Cleveland isn’t exactly the place most people think of when they think of Fall. Maybe it’s our Rust Belt history combined with our own burning river past. Thankfully, agencies like the EPA have really helped clean up or waterways. The Cleveland Metroparks, along with some national parks services and even local cities have done an amazing job in really giving The greater Cleveland area some AMAZING places to enjoy the fall colors while out on the run.
Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation
The Rocky River Reservarion of the Cleveland Metroparks truly has something to offer every type of runner. Following the Rocky River from Lake Erie around Cleveland Hopkins Airport and down to Berea, this reservation is full of paved bike paths and dirt trails alike. The accessibility of this park is unlike any others around the city, making it a real treat to those that live near it.
Beginner runners will love the paved paths, which can easily be ramped up by running up the many roadways and sidewalks that dive from the surrounding cities into thickly wooded river valley. Trailheads will love the area surrounding the Nature Center which has lots of dirt trails that climb up and down over hills and even a steep staircase that gives some of the best views of the Rocky River while getting that heart rate up.
Despite being a lesser known national park, at least nationwide, this is still one of the most visited parks in the US. It can be a little tough to access but offers everything. With some very technical and hilly sections off of Truxell Road, winding in and around some rocky ledges, and some very flat and easy trails, following the historic Towpath, it has something for every skill level all year long.
This valley is home to many races, including the Burning River 100, which is a better known 100 mile race that occurs each July. Fall is amazing here given the amount of foliage that changes color and will never dissapoint. Some of my favorite areas also include, Kendall Lake, the Ledges, the Towpath, the ski areas and the Camp Manatoc Boy Scout Camp, which is only open to the public on special occasions.
Here are some other fun places to plan your runs through the valley.
Fairhill Road Rockefeller Park/Ambler Park/Shaker Lakes
These obscure and small parks are located in the heart of the near east side of Cleveland, mostly between Fairhill Road and N. Park Boulevard. They are small and very hidden, yet offers some amazingly technical and hilly single track trails. The park has some amazing views of land that use to be here before development, and seems to have somehow escaped time. This park is even home to a tough 50k, which makes it that much cooler, despite it being relatively unknown.
Cleveland Metroparks Brecksville Reservation
I now consider this my home course. Having moved to Brecskville in part because of the massive parks system that butts up to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, giving me total access to run all the trails I can tolerate. While smaller than the valley, it offers a ton of trails with one even called My Mountain, that overlooks the Chippewa creek.
The trails here offer a ton of wilderness like feel, while always being fairly close to place you can go to for safety, or an Uber pickup in case your lost or dead tired of running. The hills here can really build a runner’s endurance and simulates some of the courses you’ll see in more mountainous regions, albeit without the elevation.
Cleveland Metroparks North Chagrin Reservation
This large Metropark is home to the famed Squire’s Castle, a 19th century castle style home, which is the starting point of the Burning River 100. This unique place is a real treat to the east side of Cleveland and it’s nearby suburbs and a great place to see something you won’t see anywhere else in Ohio.
With views of waterfalls, bridle trails and even paved path, this is a quintessential place to log some miles while tree gazing. Being so close to the mess that is 271, this reservation offers an amazing reprieve with every amenity the Metroparks offer, sans a beach.
This southern park has a lot of rolling hills and aggressive trails that job across ledges, and is not for the faint of heart. It’s easy to get lost here, but worth the drive and hike to really be one with nature while pushing yourself to the max.
Home of the buzzards, and a rare wintery 100k race, the trails here are great for those train for trail marathons or ultra marathons. Despite being in sleepy Medina county, don’t sleep on the beauty of this park with its large lake and sceneic overlooks.
This far east park system, which lies almost in Painesville, offers a lot of nicely groomed trails that provide quite a few rolling hills. This parks butts up to a few other parks and his home to a very unique bridge, that’s is amazingly fun to run across.
Trails here are clearly surround by wetlands and dive into the woods leaving a great feeling of solitude, this far our from the "big city". Despite how far this park is for most people, it’s a great place to plan a long run with a friend and has a few covered areas where you can plan in your own aid stations or a sit down lunch on a long run. Wildlife can abound out here, so who knows what you will run into!
This Metropark is much larger than most people realize at first. Follow the southern parts of the Rocky River, this winding park has a lot of great river views with paved paths surrounded by wetlands. Being easily accessible to many densely populated suburbs, this park is a big draw for many West siders.
Most of this park is fairly flat and great for runners who really want an easy place to stretch their legs and go meander without the worries of getting lost or tackling big climbs. An ideal place for beginning runners, or those who just want a quick run through the park to break up the hustle and bustle of everyday living.
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