Hiking Through Forest City: The Other Side of Cleveland
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Maybe you’ve seen Cleveland’s modern skyline along Lake Erie’s shores, visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, or toured the dozen museums and cultural exhibits in University Circle. The next time you head to C-town, take the path less traveled, and trek the miles of trails through Cleveland’s preserved wilderness reservations.
Image via Flickr by ifmuth
After settling in at a hotel near the Cleveland airport, head 10 minutes away to the nearby Rocky River Reservation. Just 15 miles from the bustling downtown city center, discover another world, a refuge of peace in the acres of wilderness. In a state dominated by flat farmland, you’ll be surprised to see the shale cliffs towering above the sycamores and willow trees. Bring your binoculars for a glimpse of numerous bird species and other wildlife. During your hike, watch the terrain change from cliff top to river, wetland forest to ponds. Learn about the historic American Indian earthworks on your visit to the Nature Center.
In these reservations, meandering paved pathways give way to dirt trails over boulders along the river. Afterwards, take a break at the visitor center with its indoor kids’ playroom and treehouse, educational exhibits, and gift shops.
Make a day or weekend trip of the Ohio and Erie Canal towpath, a route once used from 1827 to 1913. On Scranton Road, in the Cleveland Flats area, you’ll find one of the newest sections of trail, opened in July of 2014. At the Cuyohoga River pier, glimpse ships docked from ports across the world. Eventually, this section will hook up to the rest of the Towpath, making it more than 100 miles, but for now, the 84-mile journey officially starts at Harvard Road. Cross into the Cuyahoga Valley National Park via two cable bridges as you wind toward the iconic locks of yesteryear and the 63-foot Brandywine Falls.
No matter the season, prepare to be stunned by the natural beauty. In the fall, bike through the crunching leaves and breathtaking fall foliage lining the centuries-old trail where mules once pulled barges. In the stark bleakness of the winter landscape, you might catch a glimpse of clusters of deer or scurrying wildlife. Bring your snowshoes or cross-country skis for an afternoon of brisk exercise through the frosty air.
If you’re biking or back-packing from Cleveland, book a hotel halfway through the 84-mile journey near Akron or Canton, using a price comparison on Hipmunk. Visit nearby Old Portage and Cascade “staircase” locks near the Mustill Store Visitor Center, restored to its original glory of the 1850s. When the trail switches to Tuscarawas River, you’ll find a canal freight barge replica, St. Helena III, which provides 45-minute rides to and from the Lock 4 Park. Near the end of the trail stands Revolutionary War-era Fort Laurens State Memorial and the Tomb to the Unknown Patriot.
As you start your journey back toward Cleveland, you’ll travel back through history, past rivers and waterfalls to Forest City. This may be the lesser known Cleveland, but finding the path less traveled will “make all the difference.”
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What a coincidence, we were over at Cuyahoga Valley National Park this past weekend.
For those interested there is a scenic railroad that runs through much of it. If you get tired walking or biking, you can catch a train – even load your bike. This past weekend they were running a steam locomotive, that was interesting.