Penitentiary Glen Stairs Into The Gorge

I haven’t had much time to write lately, but have had plenty of time to take pictures. Yesterday we visited Penitentiary Glen in Kirtland Ohio, part of the Lake County Metroparks. The weather was pleasant and the temps were perfect for a walk down – and then up – the long stairway into the gorge. I counted about 135 steps. The stairway is moderately steep but very wide, so the walk down was comfortable. Just remember if you walk down, you have to walk back up, which can be difficult if you’re not in the best of shape. The trail ends below with a very small overlook to the stream below. Walking any further outside the overlook is restricted and can only be done in a pre-scheduled guided hike. Here are a few photos of the stairs.

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Girdled Road Reservation Suspension Bridge

Temperatures are unseasonably warm for February – it was already 74 degrees by noon here in Northeast Ohio. We decided to visit the Girdled Road Reservation, part of Lake Metroparks, and check out the suspension walking bridge over Big Creek. The hike to the bridge is a little over a half mile from the parking lot, and one segment is down a steep trail. Walking down is not a big problem, but be prepared for the steep walk back up! Thankfully, I bring along my husband who can assist in carrying the heavy camera gear when coming back up the steep trail.

I also didn’t brave the walk over the suspension bridge. It’s only a little over a year old so it is in tip-top shape, but the wobbly bridge deck can pose a problem for those prone to motion sickness (like me) or don’t have a steady gait. My husband did walk out a short way. While I was taking pictures, a runner ran over the bridge at full speed and that bridge deck was moving up and down like crazy. I am surprised the runner kept his balance! Still, the bridge allows for access across the river and to more trails throughout this huge park.

Here are a few photos of the bridge!

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Fall Color Arrives in Northeast Ohio

 The beautiful colors of autumn have arrived here in northeast Ohio. The color is not as noticeable at ground level as it is when the viewed from above the treetops. At Chapin Forest, part of the Lake Metroparks, you CAN rise above the treetops. There is a trail (paved, but steep at first) which leads to a fantastic overlook with views of Lake and Cuyahoga Counties. On a clear day, the city of Cleveland can been easily seen in the distance. Bring your binoculars and/or a telephoto lens on your camera to get the best view of the Cleveland skyline. We visited Chapin Forest on the same date last year and the skyline was crisp and clear and I got some great shots of the city. This year, there was some haze in the air, likely from warm temps and rain approaching from the western end of the state, and the photos were fuzzy at best. Still, with the unseasonably warm temps, it was a great day for a hike through the forest to see that wonderful view!  (Click on any image for a larger view.)

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The Lake Erie Bluffs Observation Tower Is Open

The new observation tower has finally opened at Lake Erie Bluffs, part of the Lake Metroparks system. The weather was comfortably cool,  there was a stiff breeze,  and it was sunny - perfect for viewing the surrounding area.  The tower steps are easy to navigate and the top of the tower has plenty of room.   The Fairport Harbor West lighthouse at Mentor Headlands was easily visible. The birds seemed to be hiding today,  but quite a few monarch butterflies were flying around the trails.  Here are a few photos.

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Lake Metroparks: Blair Road & Paine Falls Parks

We visited two small parks in the Lake Metroparks today: The Blair Road Park (Perry, Ohio) and the Paine Falls Park (Leroy, Ohio). Both are small parks yet still enjoyable. The Blair Road park only has room for about 10 cars, and on a Sunday morning, the park was half full with cars, likely for people fishing the nearby Grand River. The trail to the river is short and there is plenty of room to walk along the banks of the Grand River. This walk is best done with hiking shoes/boots, as the area around the river can be muddy after a rain and the terrain can be uneven or rocky in spots. There weren’t many leaves on the trees at this time, but this park likely will be lush and green in a few weeks.

Just a short drive away is Paine Falls Park, which provides a nice view of the lovely falls. There is a stairway to the falls observation deck for easy access. Here are a few photos from today’s visit to both parks.

Shale cliffs along The Grand River

The Grand River

Paine Falls

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A Great Egret at Grand River Landing

Today we visited the Grand River Landing Park in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, part of the Lake Metroparks. The temps were in the upper 60s and going higher so it was perfect for a walk near the river. As we drove into the park, I saw a large white bird standing near the water in a small area away from the river itself. It was a Great Egret.  We quickly parked the car and hoped the bird would stay put until we could get nearer for a better view.  As we walked closer,  it flew up into a nearby tree and posed for several minutes and then flew off to the other side of the river.  Even though we were still far away, we were likely still too close for comfort for that huge bird!   Here are a few photos from the park, including one of that lovely bird.

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Fall at Chapin Forest in the Lake Metroparks

The fall color is starting to peak, and the weather was dry (but cool),  so it was a perfect time to take a short hike through the Chapin Forest in Kirtland Ohio, part of the Lake County Metroparks. Here are two photos taken at the overlook, looking west toward the city of Cleveland, Ohio.

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Chapin Forest Fall Colors

We spent some time today hiking in the Chapin Forest Reservation in Kirtland, Ohio, part of the Lake County Metroparks. The leaves were still fairly green on the Lucky Stone trail, but there were splashed of oranges, yellow and reds on the Quarry Pond Trail. The fall colors at the scenic overlook, off the Lucky Stone trail, did not disappoint! There was some patchy fog and haze, so the Cleveland skyline, less than 20 miles away, was only partly visible; not the best conditions for pictures. Here are a few others from the trail and the overlook. (Click on any photo to open the gallery.)

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