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10090 Chillicothe Road (Rt. 306)
10381 Hobart Road, Kirtland, OH 44094
Pine Lodge Ski Center and
Nature Day Camp
(440) 256-3810

Trail Map

The 390 acres of Chapin Forest Reservation are known for distinctive rock formations and majestic forests. Wander through 5.3 miles of mature woodland trails comprised of beech, maple, oak, tulip and hemlock. Stop by Quarry Pond and walk Lucky Stone Loop Trail.

To protect this beautiful setting from logging, Frederic H. Chapin purchased the property in 1949 and donated it to the State of Ohio. Under a lease agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry, Lake Metroparks manages Chapin Forest Reservation. The ledges, or rocky outcroppings of Sharon conglomerate, were formed about 300 million years ago, long before glaciers slid across northern Ohio. To protect the fragile vegetation and for safety reasons, access to the ledges area is restricted to guided walks, which are regularly offered throughout the year.

Sandstone from Quarry Pond and the adjacent streambed were part of a stone quarry that operated during the 1800s. Berea sandstone from this site supplied the foundations for many local buildings, including the Kirtland Temple, which was completed in 1836.

Chapin Forest has also served as a study site. During the late 1950s, the Ohio Division of Forestry and Reclamation began using Chapin Forest as a research site to determine the growth rates of trees for possible commercial timber production.

One of the best scenic overlooks in Lake County is found along Lucky Stone Loop hiking trail. On a clear day, you can see Lake Erie and the Cleveland skyline, 18 miles away. Part of the Buckeye Trail, a continuous hiking trail throughout Ohio, passes through Chapin Forest. Blue paint blazes on some trees mark the Buckeye Trail.

Pine Lodge Ski Center offers ski rental equipment and lessons, groomed ski trails, snowshoe rentals, fireplace, accessible restrooms and concessions. Pine Lodge Ski Center is open during the winter months; weather permitting, from approximately November 15 to March 15. For more information, call Pine Lodge staff (winter months only) at (440) 256-3810 or Lake Metroparks Registration Offices at (440) 358-7275.

• Hours: Sunrise to sunset
• Amenities 390 acres. Four picnic areas and shelters with grills. Drinking water. Restrooms. Playground. Pond fishing. Ball/game fields. Limited bridle trails. Cross-country skiing.
• Directions:
  Rt. 306 Entrance: Take I-90 to Rt. 306 south. Go south approximately three miles. Chapin Forest Reservation is located on the right (west).
  
  Hobart Road Entrance: Take I-90 to Rt. 306 south. Go four miles and turn right (west) onto Chardon Road (Rt. 6). Go one mile and turn right (north) onto Hobart Road. Go ½ mile to the park entrance located on the right (east).
• Shelter Rental: Lake Metroparks Registration Department, (440) 358-7275