This Little-Known Park Near Cleveland Hides A Natural Sandstone Maze That Leads To A Waterfall
By Nikki Rhoades|Published May 19, 2019
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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.
When you find yourself sitting in rush hour traffic, it is easy to feel like you need an escape. Every so often, your neighbors feel far too close and commutes grow irritating as the stressors of city life try your patience. Fortunately for Northeast Ohioans, our cities and suburbs are contrasted by stretches of wilderness and agriculture that allow visitors a moment of peace and quiet. If you find solace in nature, there’s one park with a natural sandstone maze that has the power to completely relax you, and you simply must check it out.
Craving adventure? You'll find it and more amidst the 3,000 acres of Liberty Park.
Liberty Park is located about 30 minutes outside of city limits in neighboring Summit County. It offers an interesting contrast to the landscape and history of the Cleveland Metroparks, as this one park is a conglomerate of unique ecosystems and habitats.
This scenic park is a testament to the power of nature—it hosts many endangered and rare species including Indiana bats and bald eagles.
This area is maintained through a partnership between Summit Metro Parks, the City of Twinsburg, and the Ohio State Parks. The area has been attracting visitors since prehistory, and its unique collection of flora and fauna attract researchers and nature lovers alike in the modern age.
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Despite its stunning array of living beings, the crown jewel of the area is doubtlessly the unique Liberty Park Ledges.
As there are 3,000 acres to explore in this vast park, you likely will not be able to see everything in one day. However, the one-mile Ledges Trail will offer an extraordinary first impression of Liberty Park.
As you hike south, you'll wander into the radiant Tinker's Creek Area and the Tinker's Creek State Nature Preserve.
Here, you'll find critters like otters and beavers thriving in the wetlands and fishing pond. This area is particularly intriguing in the spring and fall, when blooming wildflowers and slumbering trees cause the landscape to erupt in color.
As the peeps of frogs echo off the ledges in the summer and the brutal winds of winter call and moan in the colder months, you'll find a bit of tranquility in this breathtaking landscape. Liberty Park, you'll find, offers a meditative experience to those that find peace in nature.
If the sheer size of these ledges doesn't offer a dose of humility, perhaps you will feel awestruck when you realize that the maze of ledges is covered in a living skin.
Ferns sprout out of cracks in the rock, and hardy moss and lichens add a velvety exterior to the rough surface of the stone. This living skin is fascinating to observe up close and it demonstrates the prowess of nature.
And, following rain and snow melt, you just may discover an extra bonus of beauty appearing in a petite waterfall trickling over the ledges.
As water breaks the sandstone deposit and assists with weathering, this very phenomenon feels like something of a paradox. You see, local sandstone was largely formed by the presence and power of the ancient ocean that once covered Ohio's landscape.
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Bogs, ledges, natural springs, and wetlands create a wide array of diversity in this one cohesive natural district.
Due to the size of this park, you will likely find yourself visiting time and time again to explore each and every unique habitat. Bring a water bottle and a sense of adventure, because these trails offer a swashbuckling experience.
Prepare for jaw-dropping views and a dreamy excursion through nature, because you'll fall in love with the landscape of Liberty Park.
Though living among neighbors and traffic and technology can take a toll on your patience, there’s always a dose of reality and tranquility awaiting in the Northeast Ohio wilderness. Who would you take hiking in this pretty place with you?
