Nelson-Kennedy Ledges Hiking Guide
Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park near Garrettsville is small, 167 acres, but its cliffs of Sharon conglomerate are split by narrow passages, deep fissures and overhangs with names like Devil's Icebox, The Squeeze and Gold Hunter's Cave. Four short color-coded trails wind through them, past Cascade Falls and to a glass-paneled walkway over the gorge at Minnehaha Falls. The distances are tiny; the time goes into squeezing, stepping and looking.
The Four Trails
The Ohio DNR park map lists four blazed trails: White (0.4 mile, easy), Yellow (0.2 mile, moderate), Blue (0.8 mile, moderate) and Red (0.2 mile, rated extreme). That is about 1.6 miles in all; mapping apps show a combined loop of about 1.4 miles with roughly 80 feet of gain, though the rock-hopping makes it feel like more. Blaze patterns painted on the trees signal turns, splits and trail ends, and the park map has a key, so look it over before you start.
Which Color to Pick
White is the easy option and leads to Minnehaha Falls and the glass walkway. Yellow heads north to Cascade Falls, Gold Hunter's Cave, Old Maid's Kitchen and Dwarf's Pass. Blue is the longest, running south along the ledges parallel to State Route 282. Red is short but rated extreme, threading the tightest slots in the park, including The Squeeze, near Devil's Hole and Devil's Icebox. Skip Red with a dog, a big pack or anyone uneasy in tight spaces.
Falls Edge Glass Bridge
Opened in May 2025, the Falls Edge Glass Walkway is a 137-foot S-shaped span about 50 feet above Sylvan Creek's gorge, with glass panels and a platform looking at Minnehaha Falls. It sits on the White Trail. The state built it partly to keep people on the trail and off fragile ledges, and new signs along the trails explain the park's geology and history.
Stay on the Marked Trail
The ledges have caused serious falls, including two deaths in 2011, and park rules are strict: stay on marked trails, no rock climbing or rappelling, no throwing objects from the cliffs, no alcohol and no camping. Keep pets leashed. The conglomerate is slick when wet and the crevices stay damp and shaded, so footing matters more than distance here.
Hours and Parking
There is no entrance fee at Ohio state parks. The park is open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, and vehicles left after closing are subject to towing. The main parking lot, a vault toilet and a picnic area sit beside the trailheads on State Route 282 (Nelson Ledge Road) in Portage County, southeast of Cleveland. It is a day-use park only, with no camping.
Hiking tips for Nelson-Kennedy Ledges
- Study the blaze key on the park map; the patterns show turns and splits.
- Leave the Red Trail for agile hikers without dogs or packs.
- Walk the White Trail for the glass bridge and Minnehaha Falls.
- Leave the park before 30 minutes after sunset or risk a tow.
- Wear grippy shoes; the conglomerate is slick when wet.
Nearby trails to explore
- Cuyahoga Valley Ledges Trail
- Squire's Castle Loop
- Salt Run Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Nelson-Kennedy Ledges turns a mile and a half of trail into an afternoon of crevices and waterfalls. Use TrailMates to find Cleveland hikers heading to Nelson Ledges. Download the TrailMates app to connect.