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The 7.4-mile Big Creek Reservation All Purpose Trail provides a paved pathway connecting the Mill Stream Run Reservation, Big Creek Reservation, and the Fern Hill Picnic Area.
About the Route
While the trail parallels Big Creek Parkway for much of its route, the linear corridor is filled with trees, forming a natural buffer from the roadway. The trail also borders quiet residential neighborhoods and, once you reach Big Creek Reservation, the trail follows the shoreline of Lake Isaac and will have glimpses of the water.
Approaching the northern end of the trail, the experience will feel more urban as you pass through the City of Parma Heights. The trail's northern end is Brookpark Road, which also houses numerous shops and restaurants.
Connections
At the trail's southern end, trail users can connect to the Mill Stream Run Reservation All Purpose Trail.
The Big Creek Reservation All Purpose Trail runs between Mill Stream Run Reservation All Purpose Trail (Strongsville) and Brookpark Road (Cleveland).
Parking is also available at:
Please see TrailLink Map for all parking options and detailed directions.
Lots of crosswalks and stop lights to go through
This is nicely maintained by the Metro Parks. It runs mostly through neighborhoods and some woods. There are some crosswalks over cross-streets which slow down progress if you’re looking for a workout. Very nicely done.
Pretty good for a trail that goes through a completely built-up suburban area. Flat and well-paved along its entire length. The prettiest part is along the shore of Lake Isaac nearly the southern end. Connects to Lake to Lake Trail at Lake Isaac. I recommend doing the 2 trails together. The numerous road crossings are annoying, but the major ones have pedestrian traffic lights, so they are safe.
Big Creek Reservation All Purpose Trail is one of the standard multi-use trails you will find in the Cleveland area MetroParks. The Cleveland MetroParks form what is known as the Emerald Necklace around Cleveland.
This particular trail goes from Parma, OH to just North of Strongsville, OH. This is mostly a connector route that leads from a small park in Parma to larger MetroParks to the southwest that make up the Emerald Necklace. Many of the area's MetroParks are connected by thin slivers of park roads that give one the impression that you have really never left a Metropark.
This particular path traveled down the center of a boulevard called the Big Creek Parkway. While you bike down this sliver of green, the road is on either side of you with homes facing the green space while not having to view the homes on the other side. This trail was fairly flat unlike many of the MetroParks on Cleveland's Eastside that seem to be centered around rivers and creeks at the bottom of ravines or valleys. This path crosses six very busy streets but crosswalk signals stop traffic for riders and walkers to cross safely. If you're looking to race down this path, look for another trail.
This trail is 8 miles long and ends when it connects to Valley Parkway All Purpose Trail in Mill Stream Run Reservation MetroPark. At Milepost 6.5 you arrive at Lake Isaac and can connect to the start of the Lake to Lake Trail.
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