Your parks boast more than 70 miles of trails suitable for hiking, walking and running across scenic Geauga County. In fact, the only parks within the system without a trail are Bass Lake Preserve and Woodin Road Park – all others are fair game!
Please enjoy perusing the resources below, including any upcoming naturalist-led opportunities to stretch your legs.
Are you setting a New Year’s resolution to explore Nature more? To discover new places, or get more exercise? Or maybe all three?
Here’s a program that’ll be perfect for you, now in its second year: the Geauga Gems Trekking Series!
Registration for the 2021 series is now open online and by phone for Geauga County residents and opens January 15, 2021, for out-of-county residents.
How to Get Started
Upon registration, you’ll receive a Geauga Gems Trekking Card to track your progress. Keep the card with you to mark your 27 self-guided hikes, and bring your card to your 3 required naturalist-led hikes to be marked. We encourage you to spread your hikes throughout the year to discover new trails and parks in different seasons! Those who complete these goals before the end of 2021 will receive a collapsible trekking pole (if they haven’t received one during a previous year of the series) and a 2021 Geauga Gems hiking medallion sticker in January 2022.
New in 2021, participants may choose instead to celebrate Geauga Park District’s 60th anniversary by hiking 60 miles in the parks — no naturalist-led hikes required!
More details can be found on your trekking card when you sign up, as well as the following documents:
2021 Series Introduction Presentation
Qualifying naturalist-led hikes are identifiable by the Geauga Gems logo in our quarterly Park Explorer Activity Guide, and on our website under Programs & Events by filtering program type Geauga Gems. If you have already completed your three naturalist-led hikes for this year, please consider allowing others to register for these small group hikes so that they may also complete their 2021 goal. Thank you!
We’ll see you out on the trails!
| Event | Location | Date | Time | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geauga Gems Trekking Series Registration | The West Woods | 01/01/2021 | 7:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Free |
| Birding for Early Birds | Holbrook Hollows | 04/17/2021 | 8:00 am - 10:00 am | Free |
| Welton's Gorge Backcountry Ravine Exploration | Welton's Gorge | 04/17/2021 | 9:30 am - 12:00 pm | Free |
| Birding for Beginners | Holbrook Hollows | 04/17/2021 | 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm | Free |
| Welton's Gorge Backcountry Ravine Exploration | Welton's Gorge | 04/17/2021 | 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm | Free |
| Signs of the Season Hike | The West Woods | 04/18/2021 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm | Free |
Staff clear snow from paved trails in the following parks during the cold winter months. After large snowfall events, park entrance drives and lots take priority; thanks for your patience as operations crews make their way to the trails.
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