With Lake Erie in its front yard and a national park in its backyard, visitors to Cleveland can easily escape the hustle and bustle of city life. From watersports to hiking and biking, opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors can be found in the 33,000-acre Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the 23,000 acres of the Cleveland Metroparks and along the shore of the shallowest and warmest of the Great Lakes.
Forest City
Cleveland Metroparks. Known as the “Emerald Necklace,” the picturesque Cleveland Metroparks encircle the city with nearly 23,000 acres of greenspace in 18 reservations, from the Hinckley Reservation (home of the beloved buzzards) to the lush, forest-filled Bradley Woods.
Coming in 2026 is the Mandel Community Trail, a Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway between E. 9th and E. 55th streets along North Marginal Road. The project provides a path through the neighborhoods of St. Clair Superior, Glenville and Downtown with the views of Lake Erie.
Lakefront Nature Preserve. A peninsula that jets into Lake Erie was created for the 88-acre Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve. Visitors can hike lakefront trails and observe a variety of wildlife, including more than 300 species of birds and butterflies.
Irishtown Bend Park. The Cuyahoga River hillside known as Irishtown Bend is being transformed into a 23-acre park with a riverfront trail, gathering spaces and boardwalk expected to be complete in 2027. The area was the site of an Irish shantytown in the 19th century as the city was gaining prominence as an industrial hub. The hillside slopes down from the vibrant Ohio City neighborhood. The park will complete the connection of the Cleveland Foundation Centennial Lake Link Trail to the 101-mile Towpath Trail and will make history as one of the first U.S. waterfront parks directly connected to public housing.
Mighty River Valley
Cuyahoga Valley National Park. With over 2.2 million recreational visits each year, the more than 33,000-acre Cuyahoga Valley National Park is perfect for hiking, biking, birding or simply relaxing. Located between Cleveland and Akron, the park is led by the mighty Cuyahoga River that snakes through a wilderness of verdant trees, valley landscapes and historic farms. Celebrating 50 years, CVNP 50 kicked off in Sept. 2024 and will run through 2025 with anniversary activities and events for everyone to celebrate.
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Offering unparalleled access to the postcard-perfect scenery of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is the 51-mile Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. It’s ideal for a date with nature — especially during the popular wine sampling (Grape Escapes) and beer tasting (Ales on Rails) excursions.
Towpath Trail. The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail offers 90 miles of trails that follow the route of the legendary canal, running through forests, fields and wetlands as it winds through the Cuyahoga River valley from Zoar, Ohio to Cleveland.
Great Lakes Watersports. On the West Bank of the Flats, Great Lakes Watersports rents jet skis, boats and kayaks to the adventurous, while River Cruiser Kayaking offers tours of area waterways, including the Cuyahoga River, Ohio Erie Canal and the Cleveland Metroparks’ Rocky River Reservation.
Blazing Paddles Paddlefest. An annual kayak, paddleboard and canoeing celebration commemorates the Cuyahoga River’s transformation from an industrial pollution zone to an active urban water sports destination. The courses include an iconic turnaround point, the site of the infamous June 22, 1969 fire that fueled the birth of the EPA, the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act.
Great Lakes Adventure
Edgewater Park & Beach. Cooling off with a cocktail or refueling after a beachfront walk or volleyball game is easy at the Cleveland Metroparks’ Edgewater Park. Belly up to the bar for a drink or snack at the open-air, two-story beach house, which includes a full-service bar, concessions and 360-degree views of the city and the lake.
Lakefront Reservation. Jutting up against the expanse of Lake Erie on the city’s East side, visitors will find the Cleveland Metroparks Lakefront Reservation. The reservation offers access to beaches, boat ramps, fitness trails, fishing piers and more. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy Cleveland’s outdoors, from bird watching to picnicking, to paddleboarding, biking and beyond.
North Coast Harbor. Take in Instagram-ready views of the city skyline and Lake Erie from the Oasis Marinas at North Coast Harbor, located behind the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Waterfront visitors can expect a fresh experience come summer of 2025.
Stand-Up Paddleboarding. Thrill-seekers can catch some rays while stand-up paddleboarding local water ways via Rico’s Rentals, Aloha SUP and 41° North Kayak Adventures, which also offers kayaking lessons.
Cruise Boats. Travelers can let someone else navigate the fair waters on both the Goodtime III and Lady Caroline boats, which offer a variety of waterfront cruises. For a more private, tropical experience, CLE Tiki Barge provides two-hour cruises up and down the Cuyahoga River and Inner Harbor.
Lake Erie Islands. Visitors can slip away to the Lake Erie Islands, an hour drive west of Cleveland, to visit music-filled and bar-friendly Put-in-Bay or outdoors haven Kelleys Island.
Cycle the City
Lakefront Bikeway. Cleveland’s burgeoning bike trail system continues to expand with the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway. This multipurpose path spans the length of the city’s 17-mile Lake Erie shoreline. Visitors can take in the sights of some of Cleveland’s best architecture and traditional neighborhoods before reaching the scenic beauty of Edgewater State Park and the stately homes along Edgewater Drive.
Cleveland-Cliffs Bike Park. An outdoor biking complex at the Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation, Cleveland-Cliffs Bike Park includes a pump track for motocross, a bike playground for beginners and a competition course with rollers, berms and a tunnel.
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Explorer Program. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s Explorer Program allows visitors to bike through the scenery of the Ohio and Erie Canalway Towpath Trail and then ride the historic railroad (bike included) back to their starting point for just $5.
Bike Tours & Velodrome. Bob’s Bike Tours offers expert-guided tours of the city’s enclaves, while the Cleveland Velodrome offers adventure-seekers access to an Olympic-style track.
Bike Cleveland. During the spring and summer months, local advocacy group Bike Cleveland organizes numerous group rides for visitors to join, including night rides on the Towpath Trail or routes that explore specific neighborhoods.
Bike Rental. For visitors who don’t bring bikes from home, Ohio City Bicycle Co-op rents bikes for a day of traveling the city’s trails. Visitors can also take advantage of the various bike and scooter rental options available throughout the city.
Slow Roll Cleveland. The Slow Roll movement came to Cleveland in 2013 for its 10-mile bike rides. Hundreds of riders join the local group for the inclusive social bike rides around the city to explore all the culturally diverse neighborhoods and attractions.
Tee the Greens
Cleveland Metroparks. The
Cleveland Metroparks offer eight courses of varying difficulty, from the easygoing nine-hole par 3 at
Shawnee Hills to the championship-caliber
Sleepy Hollow, with its sloping greens and pernicious bunkers.
FootGolf. For a less-traditional game, both
Mastick Woods and
Shawnee Hills offer the novel sport
FootGolf, which challenges players to follow the rules of golf while using five regulation-size soccer balls, thereby encouraging fancy footwork rather than majestic swings.
Public Courses. Other public golf courses making Northeast Ohio a putter’s paradise include picturesque
Boulder Creek, rustic Geauga County mainstay
Fowler’s Mill, waterfront resort
Sawmill Creek, lake- and stream-dotted Medina course
Shale Creek and the tree-shaded
Pine Hills in Hinckley.
Hook, Line & Sinker
Fishing Charters.
Eyes Ready Charters in Fairport Harbor brings visitors straight to prime specimens of walleye, perch and steelhead, while the
Midtown Fishing Charters at Lakefront Reservation E 72nd Marina and the Scranton Peninsula-based
Holiday Charters offer private trips.
Fishing Piers. For those looking to stay on land, the
East 55th Street Marina boasts a 1,200-foot fishing pier, guest docks and a bait shop. Beachgoers can take in skyline views at the
Edgewater Fishing Pier or enjoy a beautiful sunset at the 315-foot
Euclid Beach Pier.