20200216 – Hinckley Reservation – Hinckley Lake Loop Trail

Date: 02/16/2020 – Distance: 4.2 mi – Elapsed Time: 3 hr – Ascent: 344 ft – Descent: 312 ft – Difficulty: Medium

This was my second day in Hinckley Reservation after staying the night nearby in Medina. Today was warmer than yesterday and the sun came out a few times with some very blue sky. I wanted to explore the 90 acre Hinckley Lake. The lake is part of the Rocky River, which flows all the way to Lake Erie west of Cleveland, and is know for it’s trout. I parked at the spillway picnic area and headed for the Hinckley Lake Loop Trail in a clockwise direction.

This trail begins combined with the All Purpose Trail. The All Purpose Trail, marked by it’s green centerline, is part of the Emerald Necklace which is a paved bike trail that connects all of Cleveland’s Metro Parks. At the East Drive Scenic Overlook, the Hinckley Lake Loop Trail departs from the All Purpose Trail, crossing the road, and descending into the woods toward the lake through a pine grove. Upon reaching the lake shore, it follows the shoreline, past a beaver dam, to the lake’s headwaters to State Road, where it rejoins the All Purpose Trail. After turning left and crossing the bridge on State Road, the trail again departs the All Purpose Trail to the right along the south shore of the lake. There are a few bald cypress trees here. This portion of the trail is also shared with the Buckeye Trail.

At Johnson’s Picnic Area, which is very scenic, the Buckeye Trail departs south, while the Hinckley Lake Loop Trail once again rejoins the All Purpose Trail for a short distance to the Hinckley Lake Boathouse. At the boathouse the trail continues along the lake, past a few scenic ravines covered with pines and hardwoods. There are also dozen’s of little fishing docks all around this lake. Just past dock #4, you can begin to see the spillway ahead. The trail continues all the way to the west end of the spillway. You have to descend some stairs, then cross over a footbridge below the spillway to arrive back at the picnic area parking where you began. I also walked up onto the dam to get some shots of that. Altogether, the hike was over 4 miles.