Hike F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm's Cherry Lane Trail

4 hours ago

4 min read

The Cherry Lane Trail at F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm is a short but scenic hike through one of Akron, Ohio’s most unique Summit Metro Parks. The 0.6-mile loop winds through a peaceful forest, crosses the Nature Realm’s iconic suspension bridge, and passes picturesque Echo Pond. Along the way, hikers can experience a landscape with deep ties to F.A. Seiberling, the co-founder of Goodyear and an important figure in the creation of Akron’s early park system. For an easy hike that combines scenery, local history, and one of the coolest bridges in the area, Cherry Lane packs plenty into less than a mile.

Trail Info

Length 0.6 miles

Elevation gain 55 feet

Route Loop

Permit required No

Dogs allowed On leash

Trailhead elevation 1,028'

Water None filterable

Don't miss Sunrise at Echo Pond

Hiking the Cherry Lane Trail

At just 0.6 mile, the Cherry Lane Trail is the shortest hike at F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, but it manages to pack one of the park's most memorable sights into a surprisingly short walk. The easy loop travels through a beautiful wooded landscape, passes Echo Pond, and crosses a suspension bridge high above a forested ravine. Yet the land surrounding the trail also has deep connections to one of the most important figures in Akron's history.

The Nature Realm takes its name from Franklin Augustus Seiberling, better known as F.A. Seiberling. Along with his brother Charles, Seiberling founded the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in Akron in 1898 and helped fuel the city's transformation into the "Rubber Capital of the World." But Seiberling's legacy in Northeast Ohio extends well beyond the rubber industry. He was also one of the driving forces behind the creation and early development of the park system that eventually became Summit Metro Parks.

As Akron rapidly industrialized during the early 20th century, Seiberling recognized the importance of preserving natural areas around the growing city. He believed access to green space could improve the quality of life for Akron residents and workers, and he became deeply involved with the young Akron Metropolitan Park District. Seiberling served on its Board of Park Commissioners during its formative years and contributed hundreds of acres from his holdings around Stan Hywet that helped establish and expand nearby Sand Run Metro Park.

The land that eventually became the Nature Realm was also once owned by Seiberling. He held the property from 1920 until 1948, although, contrary to what visitors might assume from the park's name, he did not directly donate it to the park district. Summit Metro Parks purchased the property in 1964 and subsequently named it in recognition of Seiberling and his enormous influence on the development of Akron's park system.

At the time, the property looked much different than it does today. Rather than a continuous expanse of woods, gardens and wildlife habitat, the land had previously been divided between two farms. Fields covered portions of the higher ground around present-day Smith Road, and agricultural buildings once stood where visitors now encounter forest and other natural areas. Over the decades, much of that former farmland has gradually returned to forest.

F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm was dedicated in 1966, but it was envisioned as something different from a traditional recreational park. The property was developed primarily for nature study, conservation and environmental education. It soon became home to the park district's first nature center, with naturalists conducting programs from the farm buildings already standing on the property. An educational program known as the "School of the Woods" was launched from the existing barn and farmhouse, beginning a tradition of nature education that remains central to the Nature Realm today.

The Cherry Lane Trail offers one of the easiest ways to experience that landscape. The 0.6-mile trail is rated easy and begins near the Nature Realm Visitors Center before traveling through the woods toward one of the most recognizable features in the entire park.

A wooden suspension bridge carries hikers across a deep ravine beneath the forest canopy. Built in 1978, the bridge stretches roughly 108 feet across a ravine about 45 feet deep. Far below, a small stream winds through the bottom of the ravine, while the surrounding slopes are covered in vegetation. The gentle movement of the bridge beneath your feet adds a little excitement to what is otherwise an easy woodland walk.

Beyond the bridge, Cherry Lane continues through the forest before eventually passing Echo Pond. The pond and surrounding vegetation make this section particularly scenic, especially during fall when the surrounding hardwoods begin changing color. From here, the trail loops back toward the visitors center.

The Nature Realm itself is worth exploring before or after the hike. The grounds include two ponds, wetlands, gardens, observation areas, a tall-grass prairie and numerous labeled plants. Inside the 10,000-square-foot visitors center are seasonal exhibits, children's areas, live native animals and naturalists who can answer questions about the plants and wildlife found throughout Summit County.

One important thing to know before visiting is that F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm operates somewhat differently from most Summit Metro Parks. The property has been designated as a special-use area specifically for the study and enjoyment of nature. Because of that designation, dogs are not permitted in the Nature Realm, including on its hiking trails.

That quiet, nature-focused atmosphere is part of what makes Cherry Lane such an enjoyable hike. In less than a mile, hikers can cross a suspension bridge, peer into a deep wooded ravine, walk beside a peaceful pond and experience a landscape that looks remarkably different from the farmland that occupied portions of the property generations ago. And behind it all is the legacy of F.A. Seiberling, whose efforts to preserve green space around industrial Akron helped lay the foundation for the park system enjoyed throughout Summit County today.