Squire's Castle Loop Hiking Guide
Squire's Castle is the stone shell of an 1890s gatehouse at the edge of Cleveland Metroparks' North Chagrin Reservation, built for an estate that never got past its front door. Behind the big lawn in front of it, trails climb steeply onto a wooded plateau and loop back through hemlocks and tall hardwoods. Walk the castle, then walk the woods; together they make an outing of an hour and a half or so east of Cleveland.
The Castle
Feargus B. Squire, a Standard Oil executive, bought about 525 acres here and built the gatehouse between 1895 and 1897 as a caretaker's home for a planned country estate, modeling it on English and German baronial castles. The main house was never built. Cleveland Metroparks acquired the land in 1925 and later removed the upper floors and filled the basement, leaving the roofless stone shell you can walk through today. The popular story that Squire's wife died inside is false; she died in Wickliffe in 1927.
The Loop
Mapping apps list the common castle loop at about 2.4 miles with roughly 220 feet of gain; one hiker's write-up of a slightly longer variation gives 2.6 miles and 260 feet. Most of the climbing comes in the first fifth of a mile, a steep pull of about 125 feet from the castle lot onto the plateau, with a matching descent at the end. In between the path is mostly level and well kept, joining the blue-blazed Squire's Lane Trail through hemlocks and big hardwoods.
Parking and Crowds
The castle is at 2844 River Road in Willoughby Hills, off Chagrin River Road south of Route 6, in the Lake County part of the reservation. The lot sits beside a pavilion and restrooms at the end of a large field in front of the castle. The open lawn is a popular spot for picnics and weddings, so expect company around the castle itself on fine weekends. Bring water; there is none on the trail.
Dogs and Seasons
Bring the dog: North Chagrin's trails allow leashed pets, with an eight-foot leash limit. The tree cover keeps the loop shaded in summer, and fall brings color to the hardwoods on the plateau. In winter the steep opening climb and the final descent are the places to watch for ice. Metroparks also runs naturalist programs at the castle, including storytimes and lantern-lit evening walks.
Hiking tips for Squire's Castle Loop
- Pace yourself on the first stretch; the steepest climb comes right away.
- Look for the blue blazes of Squire's Lane Trail once you reach the plateau.
- Check the Metroparks alerts page first: the castle area closes to cars for events such as the annual Squire's Castle Family Campout in late September.
- Bring water; there is none along the loop.
- Explore the castle shell before or after, but stay off the walls.
Nearby trails to explore
- Nelson-Kennedy Ledges
- Bridal Veil Falls (Bedford Reservation)
- Cuyahoga Valley Ledges Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Squire's Castle gives you a ruin to explore and a shaded woods loop behind it. Use TrailMates to find Cleveland hikers heading to North Chagrin. Download the TrailMates app to connect.