Rocky Hike Viewing Berea Falls at Rocky River Reservation in Berea, Ohio

 

Part of the Cleveland Metroparks System, Berea Falls Enchants with Multiple Cascades

We are gradually collecting Ohio waterfalls! Ohio preserves have become treasured spots to stretch our legs on road trips between Chicago and Philadelphia. We have found quite a cache of gems not too far off of our route. On each trip, we try to explore a new spot so we were thrilled when we realized that Berea Falls was right on our route. Berea Falls is near Cleveland, making it an easy and enjoyable add-on to many Ohio trips.

Multiple drops make Berea Falls add a bit more intrigue to the scene.

 

We started out the first leg of our recent road trip pretty early. We arrived to the Berea Falls Overlook on a sleepy morning. Standing on the platform, we observed the multiple drop falls and tumbling Rocky River from above. After absorbing the scene from above, we embarked on the trail down to river. The trailhead is located near the overlook and easy to find on any visit. 

Hiking down to Berea Falls provides opportunities for fantastic views.

We descended on a rocky and muddy trail down for a closer look at Berea Falls. Berea Falls serve as a remnant of our glacial past. Glacial water flowed through sandstone seeping to shale beneath. The shale is softer and eroded under the sandstone, so the sandstone started to break off creating the scene we see today.

I really loved the stone arch bridges rising just beyond the falls. The arches of the stone train bridges add a bit of a different character to the scene.

 

Cumbersome boulders really give Rocky River its name!

The  hike down to Berea Falls did not take long at all. Spindle paths allow you to wander a bit in the area. Additional trails within the larger Rocky River Reservation provide more avenues for nature adventure along and around this river full of boulders! We really hit the nature jackpot on this pitstop! We anticipate future visits to Rocky River Reservation and other Cleveland Metroparks.