2015 Findley State Park Winter HIke
M D Edmonds
This section begins south of Wellington on State Route 58 at Findley State Park and proceeds on footpath through the park. While much of the trail that follows lies on roads in a relatively flat, rural landscape, the trail crosses Spencer Lake on a causeway within Spencer Lake Wildlife Area, goes by Letha House Park (Medina County Park District), follows Lester Rail-Trail (Medina County Park District), enters the City of Medina and goes around Medina Public Square. Before exiting the city, the trail follows the Champion Creek Trail (City of Medina Park) and crosses Lake Medina Park (Medina County Park District).
The trail once again follows rural roads through rolling country-side. The trail leaves roads to cross through both Hinckley Reservation (Cleveland Metroparks), where it passes close by the famous Buzzard’s Roost and climbs through the rugged Whipp’s Ledges, and Richfield Heritage Preserve (formerly Camp Crowell Hilaka, now part of Richfield Joint Recreational District). The trail from the Medina Section ends in the Brecksville Reservation (Cleveland Metroparks) where it joins with Buckeye Trail from the Akron and Bedford Sections near Deer Lick Cave.
CW | CCW | Pt | |
---|---|---|---|
28.1 E |
27.7 N |
13 | S Broadway at Champion Creek Trail
Just across Champion Creek, leave the sidewalk and turn E onto the Champion Creek Trail. A trailhead w/P, Pr is located behind and just S of the house. Crossing Champion Creek twice, continue E on paved trail. The trail turns S near a substation. After 0.26 mi, reach Springbrook Dr and turn E on Champion Creek Trail. At the Entrance to Nichols Park (0.2 mi), enter Crestwood Park and meander generally E on the Champion Creek Trail. Exit the Champion Creek Trail at Guilford Blvd which you will cross using crosswalk. Turn NE uphill across tracks past Roscoe Ewing Park (P, Pr). After 0.3 mi, Guilford Rd ends. Follow the curving sidewalk to the right (E) and go E on E Washington St. The sidewalk transitions to the new multi-purpose trail. In another 0.3 mi reach the entrance to Medina Hospital. |
29.7 E |
26.1 W |
14 | E Washington St at Woodland Dr and W entrance to Medina Hospital
Continue E on E Washington St crossing second Medina Hospital entrance (0.1 mi). Soon E Washington St changes its name to Medina Rd (SR 18). Cross Foote Rd using crosswalk going E. Follow trail another 0.4 mi as it passes Waterford Dr (0.15 mi, exits R), entrances to a church, a business, and the drive to Summa Health. At the pedestrian crosswalk, turn left (N) to cross Medina Rd. Now on the N side of Medina Rd, turn right (E) to reach Lake Medina County Park. Enter the park and proceed through the parking area. (Note: From the pedestrian crosswalk and before crossing Medina Rd, there is a major grocery 0.34 mi further E on Medina Rd, on S side of street. The grocery complex contains a bank, a restaurant, and a hardware with a US Post Office.) |
30.7 N |
25.1 S |
15 | NW End of Parking Area for S End of Medina Lake |
CW | CCW | Pt | |
---|---|---|---|
42.0 N |
13.6 W |
21 | State Rd (C44) Bridge over East Branch Rocky River
Continue N on APT along State Rd. After 300', shortly after where the Hinckley Lake Loop Trail exits W, turn E across State Rd and follow the drive toward Ledges Picnic Area. After 200', exit the drive onto the footpath at the base of steps; ascend E to a picnic area. After 0.11 mi, pass a BTA Interpretive Panel on lawn near the W end of the parking lot for Ledges Picnic Area. Join parking lot and head E. At the NE end of the parking lot near a picnic shelter, join a footpath that climbs NE on steps, crosses a service road that goes behind the picnic shelter, and continues NE. At the top of the steps (250’), turn N on footpath. The footpath will enter a field of boulders that have separated from the bedrock itself and are now sliding ever so slowly down slope. As the footpath climbs its way through these “sliders”, it turns gradually to the SE. And the boulders grow larger. After 0.1 mi, the footpath turns quite sharply N and ascends rather steeply into a slot between 2 massive rock walls, one of which is clearly the side of a slider while the other might be bedrock. Approaching the top of this slot, the footpath turns E and climbs to the rim of the ledges (300’). Here, the trail turns SE along the rim and you may look over more of these impressive cliffs from above. After 0.1 mi, turn N away from the ledges and ascend slowly. |
42.7 E |
12.9 S |
22 | Top of the Ledges Picnic Area
Return to the text in your Medina map dated January 2017. The new route is about 0.2 mi shorter between Pt 21 and 22. Deduct 0.2 mi from the values quoted in CW direction for points greater than 22. Similarly, deduct 0.2 mi from the values quoted in the CCW direction for points less than 21. |
CW | CCW | Pt | |
---|---|---|---|
30.7 N |
25.6 S |
15 | NW End of Parking Area for S End of Lake Medina Lake Medina was the source of water for the citizens of Medina until 2002. Water was pumped daily from the Rocky R into the impoundment. It is now a unit within MCPD. Go N on an improved trail across a bridge over the West Branch of Rocky R (400'). Ascend the levee to the trail with views of Lake Medina. Head N around the W side of the lake. After 0.8 mi above a concrete building (the former pump house), the confluence of the N Fork and the W Fork may be seen just W of your present location. Continue on the trail as it descends to the paved path at the foot of the levee and heads NE |
32.0 NE |
23.8 SW |
16 | NW End of Parking Area at N End of Lake Medina
Facility: P, Pr. Leave parking area NE on drive, etc. |
CW | CCW | Pt | |
---|---|---|---|
53.2 E |
2.6 S |
28 | Barr Rd at CMP All Purpose Trail (APT) along Valley Parkway Near intersection, go E on paved APT that more or less parallels the S side of Valley Parkway within Brecksville Reservation, a unit of CMP, above I-77 (no access) and Highland Drive (0.7 mi). |
54.7 E |
1.1 W |
29 | Bridle Path at Brecksville Rd (SR 21) Continue E on paved APT past a small parking area (300'). Return to the text as written in your Medina Section map. |
CW | CCW | Pt | |
---|---|---|---|
53.2 E |
28.6 W |
12 | W Liberty St at N State St (MM, R) Go E on sidewalk on either side of street. After 0.8 mi N Court St, reach Medina Public Square. There are many good restaurants on W Liberty St here. The blazes continue 1 more block on Liberty St before turning S on Broadway St. Continue on S Broadway St past the Library on the E side of the street. |
27.7 E |
27.5 N |
13 | S Broadway at Champion Creek Trail Just across Champion Creek, leave the sidewalk and turn E onto the Champion Creek Trail. A trailhead w/P, Pr is located behind the house just S of the building. Crossing Champion Creek twice, continue E on paved trail. The trail turns S near a substation. After 0.26 mi, reach Springbrook Dr and turn E on Champion Creek Trail. At the Entrance to Nichols Park (0.2 mi), enter Crestwood Park and meander generally E on the Champion Creek Trail. Exit the Champion Creek Trail at Guilford Blvd. Turn NE uphill across tracks past Roscoe Ewing Park (P, Pr). After 0.3 mi, Guilford Rd ends. Go E on E Washington St. |
29.3 E |
25.9 W |
14 | E Washington St at Woodland Drive and W Entrance to Medina Hospital |