The Maple Highlands Trail runs in three connected sections through Chardon and Middlefield. Together, the route measures 21.1 miles and passes through the entire county. Forests, wetlands, farmland and Amish settlement areas shape the landscape along the trail. The parks in Geauga County also offer more than 92 miles of trails for hiking, walking and running combined. This figure refers to the trails in all the parks, while the 21.1 miles refers to the named trail.
Mountain Run Station provides access to the middle section of the Maple Highlands Trail. There is also a bicycle repair station that can be used free of charge. If you are planning to ride the trail, check the current route: it may change as future trail projects progress.
From Star Trails to Forest Landscapes
At Observatory Park, interactive stations along a trail illustrate the scale of each orbit in relation to the sun. Nassau Astronomical Station offers another view of astronomy: it has a 36-inch Warner & Swasey telescope, considered one of the largest publicly accessible observing telescopes in Ohio.
West Woods Nature Center features a large wildlife feeding area and interactive informational displays. For outdoor activities, West Woods lists trails for hiking, skiing and horseback riding. The site thus combines nature education with several specifically named outdoor activities.
Big Creek Park covers 644 acres. Scenic Big Creek runs through it from south to north, while the terrain varies in elevation. A six-mile mountain biking trail runs through the forest. Its condition can change seasonally; check current conditions if you are planning to ride it.
A geological feature can be found at Welton's Gorge: the gorge is about 45 feet deep, and Sharon Sandstone and Sharon Conglomerate dating back around 300 million years are exposed there. The rock outcrops create a cool, damp environment where lichens, mosses and ferns predominate. The landscape here tells the story of both rock formations and the plants associated with local conditions.
Frohring Meadows is home to the Pollinator Play Garden. A dragonfly species is also part of the area's story: the Band-winged Dragonlet was discovered there in 2007 and was then new to Geauga County; it is normally native to Texas.
Burton Wetlands Nature Preserve includes Lake Kelso, a kettle lake formed by glaciers. In 1999, the preserve was designated an Ohio State Nature Preserve. At different times of the year, the lake serves as a destination or stopover for bald eagles, ospreys, tundra swans, loons, and migrating ducks and geese.
Maple in Festivals and the Landscape
The Geauga County Maple Festival was founded in 1926 and is an annual tradition. It hosts the largest maple syrup contest in the state of Ohio. During the Maple Sugaring Open House Weekends in March, maple syrup producers across the county open their operations. Visitors can learn about how maple syrup is made on a self-guided visit. Land use also reflects the maple tradition: 32 acres of Swine Creek Reservation are managed as a sugar maple stand.
Competition and tradition are the defining themes of the Maple Festival; the Open House Weekends, by contrast, focus on production. If you are planning to attend these seasonal events, check the dates before you travel. Details of the Great Geauga County Fair program may also change.
History and Fair
Century Village Museum first opened to the public on May 30, 1942. At the time, the 1838 Eleazer Hickox Home was the only historic building open to visitors; it still stands in its original location. Century Village Museum is also home to the only maple museum in Ohio. The historical details about the opening day tell of a single building at the start of the museum's history, while the maple museum provides another connection to the region's maple tradition.
The Great Geauga County Fair is the oldest fair in Ohio. Held over Labor Day weekend on more than 150 acres, its program includes rides, food, livestock, live music and shows. Main grandstand entertainment includes demolition derbies, truck and tractor pulls, and bull riding. The fair thus offers a different focus from the museum and maple attractions: its program brings together rides, demonstrations and entertainment over a set event weekend.
Explore more destinations: Chardon, Morgan County, Clark, Columbiana County, Lake, Franklin, Ashtabula County, Hancock.
For the broader travel overview: Ohio.
