering the wonders of nature. Complete ten routes and earn a sticker, or be one of the first 250 residents to hike 20 Metropark trails and get a one-of-a-kind Trail Challenge prize. Sign-up and find the routes online. Remember to record your finished hikes by December 31, 2022.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

The Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers hikers more than 125 miles of trails. These paths range from beginner-friendly to more challenging. You’ll pass through the park’s various habitats as you travel along, including woodlands, wetlands, and open fields. You may encounter natural obstacles like streams with log bridges, or you can stick to developed ways like the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail.

Discover the heart of Cuyahoga Valley with a stroll down the Towpath Trail. The path features a restored section of the canal’s original towpath. You can walk the same route that mules trod as they pulled boats loaded with goods and passengers along the waterway. There are many attractions at the park, including the towering Brandywine Falls. The Brandywine Gorge Loop circles the creek’s deep ravine and provides a dramatic view of the waterfall. You can also see this natural wonder off the Buckeye Trail.

Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve

In 1979, the 88 acres now known as Cleveland’s Lakefront Nature Preserve contained the dredge that workers excavated from the Cuyahoga River. Today, the park’s scenic location on Lake Erie makes it an outstanding destination for a hike. So, stroll down a lakefront trail for a quintessential Cleveland hiking experience. It’s a fantastic option for every skill level.

Enjoy the waterfront in this well-maintained urban green space with its 2.8-mile loop trail. The beautiful, forest-lined pathways provide hikers with various landscapes to experience. You’ll catch a glimpse of the city’s skyline and the Great Lake as you wander around the park’s small peninsula. While the Lakefront is a popular spot for many residents, you can still enjoy some peaceful solitude along this dirt path. You may even spot a Bald Eagle fishing for dinner just offshore.

Garfield Park Reservation

Head to the wetland habitat at Garfield Park Reservation the next time you’re in the mood for a hike. It’s located on Broadway Avenue in Garfield Heights and offers walking trails, bird-watching, picnic areas, and a nature center.

The city of Cleveland purchased several farmlands in 1894 as a site for a new south-side park. Officials opened the community space a year later and called it Newburg Park. Today, the park’s Garfield Pond Restoration project provides programming for local youth, like fishing, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding, plus improvements to the reservation’s trails.

This treasured urban oasis has withstood the test of time. Its former lake beds now provide abundant green areas for native wildlife to roam, and hikers can still see the remnants of stone bridges and dams that dot the landscape. Hop on Garfield Park’s 2-mile loop from the Iron Spring picnic area through this historic park. You’ll wander past the pond and through these rich, deep woodlands that are home to a host of songbirds.

Bedford Reservation

The forested Bedford Recreation area features loads of appealing attractions for hikers. It offers over 2,200 acres, walking paths, a creek and a deep gorge for exploring picnic sites, and the Shawnee Hills golf course. It’s one of the best places for outdoor enthusiasts to go when visiting Cleveland.

Located off Egbert Road in Bedford, the reservation’s picturesque vistas, waterfalls, mature trees, and abundant wildflowers make it a must-hike destination near Cleveland. This site offers a continuous forest of ancient trees because its rugged terrain prevents logging.

Tinker’s Creek is the Cuyahoga River’s largest tributary. Take a scenic hike up to the overlook along Gorge Parkway. This spectacular spot provides stunning water views and colorful foliage in the fall.

Brecksville Reservation

Brecksville Reservation is Ohio’s largest urban park at 3,026-acres. It’s home to Chippewa Creek and a section of the 1,444-mile Buckeye Trail. Brecksville offers visitors a diverse ecosystem of fields, gorges, and forested areas to explore with scenic overlooks and historical landmarks.

The Buckeye Trail passes through many small towns, making this excursion a trip through Ohio’s past as much as an outdoor adventure. You can find the trail’s northern terminus at Headlands Beach State Park in Mentor, just east of Cleveland, if you want to tackle the entire route. One branch of the trail runs south along the state’s eastern border while the other heads west to Toledo, making a loop that could take up to four months to traverse through.

Reach Out to North Coast Auto Mall of Cleveland

Well, there you go. North Coast Auto Mall shared this guide of Cleveland’s most scenic hiking trails with you. What do you think of our picks?  Let us know if we missed your favorite outdoor destination. Send us a note and let us know. We want to add your suggestions to our following guide.

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