If you follow along on Instagram, you know I love a great waterfall so I wanted to put together a list of all the different ones you can explore all around the Cleveland area!
WEST SIDE
BEREA FALLS – tap for more info – Berea
Berea Falls, part of Cleveland Metroparks’ Rocky River Reservation, is an easy urban waterfall to enjoy. Park at the scenic overlook & take a short walk to the observation area. The parking lot can be found right on Valley Pkwy by the intersection of Barrett Rd & Valley Pkwy.
MUSIC MOUND FALLS – tap for more info – Berea
The Music Mound Falls, part of Cleveland Metroparks’ Mill Stream Reservation in Berea, is a notable mention. Not known for the height of its falls, this one is special in its own way & worth seeing if you’re nearby. There’s parking right near it with an observation area. You’ll find the parking lot on N Quarry Lane in Berea. The falls are towards the intersection of N Quarry Lane & Valley Pkwy.
COLUMBIA PARK FALLS – tap for Google Map – Bay Village
A truly unique location. These falls in Bay Village lead out to Lake Erie. There is an observation deck you can view them from up top or go down the steps for a better view from the landing or beach. Be forewarned that if it’s a super windy day, the landing at the bottom of the steps gets very wet from the waves. Proceed with caution especially with little ones. There is parking right across the street. The address is 25436 Lake Rd in Bay Village.
CASCADE PARK – tap for more info – Elyria
Cascade Park, part of Lorain County Metro Parks, is home to two waterfalls in Elyria.
The West Falls, pictured below, is the more well known of the two. These falls are accessible through a natural terrain trail (roughly a 1 mile loop) or a mostly paved path (with an intense incline) north of the trail. There is an observation deck to view them or hike down off the path to view them from below. The address of Cascade Park is 387 Furnace Street in Elyria.
The East Falls, pictured below, can be found right behind the Elyria police station. Not much of a hike here at all as there are stairs that take you to a rather large observation area. The address to the police station which is the easiest way to find the falls is 18 West Ave. Turn on Kerstetter Way & you’ll see the East Falls Riverwalk sign.
DAY’S DAM FALLS – tap for more info – Lorain
This one is closest to a “hidden gem” as you can get (& if you know me, you know I hate that phrase.) You’ll find Days Dam in the Black River Reservation, part of Lorain County Metro Parks. It’s about a 10-15 minute walk down the main path & then you’ll see a waterfall trail that veers off to the right. That path is natural terrain & gets muddy if it’s been raining. Another 5-10 minutes gets you a view of the falls from afar & if you’re feeling super adventurous, you’ll see makeshift paths down & across a few streams to get right up to the falls. Not an easy hike but worth it for the view. The address to Day’s Dam is 2720 E 31st St in Lorain.
EAST SIDE
MILL CREEK FALLS – tap for more info – Cleveland
Mill Creek Falls, Cuyahoga County’s tallest waterfall, is located in Cleveland. Mill Creek Falls stands at 48 feet tall. The height and power of its flowing cascades helped Cleveland in becoming a prosperous city. The small overlook at The Yard offers an amazing view of Mill Creek Falls.
GREAT FALLS OF TINKER’S CREEK – tap for more info – Bedford
The Great Falls of Tinker’s Creek provides a stunning visual experience. Walking paths, overlooks and wayside panels help connect to the past and highlight the natural surroundings. There is even a fun tunnel to crawl through to access the waterfalls at a unique perspective.
BRIDAL VEIL FALLS – tap for more info – Walton Hills
A short walk along Deerlick Creek, down the boardwalk and steps, leads to a gorgeous view of Bridal Veil Falls.These cascading waterfalls are surrounded by hardwoods and hemlocks. This is a very popular photo spot.
PAINE FALLS PARK – tap for more info – Painesville
Paine Falls is a 25-foot waterfall that can be viewed from a distance using the short Paine Falls Lookout Trail.
SOUTH SIDE
BRANDYWINE FALLS – tap for more info – Sagamore Hills Township
The most well known waterfalls in the Cleveland area, Brandywine Falls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park is beautiful in any season. Getting here is pretty easy as there is a boardwalk path that takes you to an observation deck to view the falls from two different spots.
MUDCATCHER FALLS – tap for more info – Brecksville
The mudcatcher may be the only structure of its kind left along the Ohio & Erie Canal. It is an example of the engineering needed to maintain a constant level of water in the canal.
