Eldon Russell Park 16315 Rapids Road Troy Township

Eldon Russell Park is a 132-acre parcel located in Troy Township along the Upper Cuyahoga River, a state-designated Scenic River. It is Geauga Park District's intent to protect this natural area in perpetuity.

History
Habitats
Features
Fishing
Trails
Download the trail map
Directions to Eldon Russell Park

History
In 1901, Burton resident Pace Latham sought to establish large-scale onion farming here. To do so, he attempted to deepen and straighten the Cuyahoga River, draining the rich soil of the surrounding wetlands. Well into the dredging project, it was realized that a natural rock dam downstream at Hiram Rapids would still impede flow of water. Hired ruffians twice attempted to dynamite the dam, but they were greeted by local townspeople with shotgun blasts of rock salt. The onion farming scheme, known today as the Onion Wars, was abandoned. Eldon Russell Park marks the location where the dredging stopped. Today, spoil banks along the river remain as a reminder of this boondoggle.

In 1902, trolley cars on an extension of the Cleveland & Eastern Traction Company's Interurban Railroad began running from Chagrin Falls to Garrettsville. However, due to inadequate power and the advent of the automobile, this section of the trolley line was abandoned in 1914. Within the park, the exit drive and bridge abutments on the river are among the few remnants of this fondly remembered mode of travel.

In 1969, Mrs. Marie Horwath sold 51 acres of riverfront property to Geauga Park District. This provided Geauga County's first public access to the Upper Cuyahoga River. First known as River Park, the name was later changed to Eldon Russell Park in honor of the park commissioner who was instrumental in Geauga Park District's early expansion. Later, in 1976, 81 additional acres were leased from the City of Akron.

Habitats
In Geauga County, the Cuyahoga River flows through an ancient valley filled with glacial deposits. Flat expanses along the river define an old Ice Age lake bed that once occupied the valley. The park's landscape is also characterized by kames (knolls of sand and gravel formed by melting glaciers) and kettles (wet depressions left by the melting of buried blocks of glacial ice).

Soggy kettle holes harbor a number of rare wetland plants. Swamp forests of elm, ash, silver maple and swamp white oak thrive on poorly-drained flats along the river. Kames support an upland forest of beech, maple, oak and a majestic stand of native white pine. Deer, turkey and other woodland wildlife can be found here.

Many kinds of wetland wildlife may be observed along the river, including beaver, muskrat, mink, heron, wood duck and the rare prothonotary warbler. Beautiful blooms of pickerelweed, cardinal flower, water lily, spatterdock and buttonbush grave the river's edge each summer.

A large field at the western edge of the park is managed as grassland. Wildlife that benefit include eastern bluebirds, swallows, eastern meadowlarks, bobolinks, and a wide variety of mammals and insects.

Features
Horwath's Landing is available to launch a canoe or small boat. A shelter, grills, and restrooms provide for pleasant riverside picnicking. The shelter can be reserved, and is otherwise available on a first-come, first-served basis.  Read more about reserving shelters

The shelter at Eldon Russell Park

Fishing
The river attracts anglers who come to catch a variety of gamefish, including northern pike, bass and sunfish. Fish may be taken only with rod and reel or cane pole; a current Ohio fishing license is required in accordance with state regulations. Collecting live bait is not permitted. Geauga Park District encourages catch-and-release practices to help maintain a balanced and healthy fish population.

Trails
The Eldon Russell Nature Trail reaches many of the park's natural habitats along its .75-mile course. During times of high water, the section along the river may be inaccessible.  Download the trail map

The statewide Buckeye Trail makes a pass along the roadway bordering Eldon Russell Park.

Directions
Click below for a map from Mapquest®.

From the South: Travel I-422 east of the Route 44 exit. Turn north onto Rapids Road, and continue approximately 2.5 miles to the park entrance on the east side of the road.

From the North: Travel Route to the western edge of Burton Village. Turn south onto Rapids Road. Travel approximately 3.2 miles to the park entrance on the east side of the road.