Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park- Newbury, OH

After 3 HOURS at the gun range we finally tore ourselves away and drove to the nearby Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park, in Portage County, Ohio.

This was my first time at the park, and surely not the last. It is like an adult playground with numerous climbing and exploring possibilities within it's sandstone cliff formations and jumbled rocks.

Most of the photos from #7 and on were taken by my brother, Glenn. My camera battery had died so he let me put up some of his photos.

Blue Hen Falls - Cuyahoga Valley National Park, OH

A short drive from the major metropolitan areas of Cleveland is Ohio's only national park. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park covers 33,000 acres along the banks of the Cuyahoga River in Northeast Ohio.

The Cuyahoga, ("crooked river"-named by Native Americans) gives way to a rolling floodplain, steep valley walls and ravines and lush forests.

Twenty-two miles of the Cuyahoga River wind through the Cuyahoga Valley. It also is part of the Appalachian Plateau and the Central lowlands - modified by multiple glaciations.

The landscape can be rugged with steep sided valleys, narrow hills, and ravines which funnel tributaries.

Blue Hen Falls is one of a number of waterfalls within the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This particular waterfall is in close proximity to the 20' high Buttermilk Falls and the impressive 60' high Brandywine Falls.

Chippewa Creek Trail Hike- Brecksville, OH

Cuyahoga Valley National Park has over 125 miles of hiking trails. You'll also find historic buildings, O&E Canal, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, and more.

I'm lucky enough to work 10 minutes away from the Brecksville Reservation, which is in the park system. When the weather cooperates you'll find me, on my lunch hour, happily hiking along the many trails.

This past Friday, 3/30, I took my camera with me as I hiked part of the 2.5 mile Chippewa Creek Trail loop. This trail actually crosses the flowing creek, so that made for a good turn around point.

Shenandoah National Park, VA - Skyline Drive

Shenandoah National Park was established in 1935 and in 1936 President Roosevelt dedicated the park to "the recreation and re-creation".

Shenandoah has over 500 miles of hiking trails; most of which can be accessed by Skyline Drive. The 105 mile long Skyline Drive, which turns 75 years old this year was at first being constructed by local farmers that needed the work during the depression. Also, there was a need for parks in the east to compete with those in the west. Soon the 105 miles was completed. Full of vistas and hiking trails people travel from all over the world to Shenandoah and Skyline Drive.

I recently spent 2 days on in Shenandoah, but could have spent a week. At the visitors center at the North, Front Royal entrance I purchased a few hiking trails books. They proved to be indispensable...especially the $2/each booklets entitled, "Hikes to Waterfalls" and "Hikes to Peaks and Vistas". I also picked up A Falcon Guide Hiking Shenandoah National Park, which has some good directions and maps, but I found myself returning to the $2 booklets. ... (more)

The Virginia Kendall Ledges Park is situated in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Cleveland coal baron and industrialist Hayward Kendall acquired these 400+ acres in early 1900's for hunting and retreat. Hayward wanted the property to become a park named in honor of his mother, Virginia.

Upon his death in 1927 the land was turned over to the state. It was then named Virginia Kendall Park. Starting in 1933 or so a National Park Service (NPS) Civilian Conservation Corps was created to build shelters, parking areas, trail planning and building.

As you hike you can see evidence of the CCC's hard work in the bridges and numerous well laid out stone steps throughout the trail systems, among other things.

The ledges trail takes you past 300-million year old (Paleozoic Era) Sharon Conglomerate sandstone rock formed of compressed and cemented sand and small quartz pebbles from an ancient sea.

Worden Heritage Homestead (Worden's Ledges), Hinckley Ohio

The homestead, which is now part of the Hinckley reservation, once belonged to the Stuart family.

The patriarch of the family, Noble Stuart, created numerous reliefs and sculptures in the ledges on his property in the 1940's. He carved such things as a replica of the sphinx, George Washington, Ty Cobb, Hiram Worden and objects such as a ship, open Bible, and a cross.

Besides the Worden's Ledges carvings, Hinckley Reservation has a lot to offer in the way of hiking trails, swimming, canoe/kayak rentals, and picnic areas.

The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath, Northeastern Ohio

From 1827 to 1913 the 44 locks along the Ohio & Erie Canal lowered and raised boats, filled with goods and people, a total of 395' in elevation between Cleveland and Akron.

The Towpath Trail follows the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal. Before the canal was built, Ohio was a sparsely settled wilderness where travel was difficult and getting crops to market was nearly impossible. The canal, built between 1825 and 1832, provided a successful transportation route from Cleveland, on Lake Erie, to Portsmouth, on the Ohio River. The canal opened up Ohio to the rest of the settled eastern United States.

Source: The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail