1/3rd mile: All People’s Trail, Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, Shaker Heights Wheels are welcome on this boardwalk trail, featuring a deck overlooking a marsh.
1/2 mile: All People’s Trail, Lakeshore Reservation, Lake County Metroparks, Perry The blacktop trail winds along Lake Erie, with interesting stone sculptures along the way.
7/10ths mile: Lake Trail, Beartown Lakes Reservation, Geauga Parks District, Auburn/Bainbridge Township A paved trail perfect for jogging or pushing a stroller, it’s located in a 149-acre park with three fishing ponds.
1 1/2 miles: Pleasure Drive, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, Akron Walk around nine formal gardens in full bloom, including English and Japanese gardens, and see the butterfly exhibit in the Corbin Conservatory through Oct. 15. $12 for adults, $6 for kids 13 to 17, free for children 12 and under.
1 mile: Leaf Trail, Holden Arboretum, Kirtland Thirty-two trees are marked and numbered and a special trail map with identification key included. Free for kids 5 and younger, $3 for kids 6 to 12 and $6 for everyone 13 and up.
2 miles: Nelson Ledges State Park, Nelson/Garretsville The four trails here — White, Red, Yellow and Blue — total two miles. Because of narrow crevices and tall sandstone cliffs, this hike is for parents with older children and teens who want to take in breathtaking park views.
3.4 miles: Hinckley Lake Loop Trail, Hinckley Reservation, Cleveland Metroparks, Hinckley Winds around Hinckley Lake. Abundant opportunities to view wildlife, particularly wading birds and waterfowl.
3.5 miles: Bridgeway Trail, Black River Reservation, Lorain County Metroparks, Lorain/Elyria This paved path carves through woodlands and meadows, under bridges and into the treetops on a bridge 1,000 feet over the ground.
4 miles: Lake Isaac Trail, Big Creek Reservation, Cleveland Metroparks, Middleburg Heights Lake Isaac is a “glacial pothole” left behind after glaciers carved through the area. Start there, then head down the out-and-back section of the All Purpose Trail — it’s super-flat, great for family hikes.
4.3 miles: Boston Store Trailhead to Station Road Bridge Trailhead, Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail, Cuyahoga Valley National Park Pass four historic canal locks on your way to the oldest remaining metal truss bridge in the valley, built in 1881.
