Gorge Loop: Cleveland Hiking Area Guide

The Gorge Loop is beautiful with gorgeous views and well maintained trails that really put on a great display of the rocks, creeks, and sounding forest and is a perfect spot on a Sunday. The trail provides access to Chippawa Creek with visitors needing to hike a lot of stairs and through rocky conditions, but with plenty of other trails to connect to your exploration is endless. The Gorge Loop is only about a 1/2 mile but can join up with the deer lick cave, buckeye, salamander, and hemlock Loop back to the parking lot and that's a little over 4 miles.

Fantastic mini hike, one boardwalk, 3 mini bridges including a suspension bridge. Beautiful views, wear proper fitted shoes the trail is not paved. Be mindful there are a couple good hills with 20% grade or better (narrow path) if more than one hiker allow a pass zone if possible. Trail is clearly marked. The legend at the end needs a bit loving. Total trek just under 2.5 miles dependent where you start.

I love the steps and bridges that they’ve added. It’s so nice being close to the rocks and listening to the peaceful water sounds. Nice place to go. Thankfully not busy when i

Excellent short hike down to the giant rocks on the river. A very well-done natural stone stairway takes you down and back up. You can walk around on the big boulders as well. As of July 2023 the Google Maps pin is in an incorrect location (it is not by Chippewa Road, it’s off the Hemlock Trail), and the trail is new and not on Google Maps yet. You’ll want to park at the Gorge Overlook parking lot, then briefly hike on the Hemlock Trail until you get to the Gorge Loop. You could also park at the parking lot a bit further up on Chippewa Creek Drive. The maps on the Cleveland Metroparks website and app both have the Gorge Loop mapped properly.

Great new trail to get you close to the gorge. Steps out and back get you there.