View Beautiful Fall Colors in Your Parks!

The colors are a changin’ and people are going to be looking for the best places to view this spectacular display of color.  Don't miss taking in the fall colors in Lake County!  

Where better to view than in one of your Lake Metroparks?  

Here's a list of park overlooks that will maximize your viewing.

Chapin Forest Reservation 10090 Chillicothe Road (Rt. 306) and 10381 Hobart Road in Kirtland
J. Dell Photography	The 390 acres of Chapin Forest Reservation are known for distinctive rock formations and majestic forests. Wander through 5.3 miles of mature woodland trails comprised of beech, maple, oak, tulip and hemlock. Hike along Lucky Stone Loop Trail and walk along the scenic overlook with a view toward Cleveland. On a clear day, you can look out and see downtown. Click here for more information
Penitentiary Glen Reservation 8668 Kirtland-Chardon Road in Kirtland
Don Kemp	This beautiful nature preserve features 424 acres of forest, fields, wetlands, and over 7.5 miles of hiking trails The trails lead along the cool, shaded hemlock ridge of a deep gorge and through old field habitats and a mature hardwood forest.  Stop along the Halle Home Loop Trail for views across the ravine over Stoney Brook. Click here for more information
Hell Hollow Wilderness Area 14435 Leroy Center Rd. in Leroy
Frank Szekely	Walk along the half-mile Beechwood Loop Trail along a cliff above the Paine Creek valley and 262 timber steps that provide a dramatic descent to the creek valley. The more than 100-foot-deep ravine was carved thousands of years ago by Paine Creek after glaciers retreated from Ohio. This park offers impressive views of the 360 million year-old Chagrin Shale cliff above a deep river valley. Click here for more information
Indian Point Park Lower Lot: 12951 Seeley Road Upper Lot: 13165 Seeley Road
Jeff Taipale	Listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service, this park has one of the earliest architectural works in this part of Ohio. Lookout Ridge Trail offers steep valley viewing high above the Grand River and Paine Creek Click here for more information
Girdled Road Reservation North Entrance: 12898 Girdled Road; South Entrance: 12899 Radcliffe Road Concord Twp.
J Dell Photography	Within the 902 acres of Girdled Road Reservation visitors can experience the beauty of many different types of habitats-dense forests, fields and wetlands. Audubon Ohio has designated this park as an Important Bird Area. The Buckeye Trail, marked with light blue blazes on trees, runs through Girdled Road Reservation. Close to the North entrance, an overlook provides grand views of the Big Creek valley Click here for more information

 
Click here to find out where you can view fall foliage in parks throughout Northeast Ohio.

Pumpkins: A Holiday Icon from the Garden

What comes to mind when you see a pumpkin? Halloween, I’m sure. How did this Native American plant become a symbol for this Old World holiday?

What would Halloween be without the smiling countenance of a Jack-O-Lantern to scare away ghosts and goblins? Many vegetables are ready for harvest in the fall, so how did the pumpkin become king of the fall season? Part can be traced to the Native Americans who cultivated pumpkins along with other winter squash like the green stripped cushaw and butternut squash. With their thick rinds, nutritious seeds and tasty flesh they made an ideal storage crop with a history of cultivation dating back more than 3,000 years.

Early colonists learned to cultivate pumpkins from the Native Americans and the vegetable became part of the fall harvest season. But to turn it into a Jack-O-Lantern, we have to go to Ireland where the Irish hollowed out large Swede turnips and carved hideous faces in them. Lit with a candle and placed on the doorstep they warded of evil spirits on all Hallows Eve. The new world pumpkin, with its larger size, bright orange color and easy to hollow out seed cavity made it an easy replacement for the turnip. Pumpkins now come in all sizes from the pocket-sized Jack Be Little to the enormous Dills Atlantic Giant with the 2010 record weight of 1,725 pounds. 

Both varieties are grown at Farmpark’s Planters Overlook gardens along with many other types of pumpkins and squashes.

Check out the Corn and Pumpkin Harvest Weekend at Farmpark October 8 & 9.

Get the jump on fall at the Autumn Gathering

October 1
1:00 to 4:00 pm
Girdled Road Reservation (South entrance)

Lake County’s abundant rivers and forests were legendary during settlement of the Connecticut Western Reserve.  With claims the fertile land grew “radishes three feet long” and other exaggerations reflected the belief that this was the land of milk and honey.  Learn more about how early settlers used these natural resources to survive in the Ohio wilderness. 

Come early, at 12:30pm, for a preview hike of our new
Skok Meadow!

Discover how the rivers were harnessed for a source of power, what types of trees were best for building tools and structures, what native plants and animals the settlers used for food, and enjoy a presentation on the Connecticut Western Reserve. 

• Participate in games and activities on watersheds and trees
• Learn about the foods settlers hunted and gathered from the land
• Hear a presentation on the Connecticut Western Reserve
• Guided hikes through our new flower meadow
• Find out what a girdled road really is
• Meet other organizations dedicated to the history of our area

FREE for all ages. No registration required, but pre-registration is requested.

Girdled Road Reservation south entrance is located at 12899 Radcliffe Road in Concord Twp, OH 44077.

Directions: Take I-90 to Rt. 44 south. Turn left (east) onto Girdled Road for about 2.5 miles. Turn right (south) onto Rt. 608 for about 2 miles. Turn left (east) onto Radcliffe Road for .3 mile. Proceed to Girdled Road Reservation, located on the left (north).