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.