Visit Cleveland, Ohio for Great Outdoor Adventures

The Cleveland Metroparks are referred to affectionately as the "Emerald Necklace". This area is a network of sixteen reservations across 21,000 acres. You'll find hundreds of miles of walking, bicycle, and horse trails. There are multiple parks, picnic areas, nature education centers, golf courses, and abundant fishing holes. Each area features a unique part of Ohio history. You might have to keep coming back for a long time so you don't miss anything.

Big Creek Reservation

The highlight of this reservation is Lake Isaac, which is classified as a "glacial pothole" created thousand of years ago. The lake is a waterfowl refuge, especially for migrant waterfowl. It is one of the most active wildlife corridors in Cuyahoga County. You might get lucky enough to see foxes, mink, deer, opossum, or a countless number other animals that call this place home.

Brecksville Reservation

Brecksville Reservation is a study of contrasts. The reservation is deeply cut by seven distinct gorges, which have a wide variety of soil and sunlight conditions. This fosters the growth of rare, unusual and endangered plants. Chippewa Creek, in the northern section of the reservation, flows through a remarkable gorge that was left behind by the glaciers that once covered this area. You will also find Squire Rich Home & Museum, managed by the Brecksville Historical Society, and Sleepy Hollow Golf Course all located within this reservation.

Euclid Creek Reservation

Euclid Creek runs the length of this reservation named after the creek. It features wooded hillsides where the rare rock chestnut oak grows. The southern portion of the reservation is the site of a "ghost town." The village of Bluestone flourished in the late 1800s and early 1900s when its populace quarried the blue-gray siltstone for use in building sidewalks and other construction. Today, the only remaining exposure of bluestone is in Quarry Picnic Area.

Garfield Park Reservation

Garfield Park Reservation features picnic areas, a marsh, trails, and a nature center. The history of Garfield Park dates back almost a century. It was officially opened in 1895, as Newburg Park. Much of the beautiful stonework still evident in the reservation today dates from the original project.

Hinckley Reservation

Hinckley Reservation is at the southerly most point of the Metroparks. This reservation is the site of the nationally known annual return of the buzzards. The 90-acre Hinckley Lake dominates the reservation. Hinckley Lake is enjoyed year round with fishing, ice fishing, and skaters during the freezing seasons. Another attraction of the reservation is Whipp's Ledges, with elevations rising 350 feet above Hinckley Lake and formed more than 250 million years ago.

Mill Stream Run

The Mill Stream Run features Baldwin and Wallace Lakes. Artifacts have been found in the reservation that indicates Native American tribes frequented this area over 8,000 years ago. The Mill Stream Run Reservation also has a number of trails and picnic areas for visitors to enjoy year round, including the Chalet with its twin toboggan chutes for winter thrills, summer reserved picnicking and fall hayrides.

North Chagrin Reservation

North Chagrin Reservation is a special combination of outdoor recreation areas and wildlife sanctuaries. An interesting feature of the reservation is Squire's Castle. F.B. Squire built the gatehouse at the turn of the century. He intended to continue building a country estate, but left the project after the death of his wife. Many claim his wife died in the gatehouse.

The Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation

The Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation follows a portion of its namesake, the historic 309-mile Ohio and Erie Canal. Here you'll find picnicking, hiking trails, a 7.2-mile all-purpose trail, and unique natural and cultural heritage interpretive graphics are also features of the reservation.

Rocky River Reservation

Rocky River Reservation is strongly influenced by the Rocky River. Massive shale cliffs rise above the willows, sycamores and cottonwoods, and many trails wind through the valley's deep floodplain forests, meadows and wildflowers. The Rocky River Valley was settled early in this area's history and reflects many of the sights common to the first settlers. Frostville Museum, an affiliate of Cleveland Metroparks, illustrates how the 1800s settlers lived and worked in the Rocky River Valley.

South Chagrin Reservation

The Chagrin River is a designated Scenic River in July 1979. It flows through the eastern edge of South Chagrin Reservation. This reservation is home to the outdoor sculpture known as "squaw rock" which was carved by artist and blacksmith Henry Church in 1885. During his life the American Indians knew only hardship at the hands of white settlers. Henry Church was compelled to tell the story of the American Indians. He called this work "The rape of the Indians by the white man." In this giant chunk of sandstone he carved a quiver of arrows (with the four phases of the moon), a giant serpent, an eagle, a woman with a shell behind her (reminiscent of Botticelli's Venus), a dog, skeleton, and a baby in a papoose. On the river side of the rock, you can find images of tall ships, a frontiersman with an axe, a log cabin, and the first capital building in Washington D.C.