The Cleveland Metroparks attract a great deal of attention for the vastness of the parks in their district. However, locals know that small, local parks are oftentimes some of the greatest gems you can find in Greater Cleveland. Smaller city-managed parks may hide everything from local art to natural features, and today we're going to take a virtual visit to a Greater Cleveland waterfall park that's a natural work of art. Lace up your hiking boots and get your camera ready, because the trails in this petite park are calling.
Tucked away off of Water Street in Olmsted Falls is a pretty little park that's nestled against the Rocky River.
This magnificent city park is small but mighty. It's fun for the whole family, boasting walking trails, grills, and picnic tables to make for an exceptional outing.
The park is a mere five acres in size, but across its landscape, visitors find solace in its nooks and crannies.
The park, which is lovely in every season, features stonework, waterfalls, fishing spots, and more.
The park is named for David Fortier, a local resident who served as mayor and also taught as a chemistry teacher at Brunswick High School. His life was cut short due to a traffic accident, but his legacy still impacts many local residents.
The park hides scenic spots the whole family will love, including a covered bridge as well as a splash pad and playground.
While the splash pad offers a bit of relief from the summer heat, the shade offered by the abundant trees creates a magnificent place to hike.
As an added bonus, the trails in this park are fairly short and sweet given the condensed landscape. They're not too hard for families with young hikers, and the terrain is pretty easy to traverse.
And as you wind through the park's five acres of trails and alcoves, you'll find a number of small but impressive waterfalls.
The intensity of the waterfalls varies, of course, depending on local rainfall or snowmelt, but they're always charming to see.
If you're craving a visit to this park, you might consider planning an excursion in each season to see the diversity of this landscape unfold before your eyes. While the waterfalls vary in size depending on seasonal factors, they're lovely even when they're modest trickles.
Interestingly, the park also features history hiding in plain sight; evidence of historic quarries and mills can be spotted in the park's natural stone features.
Of course, history is abundant in this landscape... people have been attracted to this area for generations for its beauty.
Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for evidence of early life in Olmsted Falls. There are chisel marks from historic quarries in the area, and evidence of once-bustling mills exists in much of the natural stone, as well.
There's so much to love about David Fortier River Park in Olmsted Falls.
Look for it at Water Street, Olmsted Falls, OH 44138.
There are many Greater Cleveland waterfall parks worth visiting, but David Fortier is truly a hidden gem. Have you ever visited this pretty park in Olmsted Falls? We'd love to hear about your visit! If you snagged any photos, feel free to drop them in the comments -- we'd love to see them!
Love waterfalls? Treat yourself to a weekend adventure on our wine and waterfall road trip through Cleveland.
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