Hiking Rocky River Reservation | Cleveland Metroparks | Rocky River, OH

Rocky River Reservation, in Rocky River, OH, is part of the Cleveland Metroparks system. As the reservation name suggests, the park runs along the Rocky River, from the river mouth at Lake Erie to Berea Falls, at its southernmost point.
This hike (3.8 mi.) centers around South section of the reservation, traversing the trails surrounding the park's Nature Center. It begins with a climb up the 150 stairs to the summit of Fort Hill, which provides a scenic view of the river and of one of the many steep shale cliffs along the river bank. It then follows the Fort Hill Loop Trail until it intersects with the West Channel Loop Trail.
The West Channel Loop follows alongside several marshy areas that have formed in the river basin. It's a perfect spot to take in a diversity of flora and wildlife.
The final leg of the hike begins when the West Channel Loop Trail intersects with the Mount Pleasant Trail, which climbs approx. 200 feet to the summit of Mount Pleasant and loops around the ridge. After that, it's just a short hike back to the Nature Center.
Our final stop before leaving the reservation was at an overlook, to take in the Berea Falls.
For more information about Rocky River Reservation, visit Cleveland Metroparks site: clevelandmetro...
For a map (pdf) of the reservation, courtesy of Cleveland Metroparks, visit: clevelandmetro...
Trailhead Location and Hike Route, via Google Maps: goo.gl/maps/ba...

[@EvangelistAnitaMartirRivera]

Thanks for this!

[@nothing-b2n]

Beautiful place,,

[@gabriel-contentwriter5578]

I grew up in Bay Village and hiked these trails all the time! Great memories

[@Joe-kb1sm]

Same. I grew up in North Olmsted. I could ride my bycycle down Cedar point road and Ruple road. My brothers and I would push cars through the river ford at little Cedar point picnic area during high water.

[@NKBobcat]

I moved to Cleveland in 2004 and lived there until my wife and I moved to Florida in 2009. The biggest and most pleasant surpise were the beautiful metro parks in Cleveland. You can be driving down a city street and take a left and you are in the most lush forest with rivers, hills, trees, picnic areas and sports fields. I loved Cleveland and always tell peopl ehow beautiful it is.

[@NortheastOhioHikesandBikes]

It's definitely an underrated area. Thanks for the comment!

[@Joe-kb1sm]

You didn't go past my survival shelter, it's off the farthest west trail under Columbia road. The rabbit trail. A few years ago the old Barton rd. Church was moved to the Frostville Museum. I went to pre school there 60 years ago. I still remember the slag in the parking lot. Shiney black rocks.

[@NortheastOhioHikesandBikes]

We'll have to look for it the next time we're there.

[@shopsshire9282]

Ah, I remember when the stairs of fort Hill were just railroad ties in the hillside.

[@AudiophileTubes]

Love the RRR, but now with this heinous double murder that just took place, with no one in custody, this is a very dangerous place to hike! It breaks my heart not being able to take my kid hiking there anymore, until they find the killer(s)!

[@NortheastOhioHikesandBikes]

Wow, I hadn't heard about the murder until you mentioned it and just looked it up. So very sad. I hope they catch whoever was behind it soon.

[@michaelclanton1152]

@@NortheastOhioHikesandBikes The locations in the video are miles from the crime scene [Lorain rd ] Be safe this could happen anywhere.I enjoy walking with my Cane Corso dog every week.Thank you to the park system.