These Lake Metropark hot spots are ideal for chilling

By Mimi Vanderhaven

There’s no better way to beat the heat during the dog days of summer than rolling up your pantlegs and wading in a cool stream.

Lucky for us in Lake County, there are a plethora of places to wade and hike in the Lake Metroparks.

“We’ve seen a significant uptick in the number of people who are enjoying our creeks, rivers, lakes and trails since the pandemic hit,” says Andy Avram, Interpretive Manager. “For many, they are discovering places they’ve never been, exploring our hidden gems for the first time. I hope the increased activity extends long after Covid is gone.”

He notes that people have been doing an excellent job of social distancing along the creeks and trails. And it turns out the old-fashioned, all-American picnic has become a thing again.

“We have the ideal spots for smaller kids to wade into clear, shallow water, and deeper water with current better suited to bigger kids and adults,” he says. “Our local waters are homes to many plants and animals, so we hope people keep their eyes open for fish, frogs, snails, crayfish or even a bald eagle, as part of the adventure.”

Andy’s top picks for creek walking:

• Helen Hazen Wyman Park - Scenic Big Creek flows past the picnic area, joins Kellogg Creek and empties into the Grand River.
• Indian Point Park Lower - Paine Creek provides spectacular views of the Grand River Valley and more.
• Gully Brook Park - This park includes a valley, stream, wetland and forest.
• Environmental Learning Center - Beautiful views of ravines, creeks and woods.
• Chagrin River Park - The Chagrin River runs through this park, located in Eastlake and Willoughby.
• Hidden Valley Park - Excellent access to the Grand River below a spectacular exposed Chagrin Shale cliff.

Andy says they are planning some fun guided creek hikes in mid- to late August, so check their site for dates and roll those pant legs up.

Lake Metroparks covers more than 60 miles of trails and 38 parks. Restrooms are currently open for emergency only. Visit LakeMetroparks.com for more information.