Dueling Cascades in Cascade Park in Elyria, Ohio

Dueling Cascades in Cascade Park in Elyria, Ohio

Cascade Park in Elyria, Ohio provided us with our first opportunity to truly stretch our legs and explore on our trip. The sky threatened to open up and pour, so we did not know how much time we had to discover the two cascades at Cascade Park. We were determined to at least find one, so we set out to traverse the rocky terrain along the Black River.

The Black River and rocky terrain at Cascade Park.

Traversing a Rocky Path:

We knew that there would be rocky patches, but we did not really know how rocky our path would be until we were quickly confronted with large boulders.

Boulders add an element of challenge to looking for the falls.

Honestly, I was not expecting to have to climb over and around boulders. But, it was quite fun and certainly picturesque. The river has eroded through sandstone and shale leaving an intriguingly striking terrain.

Discovering West Falls:

We could not make it all the way to the first waterfall, the West Falls, because parts of the trail were obstructed due to flooding. Yet. you can see it in the distance -- still beautiful:

West Falls thundering in the distance.

Savoring Views of East Falls:

We drove over to a parking area nearer to the East Falls. This area had several different viewing ledges and benches to help enjoy the falls. Our vantage point was much nicer for the East Falls:

What a Playground!

The park has recently undergone some renovations. Among them was a new and updated playground. My daughter would have loved this years ago! Really, the playground looks like the perfect place for kids to explore! The playground is closer to the East Falls. There also is a nature center which was not open during our visit plus more trails along the Black River.

We savored our fresh air break during the first leg of our road trip from the Chicago area to Youngstown, Ohio. Who can resist a little waterfalling? We found Cascade Park to be a nice aside for families, a great spot for a stop and picnic. We do wonder what the park will look like later in the spring when the greenery comes in. I guess we will need to return!