Rocky River Reservation

This is such a great park for a nature walk with a dog (or a run) on a nice paved trail. I first visited this park in the fall of 2015 when all of the leaves were changing. Simply beautiful. My friend and I were shocked to see that people also horseback ride next to the regular trail.
It’s definitely a spot to revisit for a leisurely walk or run when it is nice out!

We’re so blessed in this area to have the MetroParks and the Rocky River Reservation is no exception. I love to come to this location and hit up some of the trails. There are over 5 miles of trails in this Reservation and you can pick and choose to your liking.
On this last visit, I sadly noted my «Stairs of Death» were removed. The parks had a sign posted noting that the shale was moving due to the movement on the stairs. They’re looking to replace them with a more sustainable product and more environmental friendly. I’ll be looking forward to the new product when it arrives. While the «Stairs of Death» are a beast to climb, the view from the top can’t be ignored!
If you’re a hiker, stroller, birder, or runner, I’m sure you’ll find something to enjoy at this reservation. Stop by when the Nature Center is open and learn a bit of history on the park system and this location in general. There’s even a cute little gift shop if you so desire.

Amazing sights and sounds. good walking trails and the wildlife is amazing. Towards twilight hours you can find wildlife running about. Beautiful gem below the cities busy life.

Easy access, lots of beautiful wooded areas with well marked trails. Visiting from out of town, this is pleasant oasis close to the city.

I had a chance to enjoy the Rocky River Reservation once again this weekend while I was in Cleveland. It used to be just down the street from where I lived, and I took it for granted at that time. This time, though, I knew what I had been missing. I made the trek from the East Side to the Reservation, just to jog it, while I was in town for a short visit. If you haven’t been, it’s a real treat, and reminiscent of some of the famous Frederic Law Olmsted parks I’ve been to
The reservation has an abundance of paved trails that meander through the woods — just what I was looking for to bliss out while running. It allowed me to run on a paved path (no tripping over roots!) without having to worry about cars. With mile markers to let you know how far you have traveled in both directions (Barrett Rd and Detroit Rd — almost 13 miles between the two).
Aside from the trails, you’ll also see people out fishing in the Rocky River, maybe see a game or two of ultimate frisbee or soccer, golf, and — if the weather’s really nice — quite a few picnics at the picnic areas sprinkled around the area. Bathrooms are easy to be found at many places throughout the park.
If you live on the West Side. .. WHAT are you WAITING for?!? Get your buns outdoors and see what you’ve been missing at the Rocky River Reservation!

Just the stop we needed to stretch and let the kids play before catching a plane. Mastick playground was beautiful and felt very safe

Fantastic everything was so good.

The Rocky River Reservation is such a great place to spend some time outside. I have been training for a 10k, and I really needed a good place to do longer runs. The trails are just fantastic for getting in 5 miles or more! The trails are very well marked and the mile markers really help too. I love the fisherman fishing along the river. It really makes you feel like you are in the country, and not in the middle of a big city. I plan on taking advantage of this great resource a lot more. Check it out!

Have a couple of friends that work for the Parks Service and they told me about this little fest Frostville that was goin down this past weekend. Also, I see my dude Greg checking in here so I had to check the place out! I hoped in my whip with my 3yr old and we headed down to Rock River! Its a great little olde-​tymey fest with a little village setup and some vendors selling candles and chuckwagon type stuff. Once Syrup was done rockin the stage we got to pet some animals and chat with the mounted po-po’s about their horses. She had a blast. I think its only a one day fest so check it out next year! Bring your own flask cuz I guess they didnt have beer back in the pioneer days!

Was here recently with my family. One of the things that I love about being a Cleveland resident is that you always have something to do. Where are you? You are never more than 5 minutes from the entrance to a beautiful green space right inside the city, and this particular space has it all: hiking trails, a nature center that the kids adore, golf, sports fields, playgrounds, horseback riding trails, etc. There are these amazing stairs on the trail behind the nature center that are great for fitness, but also provide a lovely view of the River from about 150 – 200 feet up.
As a bonus, you can drive the lovely Valley Parkway (we always try to bet on how many cars we will pass going in the opposite direction driving up or down the valley road), which empties easily onto Lorain Ave. about 1 mile from the East Coast Custard location near Fairview Hospital. If you pack a lunch, you could make a whole day of this!

We were here for the Settler’s Festival and had a great time listening to the music and touring the area. Great place to visit!

This reservation, by far, is one of my absolute favs!!! When I first came to Cleveland, I didn’t know what to expect, but the RRR made me fall in love with this area. Every time I returned, I discovered another part which offered natural beauty which was even more beautiful than the day before. From the trails which led to elevations with breathtaking views, to the «mini» waterfalls which sounds seduce you to stay a little longer than planned, the RRR is a place that became almost a daily stop on my list during my stay in Cleveland. I know that I will be back to Cleveland soon just to get back to get back to this reservation…

It’s funny that I think of Rocky River Reservation with a sort of nostalgia, even though it’s only been a few months since I’ve gone running here. I guess I’ve been in «hibernation mode» ever since I haven’t seen pavement for more than 24 hours in a row.
But when the weather is pleasant (and probably when it’s not!), RRR is just wonderful. I spent the first month or so of living in Ohio not knowing exactly where to go to be outdoorsy. Once I experienced this and several other parks and trails, I realize what a great asset they are and how much being outdoors keeps me sane.
I have never before used the phrase «one with nature» until I ran through Rocky River’s hilly, tree-​laden paths. Of course, I only used the phrase in my head until now, not wanting to sound TOO much like a hippie.
For those runners concerned about hydration, if you strategically plan your route, you can hit at least a couple really good water fountains along the way. And there’s a plethora of bathrooms.
You can choose to run on a paved, all-​purpose trail, or take some more rugged dirt paths in the woodsy area. I’ve done both, and one word always comes to mind when I’m surrounded by trees: serenity.

When you think fishing, you think Montana or Washington or Tennessee, but not Cleveland. Yet the Rocky River Reservation was rated one of the top 150 fishing spots in America by Field and Stream magazine. I can personally attest to its quality as I have actually caught fish here, showing that it’s a veritable haven for fish.
The stream tends to be a little crowded on weekends, but if you can skip work on a fine April morning, you’ll find plenty of open stretches where it’s just you and a hook and whatever is swimming along.
If you’re more of a land lubber, you can find great running on the bridle trails or the main all-​purpose trail. It’s mostly flat, but you can jaunt up one of the entrances if you need some hills.
This effect makes it surprisingly secluded from the rest of the city around it. When you descend into the stream’s valley, the only signs of civilization are the occasional houses that overlook the river at various places (I always hope they aren’t watching my poor excuse for fishing).
They have a lot of special events, too; the Settlers Celebration in late September is always enjoyable old timey fun.