Nelson Kennedy Ledges is one of Ohio’s best-kept secrets. With its steep, mossy ledges and cascading waterfalls, this park is a hikers’ dream playground. Don’t let the small size underestimate its wealth. The ledges are a bite-sized paradise that every avid hiker needs to explore!
With three trails winding through its grounds, two waterfalls flowing off rocky cliffs, and plenty of rock scrambles to conquer, Nelson Ledges has no shortage of adventure. Each trail is marked by an emblazoned emblem of blue, yellow and red. Since we had the entire paradise to ourselves, we took the time to heavily explore each trail a few different times.
Moss webbed the boulders like veins, welcoming splashes of dark green into our vision as we climbed the slippery, leaf-strewn rocks through the ledges. We squeezed through narrow paths, skated over icy wood planks, and climbed the many rock scrambles that sprinkled the scattered path.
Part of each trail boasts ledges, rock scrambles, and a couple feature waterfalls; another section of each trail offers wooded pathways. The trails looked like a settled snow globe after being shaken. Sparkly snow dusted the paths and coated the dried leaves scattered under our boots. A few leaves clung onto branches, the white powder dusting the tips. The bare trees allowed us to scan the entire park with no barrier.
We’ve been to this park twice now, once in the spring and once in the winter, and both times we essentially had the trails all to ourselves. If I had to guess, I’d say the parks’ traffic may increase slightly in the warmer months, but like I mentioned at the beginning of this post, the ledges are a pretty well-kept secret. Not a lot of people are aware of its existence, so make sure to go check out the paradise in solitude before word spreads!
Happy hiking!
Wonder. Wander. Repeat. 