Lori Estelle was visiting Mohican State Park for the first time with her dog Winston on an overcast Sunday morning.
The Columbus-area resident was seeking an escape to the outdoors, away from the stresses and bustle and electronic wiring of daily life. But Estelle, 56, and her pooch were also preparing for a trip and hiking expedition next year with her 27-year-old son at Acadia National Park in Maine.
Mohican was a good training ground, with trails suitable for her four-footed friend. And the sprawling wilderness was rich with natural beauty, including Clearfork Gorge. Even on a gray day and with a threat of rain, the view of the gorge stretched to the horizon, colored by orange, red, gold and green foliage.
Mohican is among the best hiking destinations in Northeast Ohio. And Estelle wasn’t aware of it until she stumbled upon the state park on a hiking bucket list online.
“I’m always looking for stuff in the woods and with a dirt path,” said Estelle, who works as a nannie in the Columbus suburb of Bexley.
“We like to hike in every season,” she said. “Every time we go hiking, I tell my dog, ‘Let’s go run away. Let’s run away from home.’ He’s an adventurer.”
Mohican, located about 30 miles from Wooster in Ashland County, south of Loudonville, is among the unspoiled gems in the region, where hikers can explore the outdoors, whether it be a leisurely walk or ambitious trek.
A family gazes out at Clearfork Gorge in November at Mohican State Park in Ashland County, one of the best hiking destinations in Northeast Ohio.
The region has a plethora of other parks, including 76 overseen by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Hikers have 2,518 miles of trails to traverse within the state’s Divisions of Parks, Watercraft, Forestry, Wildlife, Natural Areas and Preserves, said Mark Allen, statewide trails administrator for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Getting outdoors: The best spots to kayak, canoe and paddleboard in the Akron-Canton area
A cable bridge at Mohican State Park in Ashland County opened in 2021.
Simple pleasures await — wind blowing through trees, twigs snapping underfoot, squirrels scurrying through brush, sunlight glistening on a lake.
“All ODNR properties are unique and offer something for everyone,” said Allen, who noted that hiking and walking improve physical and mental health.
So where else can you go hiking in Northeast Ohio? Here are some of the top spots, starting with a closer look at Mohican.
1. Mohican State Park
Mohican’s centerpiece is undoubtedly Clearfork Gorge, carved out when glacial meltwater cut through the sandstone bedrock that forms its steep walls.
What’s left is a grand view from a perch fronted by a rustic stone fence. Visitors can breathe in fresh air and lose themselves in a boundless landscape of trees and sky. Mohican State Park encompasses 1,110 acres.
An overlook at Mohican State Park offers a sprawling view of Clearfork Gorge in Ashland County.
The 1.8-mile Gorge Overlook Trail is an ambitious trip down steep inclines, along winding paths and through hillside forests of native white pine, eastern hemlock and other species. The reward of Clear Fork, a tributary of the Mohican River, awaits below.
Each step brings its voice closer, water swirling over rocks and downed trees. Following a trail along the river will take hikers to a cable bridge installed in 2021. Suspended across the river, it wobbles slightly underfoot by design.
Mohican discoveries also include an 80-foot fire tower in Mohican-Memorial State Forest, which features 32 miles of hiking trails, 22 miles of bridle trails, eight miles of snowmobile trails and a 24-mile mountain biking trail.
Highlights also include a historic covered bridge, fire tower, Clear Fork Gorge State Nature Preserve and the Mohican-Memorial Shrine, the state’s official monument dedicated to more than 20,000 Ohio citizens killed in conflict since World War II. Seven back-country park and pack campsites are also in Memorial Forest.
Mohican State Park is at 3116 state Route 3 in the Loudonville area.
The Falls Edge Glass Walkway is a highlight of Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park in Portage County.
2. Nelson-Kennedy Ledges
Located near Garrettsville in Portage County, Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park dates to 1949 and is a true hiking treasure.
Rock formations abound in every direction, creating a maze of rugged terrain, the product of the Ice Age in Ohio.
Woods include beech-maple forest with yellow birch. Ferns are common beneath the canopy of trees, including grape fern, wood fern and shield fern.
Trails are dotted with jackpots of nature — Cascade Falls, Gold Hunter’s Cave, Old Maid’s Kitchen, Dwarf’s Pass, The Narrows, The Squeeze, Devil’s Hole and Devil’s Icebox.
A mile or so hike ends up at Falls Edge Glass Bridge, a curved walkway over a ravine that leads to an overhead view of Minnehaha Falls. The manmade feature is unobtrusive and blends seamlessly into the natural surroundings.
Rock formations are in abundance at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park in Portage County.
The Ledges attracted hikers even on a quiet, drizzly weekday fall morning.
Cameron Robinson, 21, and Jenna Kulka, 22, both students at Kent State University, said hiking at the state park de-stresses them from the slog of schoolwork.
Favorites included the glass bridge.
“It is really cool,” Kulka said. “I like the way it looks over the water flowing.”
Asked if the state is underrated for its parks, the nursing major said: “Ohio has more than people think.”
Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park is at 12440 state Route 282 in the Garrettsville area.
A couple enjoys a view of the sunset at The Ledges at Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Northeast Ohio.
3. Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is widely considered the premier hiking attraction in Northeast Ohio.
Located between Akron and Cleveland, some of the 32,000-acre park’s most prized attributes exist in Summit County and not far from the village of Peninsula.
Most popular is the 60-foot Brandywine Falls. Wooden walkways connect to a perch overlooking the majesty of the waterfalls. Watching and listening to its tumble and torrent is mesmerizing. The path also moves along ancient rock walls protruding in layers and jagged shapes. Dirt trails descend lower and link with a bridge crossing Brandywine Creek. Wilderness and smaller waterfalls await.
Paul Trumbull, 74, and Gail Black, 79, both of Toledo, enjoy the view of Brandywine Falls, one of the best-known features of Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Summit County. Hiking trails are another attraction.
First-timers still discover the state’s only national park.
Paul Trumbull, 74, and Gail Black, 79, both of Toledo, are campers and outdoor lovers.
“It’s gorgeous,” Black said of Brandywine Falls. “I always tell people they should take all atheists to the woods and ask them, ‘How can there not be a God?'”
Another jewel of the valley is The Ledges, where an overlook provides a picturesque view of the sunset.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is rich with natural features and hiking trails, including in the Brandywine Gorge area.
Sasquatch sightings: Does Bigfoot lurk at Cuyahoga Valley National Park? Massillon filmmaker explores sightings
It’s a popular spot as day fades to dusk, where parkgoers sit along the rocks in a meditative retreat from highways, hectic social calendars and cell phones.
Judi Kinch, 58, of Chicago basked in a moment of nostalgia while admiring a sunset.
She was in the Youngstown area on business and stopped at the national park on the way home to Racine, Wisconsin.
“I knew about it because my parents used to bring me here when I was a baby,” Kinch said. “My mom talked about how beautiful it was and about watching the sunset.”
Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s Boston Mill Visitor Center is at 6947 Riverview Road in the Peninsula area.
Dundee Falls is a highlight of the Beach City Wildlife Area in Tuscarawas County
4. Dundee Falls
Dundee Falls at the 393-acre Beach City Wildlife Area is a secluded gem off the beaten path. Driving there will take you past farm fields, barns and other pastoral beauty.
Located in Tuscarawas County one mile southwest of Beach City, the state wildlife area covers nearly 400 acres. Most visited is Dundee Falls, diminutive but charming.
Hiking on a trail along or above the stream takes you deeper into the woods and leads to wetlands, ponds, marshes and other natural features.
Hikers will enjoy the wilderness and natural features in the Beach City Wildlife Area, including Dundee Falls, rock formations and remote wilderness.
Reaching Dundee Falls is less than a five-minute walk from the parking lot.
Making the jaunt recently were Wendy Conrad, 52, and Kory Conrad, 54, of Marblehead. They were visiting the area for the first time and staying at the nearby Treehouse Village in Tuscarawas County.
“It’s very serene and it’s almost magical,” Wendy Conrad said of Dundee Falls. “The leaves are dancing in the falls.”
Beach City Wildlife Area is at 8525 Dundee Wilmot Road NW in the Beach City area.
Dundee Falls, part of the Beach City Wildlife Area in Tuscarawas County, is small but picturesque.
5. Quail Hollow Park
Quail Hollow became a state park in 1975 before Stark Parks took it over in 2016.
Quail Hollow has more than 700 acres of rolling meadows, marshes, and pine and deciduous woods, where trails weave. Landmarks include the Stewart Manor House, a garden, and historic stone arch. Fishing is available at a two-acre pond. A primitive camping site is one of the few at a park in Stark County.
A wind phone is accessed off the paved Nature for All Trail, “providing a disconnected phone for calling lost loved ones, offering a unique way to process grief in a safe, quiet, peaceful, private environment,” Stark Parks says.
Quail Hollow Park, a former state park, has been part of Stark Parks since 2016.
100 years of nature: Stark Parks raising money for accessibility improvements, renovations at Quail Hollow
Natural surface trails go near vernal pools, wetlands and forests. Horseback riding trails are also in the park.
Martha Burke, 70, and Jim Burke, 78, of North Canton pad the trails daily.
“We’ve been coming here for 40 years,” Martha Burke said. “We feel very blessed by Jesus. This is one of the most beautiful parks you’ll ever find.”
“The way the sun shines on leaves, I don’t see how people can’t believe in God after seeing all this,” she said. “I highly recommend Quail Hollow to everybody.”
Quail Hollow Park is at 13480 Congress Lake Ave. NE in the Hartville area.
Martha Burke, 70, and Jim Burke, 78, of North Canton walk past an historic stone arch at Quail Hollow Park near Hartville in Stark County.
6. Wingfoot Lake State Park
Wingfoot Lake State Park shouldn’t be overlooked by outdoor enthusiasts.
Less than a 10-minute drive from Mogadore in Portage County, Wingfoot Lake encompasses more than 400 acres and is ideal for kayaking and fishing. The entire park site is around 700 acres.
Most trails are paved and offer leisurely strolls along the scenic lake. Benches provide spots to relax and enjoy a view of the water. Dog walkers are common, and a storybook trail makes the park especially family friendly. Another path leads in and out of grasslands and woods.
Wingfoot Lake State Park is at the site of a property formerly owned by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. The park has hiking trails, picnic areas, playgrounds and a lake.
Originally owned by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., the park joined the state system in 2009.
Souvenirs of Goodyear are prominent in the park, including blue-and-yellow wingfoot emblems on the front gates and a large sign engraved with the company name. And it’s common to see a Goodyear blimp taking off and landing at the hangar across the lake.
Basketball courts, tennis courts, playground equipment and a disc golf course provide plenty of recreational opportunities.
Wingfoot Lake State Park features mostly paved trails, which offer views of the water, where the Goodyear blimp sometimes can be seen lifting off and landing.
Sarah Thorley, 67, and Carl Thorley, 70, recently visited Wingfoot for the first time.
Walking along the water is relaxing, Sarah Thorley said. “It’s just very soothing and peaceful. It’s very calming.”
Wingfoot Lake State Park is at 993 Goodyear Park Blvd. in the Mogadore area.
Reach Ed at ebalint@gannett.com. Follow on Instagram at ed_balint and TikTok @edwardbalint.
What to know when you go hiking
Mark Allen, statewide trails administrator for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, offers the following tips for hikers:
Clothing: Wear moisture-wicking layers (avoid cotton) and bring extra layers in case of a weather change.
Footwear: Wear comfortable, well-broken-in hiking boots with moisture wicking socks to help prevent blisters.
Navigation: Take a photo of a park map with your cell phone if a brochure is unavailable. When hiking Ohio Department of Natural Resources parks, download the free OuterSpatial app before you get to the park because the app works offline and has all ODNR trails and points of interest.
Food and water: Pack water and high-energy snacks.
Bug spray: Depending on the season, spray for mosquitoes and check for ticks after hiking.
Stay on trails: Follow all posted signs and trail markers. If you’re hiking with children or pets, supervise them at all times.
Share your plan: Let someone know about your hiking plans, including the trail you intend to explore and your estimated return time.
Check the weather: Stay updated on the forecast before starting your hike. Be cautious on slippery trails as ice, mud and wet rocks pose hazards. If you hear thunder or see dark clouds approaching, seek shelter immediately.
The Falls Edge Glass Walkway is a highlight of Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park in Portage County.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Waterfalls, gorges, trails. The best places to hike in Northeast Ohio.