Northeast Ohio Waterfall Guide
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I love exploring gorgeous waterfalls around the US. This year I am living near Cleveland, so I have been exploring any waterfalls in and around the metro and surrounding parks. Ohio may not come to mind first when you think of waterfalls, but there is a gorgeous national park home to 2 incredible falls, plus a few smaller falls, and even a rare waterfall that flows into Lake Erie.
You still have several gorgeous options that are easy accessible via a short daytrip. You do not have to drive far to see these beauties. My guide includes some of my favorite falls in Northeastern Ohio, some of which require a hike, and others viewable via basically no effort on your part. All of these are located within an hour at most from the city, so a great add on activity if you are vacationing in the area.
Brandywine Falls
- Location: Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Trailhead parking: 8176 Brandywine Road, Sagamore Hills).
- Height: 60 Feet
- Hike Required: 1.5 mile loop or a short walk to an overlook on a boardwalk trail
My favorite hike in the region is Brandywine Falls, one of the standouts in the Midwest. This national park is really underrated in my opinion. It’s so close to a major urban area (just a 30 min drive) and completely free to visit, so an absolute must visit on any trip to the area. I recommend any locals and visitors to check it out as it happens to be one of only a handful of national parks with no entry fees.
The Brandywine Gorge loop (coming in at 1.5 miles) is really enjoyable – mostly easy with one vigorous uphill section. It’s a shady and beautiful walk through the forest and the ending waterfall view is nothing short of spectacular. This is my place to hike during leaf peeping season. For those unable to complete a long hike, there is partially accessible boardwalk path (about 0.3 miles) which begins at the same parking lot.
Columbia Beach Falls
- Location: Lake Erie (25550 Lake Rd, Bay Village)
- Height: 22 feet
- Hike required: No, but there is a small staircase
One of the hidden gems I’ve come across since living in Cleveland is a rare beach waterfall on Lake Erie. I actually found this place by accident while searching for seaglass at a nearby beach. What a cool sight to see a waterfall that flows into the water. This is a really cool place to take pictures and it is conveniently located within driving distance to other great beaches including Huntington Beach Reservation.
It’s a short detour, but worth it for a really unique picture. I recommend visiting after a rainy period (not too hard to come across in this area!) to see the waterfall at its’ strongest. We were lucky enough to be the sole visitors the day we took the above pic.
Blue Hen Falls
- Location: Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Park at Boston Mill visitor center: 6947 Riverview Rd, Peninsula)
- Height: 15 feet
- Hike Required: 3 mile loop
This gorgeous waterfall is also located at the national park, but the hike is much harder. The trek is much hillier with a pretty steep uphill climb and several staircases. I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone not looking for a challenge or anyone with bad knees. I actually prefer staircases as there is less a chance of slipping vs a rocky uphill section – Mike on the other hand finds this one challenging with all the stairs.
The payoff is a gorgeous secluded waterfall surrounded by rustic nature at its’ best. Most tourists concentrate around Brandywine Falls, so this hike sees little traffic. I like hiking this one during the winter season because I can warm up working up a sweat trekking uphill (just avoid hiking after heavy snowfall).
Great Falls of Tinker’s Creek
- Location: Viaduct Park (Willis St, Bedford, OH 44264)
- Height: 20 feet
- Hike required: Just a short 1/2 mile walk along a paved road
This powerful waterfall is located at Viaduct Park in Bedford. I was actually surprised at the intensity. It had been raining pretty frequently before our visit, so the flow was pretty strong. It is not that tall (about 20 feet), but it is about 80 feet wide.
This waterfall is basically all that remains of a former electrical power plant, saw mill, and grist mill which operated from 1821-1913. You can read more historical info via plaques located along the route. While I wouldn’t really go out of my way to visit this one, it’s a nice scenic stop on the way to other attractions like hiking at Bedford Reservation or exploring Brecksville Nature Center (the most gorgeous of the Metroparks!).
Mill Creek Falls
- Location: Garfield Park Reservation in Cleveland (Park at: Mill Creek Trail, Cleveland)
- Height: 48 feet
- Hike required: It’s just a short walk from the parking lot
A short little walk will take you to the tallest waterfall in Cuyahoga County. There is little walking required and it is quite gorgeous, especially after a few days of rain. This one is almost as tall and as impressive as Brandywine, minus the nice rustic national park location. The neighborhood is a bit rough, so I recommend viewing this one in the daytime and making sure to lock your doors as theft is common.
Cascade Falls
- Location: Cascade Park (387 Furnace St, Elyria)
- Height: 30 feet (East falls) and 35 feet (West falls)
- Hike required: Under a mile total
Cascade Park is a small park in Elyria known for its’ seasonal sledding hill, large playground, and waterfall. You can reach West Falls via a 0.7 mile hike and it is really gorgeous when the flow is strong. East Falls requires a small walk from the parking lot. I found both of these falls beautiful and would recommend the short daytrip from the city if you are staying in the area.
Chagrin Falls
- Location: Chagrin Falls downtown (Located on Main St.)
- Height: 20 feet
- Hike required: Just a few steps down a staircase
Chagrin Falls is one of the best small towns to explore in the metro. There is a little Main Street which is home to unique boutique shops, coffeehouses, and local restaurants. I recommend a daytrip here to anyone who likes support local companies. I always prefer to support local businesses over chains. I like browsing around Fireside Book Shop and enjoying a cup of Joe at Heartwood Roasters. The waterfall is easy accessible being that it is located in the center of Main Street.
Tip: There is a nice upscale restaurant called 17 River Grille where you can dine on the patio while gazing at the falls. The food here is pretty good – the heavenly biscuits were amazing!
Olmsted Falls
- Location: David Fortier Park (Water St. in Olmsted Falls)
- Height: ~10 feet
- Hike required: Short stroll from the parking lot
I wouldn’t necessarily go out of way for this one as it is not overly impressive, but it’s a nice add on activity if you are already in the area. David Fortier is a small, but scenic park along the Rocky River. It’s a nice place to take a short nature walk, picnic, and enjoy the river scenery. The flow was a bit weak during our visit, so I would time your visit after several days of rain.
Double Decker Falls
- Location: South Chagrin Reservation (36050 Solon Rd. in Bentleyville)
- Height: Under 10 feet
- Hike required: You can view this waterfall from the Quarry Rock picnic area
South Chagrin is a wonderful recreational oasis where you can enjoy various recreational activities throughout the year like hiking, sledding, and picnicking. You can enjoy views of the river and this small waterfall (I wouldn’t even really call it a waterfall due to the height) at the Quarry Rock picnic area.
I would recommend visiting this park more if you are interested in hiking trails, rather than solely to see Double Decker. I’ve seen pics of this waterfall in the winter and it looks pretty cool with the icicles, so something I might need to check out next season!
Additional info & tips
Best time to see a waterfall: Spring (or after a few days of heavy rainfall)
There is no parking fee for any of these falls which is really nice!
Bring with a water bottle and snack when hiking longer trails like Blue Hen and Brandywine.
Stop at Peninsula Coffee House on the way to the national park. The patio is so nice!
Don’t forget about other fun summer activities. This area shines best during the summer months. There are lots of great attractions including access to gorgeous Lake Erie beaches, great local ice cream shops, mini golf, small town Main Street dining & shopping, and a beautiful Metro parks system.
