Gorge-ous Views: Exploring the Gorge Trail in Brecksville Reservation

The Gorge Trail in Brecksville Reservation is a short, scenic hike through towering hemlocks and striking Berea sandstone boulders. Calm and peaceful by the water, it’s a perfect complement to longer hikes in the reservation, letting visitors soak in one of the most scenic areas of the Cleveland Metroparks.

Trailhead elevation 843'

Water along Chippewa Creek

Don't miss Rock hopping out to the center of the creek

Hiking the Gorge Trail

Between work visits, I pass by Brecksville Reservation and decide to stop for a few minutes to stretch my legs. It’s been years since I last hiked the Gorge Trail, and since it’s a short trail, I have just enough time for a quick walk. The trailhead is on the far left side of the Harriet Keeler Memorial Picnic Area, directly across from the Deer Lick Cave Trail parking area.

After a brief walk of about a hundred yards, the trail intersects with the closed Hemlock Trail and enters a stand of mature hemlocks. Two staircases guide the descent: the first a neatly built stone staircase, the second a sturdy wooden one, both covered with early autumn leaves.

The trail continues past large Berea sandstone boulders and down another carefully constructed stone staircase. Each step seems deliberately placed, a small but noticeable effort by the much-loved Cleveland Metroparks Trails Division.

Soon I reach Chippewa Creek, an eight-mile tributary of the Cuyahoga River, running fast after several days of rain. The area is striking—massive sandstone formations, hemlocks, cliffs, and small cascades. I step out onto the boulders and move toward the center of the creek, spending ten or fifteen minutes watching the water and enjoying a break in the day.

The sound of the flowing creek replaces the morning’s stress and the constant stream of email notifications. Finally, some peace.

After a short rest, I return to the trail. The path ascends a stone staircase lined with hemlocks and boulders, then ends with a brief log staircase that leads back to the junction with the Hemlock Trail and Gorge Trail.

A few hundred yards later, I’m back at the trailhead and my car. The walk is short, but it’s incredibly refreshing, especially with fall colors nearing their peak and the air turning cooler. I know I’ll be back soon—this section of the reservation is too beautiful to forget about, and I can imagine it will be just as stunning under a blanket of snow a few months from now.