Beat the Heat with Wet Feet

Lake Metroparks is fortunate to have a multitude of parks that provide access to our local rivers and Lake Erie.  During the heat of summer some of these locations offer great opportunities to cool off with a hike through the water.  Our local waters are important homes for many plants and animals, so while hiking around keep your eyes open for fish, frogs, crayfish or even a Bald Eagle. 

The following are some of our favorite places for a creek or river hike:

Indian Point Park – From the lower parking lot you can readily enter Paine Creek.  You can hike upstream to the Seeley Road bridge or take a shorter, easier hike downstream where the stream empties into the Grand River.

Helen Hazen Wyman Park – Kellogg Creek, Big Creek and the Grand River all come together at this park.  The best creek hiking though is in Big Creek where the clear shallow waters offer excellent opportunities to explore. 

Hidden Valley Park – The Grand River is the largest and deepest river in the county, but just beyond the shelter is a wide, shallow area perfect for wading.  So grab the family and some hot dogs for a picnic and an afternoon of splashing in the river.

Lake Erie has some great natural beaches to walk along while the waves splash at your feet.  Our favorite locations are:

Lake Erie Bluffs – The longest stretch of natural Lake Erie beach in the park district offers you a chance to walk the .71-miles from one park entrance to the other.  Keep cool by walking along the edge of the surf, while experiencing this amazing natural area.

Lakeshore Reservation – Two sets of stairs border a stretch of natural Lake Erie beach nearly a half mile long.  You can sit in the shade of some of the overhanging trees or wade into the lake to cool off. 

For more information and directions to the parks, visit lakemetroparks.com.

 

Don’t let cabin fever keep you indoors!

Get outside and enjoy the beauty of winter. Experience the woodlands as a Lake Metroparks naturalist guides you on a nature hike through field, forest and stream.

Winter Hike
Sunday, February 9, 2014 • 1 to 4 pm
Penitentiary Glen Reservation

 

Two hikes are available to choose from; each varying in length and terrain.

1. An interpretive hike about three miles long with a few stops along the way.
2. Self-guided trail options for families with young children or more limited mobility. Easy-to-follow trail maps are available in the Nature Center.

A Winter Hike patch and a commemorative year patch are presented to all participants.

After completing the hike, warm yourself by a roaring campfire complete with s’mores. Stop by the Wildlife Center to see some of our native wildlife up close. Enjoy hot soup and beverages served inside the comfortable Nature Center and listen to the sounds of folk music performed by Ernest Elshaw. Stop by The Nature Store to see hiking-inspired deals for the whole family!

Hikers are reminded of the importance of wearing comfortable footwear which is sturdy, warm and water-repellent. Hiking boots are recommended as the trails maybe snow- and/or mud-covered. Remember to dress in warm, comfortable layers. For more winter safety tips, visit lakemetroparks.com.

Pre-registration is requested for Winter Hike at Penitentiary Glen.

 

Patch, s’mores, soup and beverages are all included in registration fee. Program is $8 per person, all ages welcome, under 18 with an adult, please.

Register online or call Lake Metroparks registration at 440-358-7275 or 800-669-9226. Program is $8 per person, all ages welcome, under 18 with an adult, please.

 

Photo by Maribeth Joeright for The News-Herald.

Walk the stalk: Wind your way through the three-acre corn maze at Farmpark

 

Do you have a good sense of direction?  Here’s a chance to test your skill as you ”walk the stalk” through a multitude of twists and turns through a three-acre corn maze at Lake Metroparks Farmpark.   Trivia questions are posted throughout the maze to help guide you along the way. Answer the questions correctly and you will proceed on the correct path.  Outside the main entrance to the maze is a kids play area. Take pictures of your children throughout the maze and in the farm-themed character cutouts and tag Lake.Metroparks on Facebook and @Lake_Metroparks on Twitter.

 

The three-acre corn maze at Farmpark is open 11 am to 4 pm daily through October 13, weather and field conditions permitting.  To check the conditions of the maze call Farmpark at 440-256-2122 or 800-366-FARM.

 

The corn maze is included with regular daytime Farmpark admission.   Admission to Lake Metroparks Farmpark is $6 for ages 12 to 59; Seniors 60 and over, $5; for youth 2 to 11, $4; children under 2 and Farmpark members are free.

 

The corn maze is also included with admission to the following events at Farmpark:

• Lake Metroparks Senior Day (September 12)
• Village Peddler Festival (September 14 & 15)
• Fall Harvest Festival (September 21 & 22)
• Barnyard BBQ Bash (October 5)
• Corn and Pumpkin Harvest Weekend (October 12 & 13)

The maze will be open weather and conditions permitting.



Have you ever seen a Queen snake?

Queen snake

The Queen snake is a small, harmless snake that lives along rocky ponds and rivers, including the Grand River in Lake County.  They have the most specialized diet of any snake in Ohio, eating only crayfish.  These have become uncommon in Ohio, and they are protected as a Species of Concern. 

River Jamboree

Hidden Valley Park

Sunday, July 14 • 1 to 4 pm

To learn more about Queen snakes and the other reptiles and amphibians that live in the Grand River, swim, hop or slither down to the river at Lake Metroparks' annual River Jamboree. This year we will get up-close and personal with some of the Grand River’s more intimidating creatures: snakes, turtles, frogs and salamanders.

Head down to the river to look for

• Northern Water Snake
• Snapping Turtle
• Green Frog
• Bullfrog
• Pickerel Frog

Other activities:

• Live reptile and amphibians on display
• Get your feet wet on a guided search to find wild snakes, frogs and more
• Reptile and amphibian related games and activities
• Receive a FREE reptile or amphibian guide
• FREE Public Access of Waterways (Rivers edition) 
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Admission

Admission is free. Pre-registration is required. 

Cick here to register online or call registration at 

440-358-7275 or 800-669-9226.

Spend the night in the parks

Lake Metroparks introduces tent camping in five parks

In an effort to provide more opportunities to enjoy our parks, Lake Metroparks is expanding its camping opportunities to include tent camping so campers may experience unique natural features and the great outdoors. Staff created sites to highlight different natural resources, thus providing a variety of camping experiences.

These new opportunities offer a “primitive” experience for small groups of up to eight people staying in tents. Campers must hike about ¼-mile to more than a mile or paddle to the campsites. 

Each location is different, and there is only one campsite per park to provide a quiet, intimate natural experience—much different than crowded campgrounds. There is a lakeside site on Hidden Lake, a site high on the bluffs over the Grand River, a creekside site along Big Creek and two different riverside sites along the Grand River.

The paddle-in sites may require a 3- to 8-mile paddle by canoe or kayak to reach the campsite. The idea is to paddle a stretch of the Grand River  spend the night under the stars and then paddle another stretch the next day. Imagine paddling 27 miles and spending two nights on the wild and scenic Grand River  That is now possible in your Lake Metroparks.

Each site has a designated area to pitch a tent, a place to build a fire, a grill and a picnic table. The sites do not have restrooms, running water or trash cans. Campers are expected to practice a “leave no trace” camping ethic including carrying in and carrying out all supplies and trash, with the goal of leaving the area better than it was found. 

Sites are available from May 1 until October 31 and subject to temporary closure due to high water or extremely wet conditions.

Click here for a list of campsite locations, reservation procedure and the rules and regulations for tent camping in Lake Metroparks.