The Boardwalk Hike At High Bridge Glens Near Cleveland Just Might Make Your Stomach Drop
By Nikki Rhoades|Published March 25, 2020
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
If you’ve never visited Cuyahoga Falls, it’s probably because it is a bit of a hike from Cleveland. After all, who would want to take a 40-minute drive to visit a small town with nothing to do? Nobody… although if that is your first impression of Cuyahoga Falls, you are in for a surprise. This community has nearly 50,000 residents, the second-largest city in the county (behind Akron, of course) and it is downright darling. It has a cute downtown district, all sorts of hiking throughout the town, and a historic park with the best boardwalk hike near Cleveland. This boardwalk perches on an overlook above a deep and active gorge, so the views it provides are unparalleled. Check it out:
High Bridge Glens is a local park seeped in history.
This pretty place first opened as something of an amusement park for Victorian visitors. There was a suspension footbridge over the gorge, a bowling alley, and even a roller coaster — said to be among the first in the nation. Clevelanders would catch the express train and spend a day in the Cuyahoga Falls area for hours of thrills.
Today, High Bridge Glens continue to captivate visitors, although its landscape looks a bit different nowadays.
This magnificent waterway is, believe it or not, shaped by the hands of man. Before a dam was built nearby, the Cuyahoga River was low enough to allow visitors to see caves at the bottom of the gorge, and historic trails have also been lost beneath its might. Nonetheless, there's a certain beauty about this area that's undeniable.
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This area is now listed as both a neighborhood park and part of Gorge Metro Park, and visitors adore its impressive boardwalk hike down to a scenic overlook. If you're afraid of heights — just don't look down.
There are several steep overlooks down into the gorge, and though they offer stunning views — well, you're looking down into a deep gorge full of movement. This can definitely make one's stomach drop!
The park was rededicated in 2009, empowering locals to embrace the history of their community in an astonishingly beautiful setting. In 2018, a butterfly garden was planted (and later dedicated in 2019) to attract local butterflies and other pollinators. People have proposed here, picnicked here, and just made memories while enjoying fun in the sun at High Bridge Glens Park.
And, no matter the season, there's always something to see and do here.
Whether you're perched on the Prospect Street observation bridge or enjoying a walk along Glens Trail or Highbridge Trail, you will fall in love with the beauty you see at this pretty park.
This park, once known as the "Niagara of Ohio" and expected to achieve international fame, is now something of a local secret.
Since this park was rededicated, it has enjoyed a steady stream of visitors — although, arguably, it has not received the press or the prestige it enjoyed back in the Victorian era. The possibilities for what this pretty park could become are endless, and arrangements are already being made to preserve and improve the health of the river that flows through it.
If you haven't visited High Bridge Glens Park, you'll want to follow in the footsteps of Clevelanders of yore to experience this magnificent beauty.
Once upon a time, this was among Ohio's most visited attractions, and Clevelanders couldn't resist its allure. Though it looks a bit different today, the beauty of this site is so worth the drive.
This incredible boardwalk hike near Cleveland is a treat. The area is rich in history, and the community that lies just beyond the park is splendidly beautiful in its own right. Have you ever visited this stunning park over the Cuyahoga River?
Next time you’re planning a trip to Cuyahoga Falls, keep Beau’s On The River in mind. It offers incredible views of this river!
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