The best hike for you is the one you want to do, and that you can do, now.
It may be different for every person, every day, depending on where you’ll be, whom you’ll be hiking with and how much time you have available.
That’s why “60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Cleveland” is useful. Hiking destinations are listed based on location, elevation, scenery, trail surface and accessibility and length. It makes fitting hiking into your schedule — and into the rest of your life — much easier.
I’m a hiking guide author, and people often ask me “What are the best hikes in Northeast Ohio?” Below is my list of five hikes that are best for various circumstances. Find one near you (or near your workplace, or by a friend’s house or a favorite restaurant) that suits you and hit the trail.
BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK — Blue Hen Falls
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
•
Past the pretty and picturesque falls (and the blue blazes of the Buckeye Trail) you’ll find a steep descent to Buttermilk Falls — then a good climb back up. Total distance covered is just about 2 miles, but it will feel like a real “getaway.”
Terrain is steep, with loose sand and gravel in places. To hike here, you should be surefooted, and certain that your knees can handle the steep trail.
BEST BET FOR UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER — F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm
Summit County
•
The visitor center (closed most Mondays) is as green and inviting as an indoor space can be, so if you have a day to get outside but the weather isn’t cooperating, you’ll find your outdoor fix here. Even when the park’s three hiking trails are too wet to enjoy, you might still be able to traverse the paved paths that wander through an herb garden and arboretum.
SHADY, WITH A SWEEPING, STUNNING VIEW — Hach-Otis State Nature Preserve
Lake County
•
If you’re not afraid of heights, you’ll love this trail that gets really close to the edge of the sandy cliffs overlooking the Chagrin River about 150 feet below. Bonus: Hach-Otis is a bird sanctuary where you’re likely to see and hear species you won’t find in many other Northeast Ohio parks.
Terrain is mostly flat, save for one climb in the woods. You can enjoy the view from on high without taking the woodland trail.
MAKE THE GRANDKIDS’ DAY — HUDSON SPRINGS PARK
Summit County
•
This city park boasts fishing, boating, a rolling 2-mile loop trail for pedestrians and cyclists, disc golf and a fantastic playground that includes a hedge maze. In short, whether toddlers or teens, kids will find something to do here.
Terrain is crushed limestone, easy on joints and conducive to strollers and bikes. It has a couple of small hills — just enough to get your heart rate up.
BEST PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS — West Side Market and Merwin’s Wharf or Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park
Cuyahoga County or Lake County
•
If it’s Lake Erie they want to see, take your guests to Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park, where (for a small entry fee) they can tour a lighthouse, enjoy the long view of our Great Lake and then swim, paddleboard or kayak in it. Visit lakemetroparks.com or call 440-639-9972.
For a taste of Cleveland — and an overview of the city’s history — try an urban hike. It’s an easy stroll on sidewalks from Merwin’s Wharf (on the Cuyahoga River) to the iconic West Side Market, and you can eat at either one.
