The Old Red Barn: Hiking Deer Run in O'Neil Woods Metro Park

Tucked into the rolling hills of O’Neil Woods Metro Park, the Deer Run Loop is a peaceful woodland hike where the trail rarely stays flat—or straight—for long. The path twists through a mature hardwood forest, repeatedly climbing and descending gentle slopes before dropping toward the banks of Yellow Creek. Along the way, hikers pass the park’s historic red barn, a reminder of the O’Neil family farm that once occupied the land. With quiet woods, rolling terrain, and a touch of local history, Deer Run is one of the Akron area’s understated hiking gems.

Trail Info

Length 2 miles

Elevation gain 255 feet

Route Loop

Permit required No

Dogs allowed On leash

Trailhead elevation 955'

Water Filterable from Yellow Creek near the halfway point

Hiking Deer Run

The hike begins from the O’Neil Woods Trailhead, where hikers will find a modest-sized parking area, two picnic areas, and restrooms. From here, the Deer Run Trail quickly disappears beneath a thick canopy of hardwoods and begins winding through the rolling terrain that defines much of O’Neil Woods.

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Known for its nearly constant elevation changes, Deer Run wastes little time living up to its name. The trail repeatedly climbs and descends gentle slopes through a forest of oak, red maple, sycamore, and black walnut, rarely remaining flat for long. Despite the ups and downs, none of the climbs are particularly strenuous, making the rolling terrain more enjoyable than demanding.

Surrounded by mature forest, it’s difficult to imagine that this quiet corner of the Akron area once looked considerably different. A century ago, portions of what are now woods were fields and pastures belonging to the country estate of one of the families closely connected to Akron’s industrial rise.

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The 242-acre property belonged to William F. O’Neil, who co-founded the General Tire & Rubber Company in 1915. His father, Michael O’Neil, had already made the family name prominent in Akron through the successful M. O’Neil Company department store.

O'Neil's interests stretched far beyond tires: the company expanded into radio and television broadcasting, chemicals, plastics, motion pictures, and even aerospace. One of O’Neil’s most successful investments came in 1944, when he purchased a half interest in the fledgling Aerojet Engineering Corporation for just $75,000; by 1959, Aerojet-General alone accounted for nearly half of General Tire’s sales. By 1960, O’Neil oversaw an industrial empire of 46 subsidiaries and affiliates generating more than $730 million annually—equivalent to roughly $8.2 billion today when adjusted for inflation.

Away from the factories and bustle of the growing city, William and his wife, Grace, used the property as a country retreat and hobby farm, raising cattle and horses among its fields and pastures.

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The most visible reminder of that era still stands alongside the Deer Run Trail. The distinctive red gothic-arch barn, believed to have been built during the 1930s, once served the O’Neil farm and remains one of the park’s most recognizable landmarks. Summit Metro Parks has since restored the barn, and today it serves another purpose as home to a small maternity colony of big brown bats.

In 1969, O’Neil’s heirs made roughly 240 acres available to the park district for just $1 per year before donating the property outright in 1972. In the decades that followed, forest gradually reclaimed former fields and pastures, transforming the old estate into the woodland hikers explore today. Yet the weathered red barn remains—a quiet reminder that long before this was O’Neil Woods Metro Park, it was the countryside escape of one of Akron’s most prominent families.

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While O’Neil Woods served as the family’s country retreat, everyday life was centered in Akron, where O’Neil built an elegant Tudor-style mansion featuring 19 bedrooms, expansive bay windows, carved marble bathrooms, and private gardens. The impressive home still stands at 1290 W. Exchange Street and has since been preserved as the O’Neil House Bed and Breakfast, offering a glimpse into the wealth and lifestyle of one of Akron’s most prominent industrial families.

The Deer Run Trail may not have sweeping overlooks or dramatic waterfalls, but that’s part of its charm. Between the rolling hardwood forest, peaceful stretches along Yellow Creek, and the historic O’Neil barn, the loop blends natural beauty with a fascinating piece of local history. More than a century after the O’Neil family came here to escape the bustle of Akron, the property still offers much the same opportunity—a quiet place to slow down, wander beneath the trees, and leave the city behind.