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Print Friendly MapThe North Chagrin Reservation All Purpose Trail offers a 4.2-mile route traversing its namesake park, which lies on the northeastern outskirts of Cleveland. Beginning just south of US 6 (Chardon Road), the paved pathway dives into the trees as it heads south along Buttermilk Falls Parkway. You'll soon pass a parking lot for the Whispering Woods trailhead and, shortly thereafter, cross one of the park's bridle trails.
The next parking lot you see will be for the Strawberry Picnic Area, where you can also access the 1.6-mile Scenic Loop hiking path and restrooms. From here, the paved pathway departs from the roadway and becomes more secluded.
A little over halfway along your journey, you'll cross Sunset Lane, then arrive at the Buttermilk Falls trailhead. For its last leg, the path parallels Cleveland Metro Park Drive; a spur off the main trail provides access to the North Chagrin Nature Center. The trail ends at the Wilson Mills trailhead.
Parking is available throughout the North Chagrin Reservation, including at the Whispering Woods trailhead, the Strawberry Picnic Area, Forest Picnic Area and Wilson Mills trailhead.
The North Chagrin Reservation All Purpose Trail is a decent shaded trail that’s relatively flat except for the southern end of the trail which descends into/climbs out of the Chagrin River Valley.
I rode almost 14.5 miles on a complete out-and-back ride of the North Chagrin Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks in Willoughby, Ohio. The trail is listed as only 4.2 miles long, however, if you follow all the trail spurs off the main north-south All Purpose Trail, and follow the Strawberry Pond Trail along SOM Center Road (Rt. 91) as shown in TrailLink's map then you quickly add additional miles to the 4.2 mile long All Purpose Trail that runs through the park.
My one complaint about this trail is that the All Purpose Trail from Strawberry Pond north to the Chardon Road Entrance should be repaved. There are lots of bumps due to tree root lifting, quite of few dips from water ponding on the trail, and even some rough spots due to erosion.
Combine this trail with the Bruce G. Rinker Greenway in the nearby Progressive Insurance Headquarters Campus [across SOM Center Road (Rt. 91)] from the North Chagrin Reservation for a much longer ride.
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