Chagrin River Park050

The Chagrin River runs wide through the 237-acre Chagrin River Park. The river, less than two miles south of its final destination (Lake Erie), provides a splashy diversion in the park, with wading and fishing areas on both sides of the water and a foot bridge connecting park land on both east and west banks.

A playground satisfies active little ones; older kids and grown-ups will enjoy the sand volleyball court.

If bird watching is your thing, head to the seasonal wetlands on the park's north side where you'll have a wide variety to spy.

Several short, easy hiking trails offer more to see: expect to spot a deer or two in the woods (if not right on the path!) and try to identify the many woodland wildflowers along the loop trail.

Trail surfaces are hard-packed enough to allow easy passage for most strollers.

The trails are flat and short (about three miles in all) so most kids can hike at least one of the paths and go home to say, "I hiked the WHOLE thing!" While the playground and volleyball courts are completely exposed, the hiking trails are almost completely shaded (when trees are in full leaf).

Note: fishing is allowed in the Chagrin River, but, as several signs explain, visitors are warned to limit the number of fish they eat from Ohio waterways.

Amenities include restrooms, water, public phone, reserveable shelters, a public canoe launch, a playground, a sledding hill, and volleyball courts.

After you visit...For more hiking, head north on Route 2 to Mentor Lagoons, about a fifteen-minute drive from here.