If you’re a hiker or like to take long walks, you’re always looking for more interesting and unique places to do so. Fortunately for you, Cleveland features plenty of opportunities all over the metro area. These 10 short, easy hikes are among the best hikes in Cleveland and should be added to any outdoor bucket list adventures.

1. Quarry Loop Trail, Chapin Forest Reservation, 9938 Chillicothe Road, Kirtland
Quarry Loop Trail, Kirtland, OH 44094, USA
Ken Lund/Flickr
Kirtland is only about 35 minutes from Downtown Cleveland, and its campus stretches over sandstone ledges and Gildersleeve Mountain, both of which offer stunning scenic views of the spectacular Cleveland landscape. Quarry Loop Trail takes you through the remains of a 19th-century sandstone quarry, and under the shade of the hemlock, maple, oak, and tulip trees you will keep cool and comfortable.
2. Woodland Loop Trail, Concord Woods Nature Park, 11231 Spear Road, Concord Township
Concord Woods Nature Park, 11211 Spear Rd, Painesville, OH 44077, USA
Concord Woods Nature Park/Facebook
This short trail is just under a mile, but it is filled to the brim with scenic beauty. This park is perfect for kids, as it also features a playground and a stocked fishing area.
3. South Meadow Trail, Girdled Road Reservation, 12926 Radcliffe Road, Concord
Girdled Road Reservation, Chardon, OH 44024, USA
Girdled Road Reservation/Facebook
The state-wide Buckeye Trail carves through this stunning nature preserve, which is painted with thick forests and bright, lively wetlands. South Meadow Trail in Concord, one of the best hikes in Ohio, features a lovely pond that is stocked with fish, a play area, and a shelter where you can enjoy a packed lunch.
4. Meadow Loop Trail, Carlisle Reservation, 12882 Diagonal Road, LaGrange
Meadow Loop Trail, Tallmadge, OH 44278, USA
Lorain County Metro Parks/Facebook
Carlisle Reservation is the largest park in the Lorain County Metro Parks, and it is complete with a visitor center, a raptor center (which actually houses several large birds), and an incredibly diverse natural habitat. Meadow Loop Trail, located in the town of LaGrange, offers fabulous views of the wetland habitat, as well as the abundant greenery of the forests and fields. This hike is just over a mile and a half, and it's a loop, so you'll finish exactly where you started. If you have little ones, it is also one of the most kid-friendly hikes around Cleveland.
5. Worden’s Ledges Loop Trail, Hinckley Reservation, 895 Ledge Road, Hinckley
Wordens Ledges Loop Trail, Hinckley, OH, USA
Cleveland Metroparks/Facebook
The Worden’s Ledges Loop Trail located inside of Hinckley Reservation is just one mile, but boy, does it offer some unique views! You see, Worden's Ledges feature many unusual carvings, many of which depict famous people.

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6. Wood Thrush Trail, Letha House Park, 5800 Richman Road, Spencer
Letha House Park West, Richman Rd, Spencer, OH 44275, USA
Friends of Medina County Parks/Facebook
Tucked within Chatham Township is the tiny but beautiful Letha House Park. The Wood Thrush Trail here is an 0.85-mile trail that will take you through its scenic campus, which even features a tributary of the Black River. Every so often, the Cuyahoga Astronomical Association opens up its observatory to allow the public to peer at deep sky objects during their special "Starry, Starry Night" events.
7. Alder Trail, Goodyear Heights Metropark, 2077 Newton Street, Akron
Alder Trail, Goodyear Heights Metropar
Kellie Wolke/AllTrails.com
Located just a bit south of Cleveland Metro Parks is this lovely little 1.4-mile loop trail — The Alder Trail. The park opened in 1930 and it features a cattail marsh, a pond, sassafras and sarsaparilla trees, and a wide variety of fauna. If you haven't been here yet, we're sure you'll find the trail to be one of the best hikes in Ohio.
8. Paine Creek Trail, Indian Point Park, 13165 Seeley Road, Leroy Township
Indian Point Park, 13165 Seeley Rd, Painesville, OH 44077, USA
Nicholas/Wikimedia Commons
This easy hike situated in Leroy Township is just under a half mile, and it really is a breeze. You get so caught up in the scenery that you almost forget you are getting a bit of a workout! Part of this trail runs parallel to Paine Creek, and the site is actually not far from a Native American structure that stands as one of the oldest in Ohio.
9. StoryWalk Trail, Carolyn Mugrage Park, 4985 Windfall Road, Medina
Carolyn Ludwig Mugrage Park, 4985 Windfall Rd, Medina, OH 44256, USA
Nichole Houze/Friends of Medina County Parks Facebook
Mugrage Park in the town of Medina is a hidden gem! Its StoryWalk Trail is a casual one-mile journey over a paved surface, and along the way, signs tell a story with bright, colorful pictures. Along the way, you will pass a lovely lake, an inclusive playground, a meadow, a wetland, woods, and a hill that offers great views of the scenery. Fun and one of the best kid-friendly hikes in Ohio, the dog parks along the trail also make this a welcoming destination for pups!
10. Lake Issac Loop, Big Creek Reservation, 4101 Fulton Parkway, Cleveland
Big Creek Reservation, Main St, Middleburg Heights, OH 44130, USA
Chris Light/Wikimedia Commons
Begin your 1.2-mile walk at a glacial pothole (Cleveland's oldest and biggest pothole!) and journey through several different habitats. The array of scenery you'll encounter along this walk is dazzling, and seeing the waterfowl that flock to Lake Isaac is always a thrill.

Many times, short hikes are the perfect way to quench that summertime thirst for adventure. What is your favorite laid-back hike? Also, in case you missed it, check out our list of the best Cleveland-area picnic spots for snacks with stellar views.

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Best hikes in Cleveland

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