I travel quite a bit, and I often find taxi drivers asking where I’m from to make conversation. (I should probably just purchase a Cleveland-themed t-shirt to break this cycle.) After I explain that my hometown is Cleveland, there’s one question I hear quite a bit: oh, have you been to Akron? I always have to laugh at that. Of course I have… it’s right around the corner! But whether we like to admit it or not, Akron seems to be seen like Cleveland’s younger sibling on the national stage. And the area is rich in history and culture, so it’s always worth a trip. If you’re planning a visit to our southern neighbor, Akron’s history, culture, and natural landscape all come together harmoniously at one unique park: Sand Run Metro Park. This 95-year-old park near Cleveland has a story to tell, so grab your hiking boots and get ready to hit the trails! There’s much to learn here.

After F.A. Seiberling donated 500 acres to the local park district, they approached area landowners to purchase another 200 or so. As a result, Sand Run Metro Park opened in 1929.

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Originally called the Akron Metropolitan Park District, what we now know as Summit Metro Parks got its start in 1921. F.A. Seiberling, the founder of Goodyear Tire & Rubber, led the initiative. While he was not the first Akron resident to donate land to the park district, he did initiate the first large-scale donation. When the park opened to the public, it had a perimeter of 12 miles.

95 years later, Sand Run is flourishing with2 million visitors each year.

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Today, the park is even bigger. With 998 acres to explore, there's no shortage of beauty here. Believe it or not, humans have been admiring this landscape for generations. Indigenous peoples used to camp here, and their highly important Portage Path crossed through the area.

Interestingly, the Portage Path was once the western boundary of the United States.

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This boundary was established in the Treaty of Ft. McIntosh in 1785, as early surveyors from Connecticut documented its existence in their early visits to the area. It's wild to think that as you walk through Sand Run Metro Park, you're standing at the very edge of the United States and what was once the Northwest Territory. At the time, the area was largely populated by Indigenous cultures and French fur traders. When the territory was dissolved, settlements had already sprung up around Ohio waterways... especially Lake Erie's shore!

In much more recent history, the Civilian Conservation Corps built many of the area's shelters and structures.

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The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a direct response to the Great Depression. In essence, it created jobs for people who were struggling to find employment. In Ohio, this program translated into many enhanced public spaces, like parks filled with lovely architecture and stonework.

Of course, the park has several new structures to boast of, too.

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This beautiful space is Shady Hollow Lodge, and it's one of many areas in the park you can rent for events. I actually officiated a wedding here once, and the spot was absolutely stunning. Whether you're looking for a space for your happily ever after or just a spacious site for the next family reunion, you can't go wrong with booking a local park.

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Beyond the man-made elements in the park, you'll find miles of beautiful hiking trails.

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Several of the Sand Run trails are rather difficult to hike, especially if you're planning to traverse their whole 6-mile expanse. The Valley Link Trail isn't too challenging or long, though, and it even connects with Cascade Valley Metro Park.

You truly never know what you'll find while you're out there exploring.

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While this strange plant isn't exactly uncommon in Ohio, it's definitely not something you see every day. This is conopholis americana, or bear corn, and it's a parasitic plant that grows on the roots of trees. These flowering stems poke through the ground in early spring, and when they die, their seed capsules are spread.

As the seasons change, you'll love seeing how the Sand Run Metro Park landscape shifts.

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From bear corn blooming in the spring and slowly turning brown in summer to the brilliant shift of verdant leaves to shades of rust, the landscape here is ever-evolving. Truly, you could visit the park in each and every season and have a distinctly different experience each time!

Whether you like babbling brooks or wide, open fields, this massive 998-acre park has something amazing waiting for you.

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Truly, history, nature, and culture combine at this one-of-a-kind park. Walking its expansive trails, admiring the natural landscape, and reflecting on the history of the site is an experience like no other.

It's always worth taking a day trip from Cleveland to visit Sand Run Metro Park.

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You'll find it near 1300 Sand Run Rd, Akron, OH, 44313.

Sand Run Metro Park, a 95-year-old park near Cleveland, is full of history and beauty. From its peaceful trails to its unusual plant life, there’s simply so much to discover here.

While you’re in the area, budget a bit of time to swing by Stan Hywet. This gorgeous manor house was once F.A. Seiberling’s home, so it’s intrinsically tied with the history of the area and Sand Run Metro Park.

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Sand Run Metro Park, 1300 Sand Run Rd, Akron, OH 44313, USA