Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Stanford Trailhead to Brandywine Falls (Blog Hike #1096; Golden Staff Hike)

Trails: Stanford and Brandywine Gorge Trails
Hike Location: Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Geographic Location: southwest of Twinsburg, OH (41.27116, -81.55677)
Length: 3.9 miles
Difficulty: 6/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: October 2025
Overview: A lollipop loop to scenic Brandywine Falls.
Park Information: https://www.nps.gov/cuva/index.htm
Hike Route Map: 

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming October 16, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: Southeast of Cleveland, take I-271 to SR 303 (exit 12).  Exit and go east on SR 303.  Drive SR 303 east 1.8 miles to Riverview Road and turn left on Riverview Rd.  Drive Riverview Rd. north 1.6 miles to Boston Mills Road and turn right on Boston Mills Rd.  Drive Boston Mills Rd. east 0.2 miles to Stanford Road and turn left on Stanford Rd.  Stanford Rd. deadends at the large Stanford Trailhead parking area, where this hike begins.

The hike: Located in northeast Ohio in the suburbs southeast of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Valley National Park has the distinction of being Ohio's only national park, and therefore it is sometimes thought of as the best park and hiking destination in Ohio.  Yet Cuyahoga Valley is not your typical national park in several ways.  First, unlike many of the big western national parks that were established in the early 1900s, Cuyahoga Valley's 32,783 acres entered the public domain only in 1974 with the creation of Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area.

            Second, the recreation area earned its promotion to national park status in 2000, making it the first national park that started as a national recreation area.  Finally, the park still has many private inholdings and even entire towns within its boundaries.  As a consequence, you can be inside the park and not even know you are in the park.  Yet for people willing to put up with this park's oddities and suburban location, a fantastic experience awaits.

            Cuyahoga Valley National Park is most famous for 2 things.  First, the park's Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail is a 21-mile hike/bike trail along the Cuyahoga River that uses the old canal towpath.  Second, many of Ohio's most scenic and popular waterfalls are located within the park's boundaries.  I only had time to do 1 hike in this large park, and the hike described here involves both of this park's main attractions.  This hike starts at a trailhead for the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail but heads away from the river to reach Brandywine Falls, which is possibly Ohio's most famous waterfall.

Start of the Stanford Trail

            The Stanford Trailhead parking area was enlarged and relocated in 2025, and I parked and started at the new trailhead.  From the information sign at the southeast corner of the parking lot, head south on the entrance trail, and in only a couple hundred feet intersect a connector trail.  Going right on the connector trail leads to the famous Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail, but our hike turns left to cross the entrance road and head around the old trailhead parking lot beside the Stanford House.  James and George Stanford built this farmhouse in 1843, and it served as the center of the Stanford farm well into the 1900's.  The Stanford Barn stands nearby.

Passing the old trailhead parking area

            Now on the Stanford Trail, you head northeast through the old Stanford farmland, which today is young shrubby forest with only small trees.  At 0.4 miles, the trail crosses a nice stream on a nice wooden bridge.  Next the first of 3 moderate climbs begins; the trail gains about 150 feet of elevation over 0.3 miles.  A couple of broad switchbacks make the grade easier, and the forest on the hillside is a nice mature mixture of oak, hickory, and maple that was showing near-peak leaf color when I hiked here in mid-October.

Crossing a stream

            0.7 miles into the hike, you reach the broad and flat ridgetop.  The trail makes a sweeping left curve on the ridgetop to reach an intersection just past 0.9 miles.  A spur trail to Averill Pond angles left, and you could add on the spur if you wanted a little more distance.  The main Stanford Trail turns right and begins descending on a moderately steep grade via some wooden stairs.

Hiking on the ridgetop

            At 1.2 miles, you reach the east end of the Stanford Trail and its intersection with the Brandywine Gorge Trail, which is the loop portion of this hike.  To get to Brandywine Falls faster, I turned right and used the trail going left as my return route, thus hiking the loop counterclockwise.  The trail climbs out of the gorge via more wooden stairs before joining an old road.

Climbing stairs out of the gorge

            At 1.55 miles, you intersect the trail that leads from the Brandywine Falls parking area to the falls.  Turn left twice to descend several sets of wooden steps and boardwalks that lead to the lower Brandywine Falls overlook.  Brandywine Falls is a 60-65 foot cascade-type waterfall, and it had plenty of water volume even though I came here during a fairly dry period.  2 distinct rock layers can be seen, sandstone on top of shale, and the rocks give this waterfall a dark and stark appearance.  You hiked a decent way to get this view while most people just walk down here from the parking lot, so enjoy the benches that give great waterfall views.

Stairs and boardwalk at Brandywine Falls

Brandywine Falls

            Retrace your steps up the wooden stairs, then turn left to continue the Brandywine Gorge Loop.  Near the top of Brandywine Falls, you reach the former site of Brandywine Village.  The village was established in 1814 when George Wallace built a sawmill here that was powered by the waterfall.  This site was used for industrial purposes as recently as 1937, when the Champion Electric Company manufactured restaurant appliances here.  The concrete block ruins of the most recent building can still be seen.

Champion Electric Company ruins

            Just past 1.8 miles, you reach a paved Bike and Hike Trail.  Turn left to cross Brandywine Creek above the falls, then stay with the paved trail as it curves left away from Brandywine Road.  2 miles into the hike, turn left at a signed intersection to leave the asphalt and continue the Brandywine Gorge Trail.  The trail descends into the gorge on a moderate but rocky track, and some benches offer nice gorge views to the left.  This area is more natural than the touristy waterfall area you passed earlier.

Descending into Brandywine Gorge

Brandywine Creek in Brandywine Gorge

            Just shy of 2.5 miles, the trail curves left and crosses Brandywine Creek on a narrow but nice footbridge.  At 2.7 miles, you close the loop.  Turn right and retrace your steps out the Stanford Trail to return to the parking lot and complete the hike.

Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve (Blog Hike #1095)

Trails: Seven Ponds and Eagle Point Trails
Hike Location: Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve
Geographic Location: northwest of Streetsboro, OH (41.28505, -81.39180)
Length: 2.1 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: October 2025
Overview: A pair of short flat trails featuring many wetlands.
Park Information: https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/tinkers-creek-state-nature-preserve
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming October 30, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From Streetsboro, take SR 303 west 3.4 miles to Stow Road and turn right on Stow Rd.  Drive Stow Rd. north 3 miles to Old Mill Road and turn right on Old Mill Rd.  The signed parking area for Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve is 0.9 miles ahead on the left just after crossing a railroad track.  Park here.

The hike: Known for its numerous naturally occurring wetlands and kettle lakes, the 355-acre Tinkers Creek complex of parks is owned by the State of Ohio but maintained by Summit County through its Metroparks.  Before it became a state park, the park's central area was operated as a private park known as Colonial Spring Gardens.  The state purchased the land in 1966, and the park opened in 1973.

            Today Tinkers Creek State Park and Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve are both managed as part of Summit County's vast 3000-acre Liberty Park.  Tinkers Creek's amenities are limited to just fishing and paddling on the park's pond, an archery range, and a rentable picnic shelter.  For hikers, the state park has only a single short trail, but the state nature preserve has 2 trails, both of which provide excellent views into the wetlands.  This hike uses both of those trails, and thus it features the longest and best hike Tinkers Creek has to offer.

Crosswalk leading to Seven Ponds Trail

            Both trails start at the same parking area, so you could hike either trail first.  I headed south to cross Old Mill Road on the marked crosswalk and hike the longer Seven Ponds Trail first.  True to its name, the Seven Ponds Trail forms a semiloop through a wetland area that contains 7 ponds.  In fact, the Tinkers Creek area has many more than 7 ponds, and this trail provides a good sample of the area.  The wetlands ensure that bugs are quite bad here in the summer, but I had a pleasant bug-free hike on a mild sunny afternoon in mid-October.

Hiking the entrance trail

            The wide entrance trail heads south on what may be an old road with an active railroad track across the preserve boundary to your right.  At 0.2 miles, the trail splits at an unmarked intersection to form its loop.  This hike continues straight and uses the trail going left as our return route, thus heading around the loop counterclockwise.  A few hundred feet later, you reach the first pond on the left.  The fall colors were nearing peak when I hiked here in mid-October, and while a bench beside the tranquil pond looked inviting, I decided it was too early in the hike for a rest.

First pond

            The trail angles left to increase its distance from the railroad track while passing some more ponds.  The terrain in this entire preserve is very flat, and there is no noticeable elevation change on this hike.  0.6 miles into the hike, you reach another trail intersection.  We will eventually turn left to continue the loop, but first turn right to begin a short spur trail to the southernmost point on this hike.

Grassy wet prairie at south end of spur

            The spur trail heads south through some mixed pine and broadleaf forest on a peninsula between 2 wetlands.  Soon the peninsula narrows, and just past 0.8 miles you reach the end of the peninsula, the end of the spur trail, and a viewpoint.  This viewpoint looks southwest across a large grassy wet prairie, and the fall colors of the grasses were a spectacular orange and red when I hiked here.

Canada goose in pond

            Backtrack to the loop, then turn right to continue the loop.  You pass more ponds, one of which had a Canada goose swimming around on my visit.  I was hoping to see a lot of waterfowl on this hike, but I came at the wrong time of day or year: the one goose is all I saw.  At 1.6 miles, you close the loop.  Turn right to retrace your steps back to the parking lot.

View at end of Eagle Point Trail

            The other trail, the Eagle Point Trail, leaves the other/north end of the parking lot.  The Eagle Point Trail is a short 0.15 mile one-way out-and-back, and it leads north through shrubby deciduous forest to a wooden overlook platform.  The platform offers a nice view to the northeast across another large grassy wet prairie similar to the one on the south spur trail.  After enjoying the view, retrace your steps to the parking lot for a second time to complete the hike.

Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park (Blog Hike #1094; Golden Staff Hike)

Trails: Blue, White, and Yellow Trails
Hike Location: Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park
Geographic Location: east of Hiram, OH (41.32858, -81.03866)
Length: 1.3 miles
Difficulty: 7/10 (Moderate/Difficult)
Date Hiked: October 2025
Overview: A skinny loop below, above, and among sandstone ledges passing 2 waterfalls and a glass-bottomed bridge.
Park Information: https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/nelsonkennedy-ledges-state-park
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming September 18, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From Hiram, take SR 305 east 5.6 miles to SR 282 and turn left on SR 282.  The signed parking area for Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park is 1.4 miles ahead on the right.

The hike: Northeast Ohio is famous for its areas of scenic exposed rock known as ledges, but few ledges match the scenery or geologic interest of the Nelson Ledges and the Kennedy Ledges.  Ledges form where softer rocks such as shale get eroded away, thereby leaving exposed the erosion-resistant rocks such as sandstone.  The Nelson and Kennedy Ledges have been a vacation destination for over a century.  The State of Ohio purchased land at Nelson Ledges in 1940 and at adjacent Kennedy Ledges in 1948.  Combining those lands in 1949 formed the 167-acre Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park that we visit today.

            The ledges still form the centerpiece of the park, which is day-use only and features only some picnic shelters and 3 miles of trails for amenities.  Trails at this park are marked by rectangular paint blazes with colors that correspond to the name of the trail.  The hike described here passes the most scenic ledges in the park.  While this hike does not have a lot of length or elevation gain, it features several rugged areas near the ledges that require scrambling over rocks.  Most people can do this hike by proceeding with care, but you should not underestimate the difficulty of this hike.

Crosswalk over SR 282

            Start by using the marked crosswalk to cross SR 282, then climb the wooden stairs and turn left to begin heading south on the Blue Trail.  The initial segment of the Blue Trail uses a narrow strip of woods between heavily-trafficked SR 282 downhill to the left and the first ledge uphill to the right.  A careful examination of the ledges reveals that they are composed of 2 distinct layers: pebbly Sharon conglomerate sandstone atop smoother Meadville shale.  The shale is only above ground in a few places because erosion of the shale was the key to forming the ledges.

The Nelson Ledges

A crevice in the ledge

            As you continue south, you have to negotiate some boulders that have broken off from the ledges in addition to some short steep areas.  Thus, the going is slow.  Some narrow crevices between the ledges add to the scenery.  At 0.25 miles, you round a ledge to reveal a long continuous cliff line uphill to the right.  The forest features some nice hickory, maple, and beech trees, and it is thin enough and open enough to make for good ledge-viewing.

Long continuous cliff line

            0.5 miles into the hike, you climb through a narrow crevice to reach the top of the cliffs; this climb may require you to use your hands in addition to your feet.  Now at the southern tip of our loop, the trail curves sharply right to begin heading back north; the ledges are now downhill to your right.  Although you cannot see the cliffs as nicely from up here, peering down into the crevices gives an interesting view of the ledge area.  The cliff edges are unprotected, so take care where you step while seeking to optimize your view.

Peering down into the crevices

            At 0.8 miles, you reach one of this park's most popular areas: the glass-bottomed bridge over Sylvan Creek Gorge.  Built only in 2025, the glass was very smeared with mud on my visit, thus allowing substantially no view through the bridge floor and making the glass quite slippery.  The end of the bridge does provide a nice view of Minnehaha Falls, and Sylvan Creek Gorge is a scenic crevice in the ledges with or without the bridge.

Glass-bottomed bridge

Minnehaha Falls

            The Blue Trail ends at the bridge.  To continue, pick up the White Trail as it heads north from near the end of the bridge.  The 2 arms of the White Trail come back together in 0.2 miles, so you can use either one.  The White Trail is the least scenic trail in this park: it forms a short flat loop through the woods atop the ledges with no views of any ledges.

            Just past 1 mile, you reach the north end of the White Trail and a major trail intersection.  The trail going straight leads directly downhill back to the parking lot, and the Red Trail going right follows a very steep and rocky route back down to the Blue Trail.  Our hike angles softly left to begin the Yellow Trail, which explores the northern part of this park.

Dwarf's Pass

Cascade Falls

            The Yellow Trail is the most difficult part of this hike, and it descends into a narrow crevice called The Narrows before dropping to pass under a low and narrow natural arch called Dwarf's Pass.  Some short but steep ups and downs bring you to the base of Cascade Falls at 1.2 miles.  The view of this waterfall is blocked by some boulders, and this waterfall is taller but with less water volume than Minnehaha Falls.  The trail curves sharply right at Cascade Falls, and topping one final ridge deposits you on the shoulder of SR 282 at an unmarked road crossing.  Cross the road to return to the parking lot and complete the hike.

Portage Lakes State Park: Shoreline Trail (Blog Hike #1093)

Trail: Shoreline Trail
Hike Location: Portage Lakes State Park
Geographic Location: southwest of Akron, OH (40.96588, -81.54591)
Length: 5 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: October 2025
Overview: A loop hike partly along the shore of Turkeyfoot Lake.
Park Information: https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/portage-lakes-state-park
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming August 28, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: On the southwest side of Akron, take I-277 to SR 93 (exit 2).  Exit and go south on SR 93.  Take SR 93 south 4.6 miles to the signed state park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, then continue straight at the next 2 intersections.  Drive the park road 1.1 miles to the large beach parking lot, and park in the southeast corner of that parking lot, the corner furthest from the Visitor Center.

The hike: Long before I-77 was even a thought, the Portage Lakes formed part of the main north/south highway through eastern Ohio.  The lakes occupy an area of high ground in northeast Ohio where the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas Rivers are separated by less than 19 miles.  Because paddling a canoe is easier than carrying a canoe, travelers would use the lakes to cut the 19 miles down to less than 8 miles of actual portages.  Starting in Lake Erie, travelers would paddle up the Cuyahoga, then across the lakes and the portages to the Tuscarawas, then down the Tuscarawas and Muskingum Rivers to reach the Ohio River.  In fact, waters from the lakes drain into both the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas Rivers.

            In 1828, the portage route was replaced with the Ohio and Erie Canal, and several of the park's lakes were built then to supply water for the canal.  The canal operated until the great flood of 1913 did severe damage.  After the canal closed, the Ohio Department of Public Works maintained the lakes for recreational purposes, and in 1949 the land was transferred to the newly created Ohio Department of Natural Resources to form the state park.

            Today Portage Lakes State Park is a day-use only park, but it offers many activities and amenities including paddling and swimming on the lakes, many picnic shelters, an excellent disc golf course, and 9 hiking trails.  The Shoreline Trail described here is the park's longest trail, and it forms a long two-lobed loop with several short-cut options near the middle.  True to its name, the Shoreline Trail stays in sight of Turkeyfoot Lake for nearly 1/3 of its distance, and it offers a pleasant and fairly flat journey through the forest along the lake.

Start of Shoreline Trail

            There are several places where you could start the Shoreline Trail.  To save the best part of the hike for last, I started at the southeast corner of the large beach parking lot and hiked the loop clockwise.  Walk east on the road that accesses the Tudor House, a famous summer wedding venue, and turn right to begin the single-track dirt Shoreline Trail, which is marked with powder blue rectangular paint blazes.

Hiking near the park boundary

            The first 0.9 miles head first south and then west to stay close to the park boundary on the left.  A residential area sits across the park boundary, and the going is easy but uninspiring.  Cross a closed park road, and ignore the green-blazed Fox Trace Trail, a short-cut option that exits right.  At 0.9 miles, you come out at the rear of the Big Oaks Picnic Area.  Walk a short distance on the picnic area road, then turn right to stay on the Shoreline Trail as it exits the picnic area.  True to the picnic area's name, the forest here features some nice oak trees; the terrain remains very flat.

Exiting the Big Oaks Picnic Area

            1.15 miles into the hike, you cross the park road you drove in a half hour or so ago.  Ignore 3 trails that exit right: the orange-blazed Covey Way, the yellow-blazed Pheasant Run Trail, and the red-blazed Rabbit Hill Trail.  All 3 of those trails offer more chances to short-cut the hike.  A gradual descent leads to a crossing of the park's boat launch access road at 1.6 miles.

Middle of the loop

            Immediately after crossing the road, the Planet Walk Trail enters from the left and begins sharing the treadway with the Shoreline Trail.  The Planet Walk Trail owes its name to the Astronomy Club of Akron, which is located within the park.  Signs describe the planets in our solar system, 1 planet per sign, but our hike only passes Uranus and Neptune.  Now near the north boundary of the park, the Planet Walk section winds toward and around the boat launch parking area.

            At 2.3 miles, you reach the park's boat launch and this hike's first excellent lake view.  The boat launch is located on Latham Bay, which is a large L-shaped inlet of Turkeyfoot Lake.  I saw many waterfowl including mallards and coots here, and some benches and picnic tables encourage you to sit, rest, and rehydrate near the midpoint of this hike.

Boat launch on Latham Bay

            To begin the return arm of our loop, walk up the boat launch access road to where the Shoreline Trail enters the woods on the left.  This part of the trail system is a maze, and it is poorly marked.  In general you want to head west and then south in the narrow strip of woods between the park road on the right and Latham Bay on your left.  2.7 miles into the hike, you intersect the red-blazed Rabbit Hill Trail, which enters from the right along with an old road.  Angle left and then right to keep heading south on the Shoreline Trail.  The next 0.3 miles tread a sunny grassy strip with dense shrubby woods on the right and a wetland on the left.

Hiking along the wetland

            At 3 miles, you reach a major trail intersection with trails going right, straight, and left.  The trails going right and straight are short-cut trails you passed earlier, so you want to turn left to stay on the Shoreline Trail.  Now back in the woods, the trail traces around the south end of Latham Bay to reach the dog park parking lot at 3.5 miles.  Follow the powder blue blazes as they head through the parking lot and enter the woods on the other side.

Hiking along Turkeyfoot Lake

            After crossing the park's disc golf course, you climb slightly to intersect a park road at 3.7 miles.  Turn left to quickly reach the disc golf parking lot, then continue the trail as it exits the rear of the parking lot and descends to Turkeyfoot Lake.  Upon reaching the lake, turn right to begin the pleasant lakeside section of the Shoreline Trail.

Turkeyfoot Lake

            You cross a few more holes on the park's disc golf course; watch for flying discs.  At 4.1 miles, you reach the park's swimming beach.  Walk across the soft sand beach and re-enter the forest.  The last part of the Shoreline Trail treads around a narrow peninsula that juts into Turkeyfoot Lake.  This peninsula provides the best lake views on this hike, and it is the reason I configured this hike the way I did.  Treading a narrow strip of woods between the large beach parking lot on the right and the Tudor House on the left returns you to your car to complete the hike.

Findley State Park: Hickory Grove, Spillway, and Lake Trails (Blog Hike #1092)

Trails: Hickory Grove, Spillway, and Lake Trails
Hike Location: Findley State Park
Geographic Location: northwest of Lodi, OH (41.12366, -82.20602)
Length: 2.7 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: October 2025
Overview: A fairly flat loop through nice forest along Findley Lake.
Park Information: https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/findley-state-park
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming June 26, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From Lodi, take US 224 west 11.8 miles to the community of Sullivan and SR 58.  Turn right on SR 58.  Drive SR 58 north 7.2 miles to the signed park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, then turn right at the next 2 intersections.  Drive the main park road 1.5 miles to the campground entrance, and park in the large blacktop lot to the left of the campground entrance station.

The hike: Many people think 811-acre Findley State Park is located in northwest Ohio near the City of Findlay, but the park is not spelled the same as the city.  In fact, this park is closer to Cleveland than Toledo.  The park owes its name to Judge Guy B. Findley, who donated farmland to the State of Ohio in the 1930s for the purpose of creating a state forest.  The forest was planted in the early 1940s by the Ohio Division of Forestry with assistance from the Civilian Conservation Corps, and it was transferred to the Ohio Division of Parks and Recreation in 1950 to create the park.

            Today the forest remains a nice feature of Findley State Park, but it also offers many fantastic amenities.  The park offers boating, fishing, and swimming on a 93-acre lake built in 1956, one of the best disc golf courses in Ohio, a popular 157-site developed campground that was nearly full on my visit, several picnic areas, and nearly 16 miles of hiking trails.  Many hiking routes are possible, and the hike described here forms a pleasant loop that starts at the main campground and explores most of the trails east of the lake.

Start of the Hickory Grove Trail

            From the campground entrance station, pick up the Hickory Grove Trail as it heads northeast into the woods.  This park's history as a state forest quickly becomes evident: there are numerous large hickory trees near the trailhead, and large beech, maple, and oak trees are common as you get deeper into the forest.  The trail surface starts as gravel before turning to dirt.  I had to negotiate a few muddy areas when I came here on a cool morning in early October, but overall the going is flat and easy.

Hiking the Hickory Grove Trail

            The first part of the Hickory Grove Trail is part of this park's Storybook Trail, i.e. a trail with signs that tell a children's story one page per sign.  Hiking this direction, you will be reading the story backward.  This hike does not use the beginning of the Storybook Trail, but you could hike a short 0.5 mile loop by going out on the Wyandot Trail and coming back on this trail if you wanted to read the full story in the correct order.

Crossing a small stream

            At 0.25 and 0.5 miles respectively, the Storybook and Wyandot Trails exit right.  Angle left both times to stay on the Hickory Grove Trail.  At 0.65 miles, you intersect the Thorn Mountain Bike Trail for the first of several times.  The Hickory Grove Trail and the mountain bike trail both lead to the spillway, so you could use the mountain bike trail if you wanted a much longer version of this hike.  Be warned that the mountain bike trail has the usual incessant winding, and I did see several mountain bikers when I hiked here.

Findley Lake and spillway

            1 mile into the hike, the trail curves left and dips to cross a small stream on a wooden footbridge; this is the only noticeable elevation change on the Hickory Grove Trail.  At 1.2 miles, you climb out of the ravine to reach the north end of the Hickory Grove Trail at the park's wide, grassy, sunny spillway.  The Thorn Mountain Bike Trail goes right here and continues straight to cross the park's dam.  Our hike turns left to head south on the Spillway Trail with the lake on the right.

Starting the Spillway Trail

            The Spillway Trail follows a wide two-track dirt road that looks like an old park or forestry maintenance or construction road.  The Spillway Trail is completely flat, and what it lacks in charm it makes up for in ease.  At 1.7 miles, you reach the south end of the Spillway Trail at the park's main campground.  Angle left, then immediately look right to find the start of the Lake Trail, the last trail used on this hike.

Hiking the Lake Trail

            The Lake Trail dips through a shallow but steep ravine to head around the west side of the campground; that ravine is the hardest part of this hike.  The Lake Trail is somewhat mis-named.  There are no clear lake views on this trail, and the lake remains out of sight for most of the distance.

Findley Lake at campground boat launch

            A gradual descent brings you past the park's archery range to intersect a park road at 2.15 miles.  We will eventually go left here, but first turn right to walk the road down to the campground boat launch where a couple of picnic tables occupy scenic lakeside spots.  I almost skipped the boat launch, but I found the boat launch to be the most scenic spot on this hike.  Not only did the calm reflective waters look beautiful, but I did some nice bird watching that included a heron and some Canada geese.  After enjoying the lakeside scenery, walk back up the campground boat launch road through the campground to the entrance station to finish this hike.

Creek Ridge County Park in Michigan City, IN (Blog Hike #1091)

Trails: Norm Pahs, Prairie, Steelheaders Boardwalk, and Woodard Loop Trails
Hike Location: Creek Ridge County Park
Geographic Location: Michigan City, IN (41.66908, -86.85200)
Length: 1.3 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: October 2025
Overview: A mostly flat loop through woodland and wetlands.
Park Information: https://laportecountyparks.org/parks/creek-ridge-county-park/
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming September 22, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: In northwest Indiana, take I-94 to US 421 (exit 34B).  Exit and go north on US 421.  Drive US 421 north 0.3 miles to Kieffer Road and turn right on Kieffer Rd.  Drive Kieffer Rd. east 2.1 miles to the signed park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, then turn right at the first intersection to park in the large blacktop lot near the dog park.

The hike: Located on the south side of Michigan City less than 2 miles from I-94, Creek Ridge County Park consists of 112 acres of mostly flat ridgetop land overlooking Trail Creek.  The park's roots date to 1992 when Aubrey and Judith Greenberg donated the land to Indiana's Department of Natural Resources.  LaPorte County subsequently leased the land from the State of Indiana to form the park.

            Creek Ridge County Park has some popular amenities including a dog park, a playground, 3 picnic shelters, and a 9-hole disc golf course.  For hikers, the park offers 4 short trails, none of which measure more than 0.5 miles in length.  This hike uses parts of all 4 trails to form a grand loop tour around the park.  While this park is not a hiking destination by itself, it makes a nice add-on if you are visiting nearby Indiana Dunes State Park or Indiana Dunes National Park.

Start of Norm Pahs Trail

            Start on the asphalt Norm Pahs Trail, an ADA-accessible trail that enters the woods across the mowed-grass area southwest of the large parking lot.  The trailhead area features a dense pine forest, but most of this hike passes through broadleaf forest with plenty of oak, hickory, and beech trees.  Where the asphalt trail turns left, continue straight to begin the dirt/grass Prairie Trail as it continues east along the south boundary of the dog park.  All trails at this park are unmarked and unlabeled on the ground, but they are wide and easy to follow.

Hiking the Prairie Trail

            The Prairie Trail forms a loop through the east end of the park, and it is somewhat misnamed: most of the trail passes through young shrubby forest that is a mixture of red cedar and broadleaf trees.  I have read that bugs and mud can be problems on this trail, but the hiking was pleasant if unspectacular on the cool early October morning when I hiked here.  The terrain is very flat with imperceptible elevation changes.  At 0.5 miles, you pass through a pipeline corridor before curving left and returning to the paved Norm Pahs Trail near the park's restroom building.  Turn right twice to begin a short out-and-back on the Steelheaders Boardwalk.

Trail Creek wetlands

            The Steelheaders Boardwalk switchbacks downhill to reach an overlook of Trail Creek and its associated wetlands at 0.7 miles.  This boardwalk gets its name because every year steelhead and salmon migrate up Trail Creek from Lake Michigan.  I did not see any unusual fish on my visit, but the creekside area was still quite scenic.

Hiking the Woodard Loop

            Retrace your steps back up the boardwalk, then turn right twice to begin the dirt Woodard Loop Trail, which forms a loop through the western part of the park.  A red wooden post marks the start of this trail.  The wide dirt Woodard Loop is more scenic than the Prairie Trail: some large maple trees grow here, and some wooden bridges take you over ravines to keep the trail at a relatively constant elevation.  Just past 1.2 miles, the Woodard Loop ends at the park road.  Angle right to return to the large parking lot and complete the hike.