Trees are dropping their leaves, and many birds have flown south, but waning mahogany and brown leaves still cling to branches. The sky is often bright blue. When we walk in the woods, we hear and feel the crunch of yellow and brown leaves below our feet. The hard-to-describe scent of fall brings memories of childhood camping trips and trick-or-treating. As we transition to winter, our gardens change daily. It’s quieter now.
This year, we’ve explored trails near and far in northeast Ohio. Rocky River Reservation is our “go to” place when we want familiar surroundings. We often drive to Independence or Brecksville to walk on the Towpath along the Cuyahoga River. But on days when we have some extra time, we explore other gems. Here are some of this year’s favorites.
We have fond memories of the Ledges Trail at Virginia Kendall Park because that was where we hiked while living in Kent. Not yet part of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, I remember packing a picnic and blanket, sitting on the big lawn near the shelter, and watching people play ball and throw Frisbees. We both took geology classes at Kent State and were fascinated by the huge rock formations that were heaved this way and that millions of years ago. We still feel awed by the rocky sandstone cliffs and the parts of the trail that require slowing our strides. Small animals make their homes in icebox cave and other dark apertures that we see while navigating the rocky sloping trail. From the overlook, there’s a beautiful view of the Cuyahoga Valley between Akron and Cleveland, and it makes us feel like we’re part of a big community that shares a fantastic landscape.
We discovered Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve, now part of the Cleveland Metroparks, some years ago, but it’s easy to visit the park just east of Gordon Park on the Lake Erie shore, so we go often. We walk through the new turnstile into a “secret place” created on dredged Cuyahoga River sediments known as Dike 14. The 88-acre site has been preserved for wildlife and nature. The grassy paths take us on a loop from the eastern side where ducks float below us on Lake Erie to the western side of the peninsula where Cleveland’s skyline shines proudly across the water. The interior of the park is forested, and we take a turn into the shrub and wetland habitats where birds nest — over 280 species of birds have been recorded in the park, so we include it on Ohio Birding Trail expeditions. The park is a nice respite from the bustle of everyday responsibilities, and it’s possible to feel alone there.
While staying at a condo at Geneva-on-the-Lake, we took time out to visit Hogsback Nature Preserve in the Lake County Metroparks. It’s a good place for a leisurely walk while paying attention. The land changes often, from meadows to hemlocks forests. The park was named for the narrow ridge of land bounded on two sides by steep valleys made by the Grand River and Mill Creek. The trails include gravel trails, a boardwalk, an overlook deck, and wooden steps that take people down to the floodplain. It was the landscape, rather than what was next to us on the trails, that made me take pictures. For us, Hogsback was a nice break from touring Grand River Valley wineries.
One of our favorite spots is Sandy Ridge Reservation, which is part of the Lorain Metroparks. Bald eagles nest in tall trees surrounding the wetlands, and in the water, sandhill cranes, egrets, herons, ducks and swans float and walk peacefully in their home. The area was originally wetlands that was drained and used as farmland, and after it was purchased by Lorain County Metroparks, the land reverted to wetland. More than 250 species have been spotted since the park opened in 1999. The two-mile trail is a beautiful walk that easily connects us to nature. From the observation mound, we look over a watery landscape speckled with white egrets, and in the forefront, long-legged cranes step gingerly as they hunt. We leave feeling calm.
We’ve been to Brandywine Falls and walked near Brandywine Inn in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park numerous times, but on a summer day, we set out to really see it. We love the way Brandywine Falls tumbles around rocks and into Brandywine Gorge and stood on the overlook platform to feel the rhythm of the water. Then we started walking the sometimes-rough Brandywine Gorge Loop that leads hikers through a deep wooded ravine and up to the Stanford Trail that connects with the Towpath Trail. At times the air felt moist, at times the path required careful footsteps. We allowed ourselves to get lost for a few hours, noticing the trees, the rocks, and imagining how the land was formed. We only decided to figure out where the parking lot was when daylight was waning. And then we told ourselves we would return in the winter, when the falls are icy.
Tinker’s Creek and Bridal Veil Falls, in the Cleveland Metropark’s 2,800-acre Bedford Reservation, had been on my list of places to explore more thoroughly. It doesn’t take long to get to Bridal Veil Falls, which is only a short walk along Deerlick Creek and down steps to an overlook. The falls are gorgeous, even during a drought summer. I love the industrial history— saw and grist mills and an electric power plant have taken advantage of the power of the Great Falls of Tinker’s Creek, a 28-mile tributary of the Cuyahoga River. The deep gorge carved out by the creek is a National Natural Landmark because of its stunning vistas of waterfalls and deep forests. When we returned to our car, we took a drive along the Gorge Parkway and stopped at the scenic overlook, where we felt the largeness of it all.
I have a list of places to visit over the coming months. We’re looking forward to discovering Seiberling Nature Realm in Akron, Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park in Garretsville, Linda Falls Trail in Walton Hills, and Grand River Terraces Preserve in Ashtabula County. Noting that Ohio was just awarded the 2025 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, I think we should clear some time to visit Burr Oak, Deer Creek, Shawnee, Salt Fork, and Hueston Woods State Parks. We are so lucky to have so many preserved natural spaces.