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The centerpiece of northeast Ohio's Rocky River Reservation, the Fort Hill Earthworks Trail offers hikers beautiful views, challenging climbs, and a look at prehistoric Native American earthworks, believed to be remnants of an ancient hilltop fort. Locals and visitors in Cleveland looking to enjoy the outdoors should strongly consider a visit.
Trailhead elevation 660'
Water available from the Nature Center at the trailhead
Don't miss doing laps on the staircase and taking the scenic Valley Parkway drive north into Lakewood
Hike the Fort Hill Earthworks Trail
The hike begins at the Rocky River Nature Center, located along a picturesque section of the Valley Parkway. The parking lot can accommodate up to fifty vehicles but tends to fill up quickly throughout the day. Come early on weekends.
Starting from the Nature Center, the trail leads a short way before reaching a staircase. Originally built in 1982 and renovated in 2016, the 155-step staircase ascends nearly 100 feet to the top of the Rocky River Gorge.
It's a fantastic staircase to do laps on and gets fairly crowded on weekends with those looking for a good leg workout.
At the top, hikers are rewarded with scenic views of the gorge and the Rocky River below.
Continuing on, the trail soon reaches the Fort Hill Earthworks, a historic site listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The earthworks, created by prehistoric Native Americans, consist of three long earthen mounds, likely constructed as a defensive fort around 200-300 BC. Archaeological findings, including charred remains from an ancient fire pit, indicate that the Early Woodland people used tools made from stone, animal bone, and wood to tightly compact natural materials like clay and gravel to construct the mounds. Originally, these mounds may have stood over 8 feet tall, though erosion has since reduced them to about two feet. Additional artifacts, such as arrowheads from the Middle Woodland Period (100-500 AD), suggest later use of the site including it being utilized during ceremonies.
From the earthworks, the trail follows the top of the gorge, providing more beautiful views, including the Cedar Point Overlook. Those who feel a bit more adventurous can hop the fence and carefully walk out to the edge of the gorge for an even better view.
Around the 0.75-mile mark, the trail descends an old stone staircase, leading to an intersection with the Wildlife Management Loop Trail.
At the southern end of the Wildlife Management Loop, the path continues through a grassy area to a marsh filled with cattails.
For a scenic route, hikers can connect with the West Channel Pond Loop Trail, offering views of the pond. A boardwalk over the pond takes hikers back to the staircase, where they can either take a few laps up and down or continue on the Mount Pleasant Loop just north of the Nature Center.
After the hike, visitors might also enjoy a 7-mile scenic drive along Valley Parkway, followed by a stop in Lakewood, one of Cleveland's most eclectic neighborhoods, to explore its many unique restaurants and shops.
