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Upper Falls in the Old Man's Cave gorge, Hocking Hills, with visitors on the rocks

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The field guide to outdoor Ohio

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Old Man's Cave, Hocking Hills · Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0

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Parks, forests & wildlife areas

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117 parks in 7 regions

Hinckley Reservation

Hinckley · Medina County · Northeast Ohio
Managed by Cleveland Metroparks
3,238acres
—trail miles
1920established
432 Bellus Rd, Hinckley Directions →Official source →

The story of this land

Hinckley Reservation is the southern anchor of the Cleveland Metroparks and the site of the annual Return of the Buzzards, the mid-March arrival of turkey vultures that draws crowds and dates to the 1950s. The reservation has hiking and rock climbing at Whipp's Ledges, and at Worden's Ledges a set of carvings dating to the 1940s. Hinckley Lake offers boating and fishing, and the Ledge Pool is a summer swimming spot.

The Buckeye Trail's Medina Section passes through Hinckley Reservation on its way toward Brecksville.

Things to do in the park

  • Watch the buzzards return in mid-March
  • Climb and hike at Whipp's Ledges
  • See the Worden's Ledges carvings
  • Paddle or fish at Hinckley Lake
  • Swim at the Ledge Pool in summer

Trails

Maps, reviews and recent trail reports for Hinckley Reservation.

Find trails on AllTrails →

Things to do nearby

  • Brecksville Reservation to the northeast
  • Findley State Park to the west
  • Richfield Heritage Preserve nearby

Visiting information you can trust

Content last reviewed
September 2026 — this is when Field Notes Ohio's content was last checked, not a live status.
Primary official source
Cleveland Metroparks (search this park)
Location confidence
Verified property location
Hinckley Reservation, 432 Bellus Rd, Hinckley
Check current conditions
Official conditions or closures
Hunting or permits
Hunting is not permitted in Cleveland Metroparks reservations.

Prices, hours, closures, campsite availability and trail conditions shown elsewhere on this page are not live — always confirm with the official source before you go.

Hiking trails

Miles of hiking and bridle trails including the Whipp's Ledges loop; the Buckeye Trail passes through.

Wildlife you might see

  • Turkey vultures, locally called buzzards, returning each March
  • Ledge and forest habitat
  • Waterfowl on Hinckley Lake

Birding

Hinckley Reservation's lake and wooded shoreline draw both forest songbirds and lake-edge waterbirds — scan the open water for waterfowl and raptors, and the treeline for songbirds.

  • Brown Thrasher
  • Double-crested Cormorant
  • Chimney Swift
  • Wood Thrush
  • Orchard Oriole
  • Osprey
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird
  • Veery
  • Yellow Warbler
  • Bald Eagle
  • Gray Catbird
  • Hermit Thrush

March–April and October–November for migrating waterfowl and raptors; June–July for nesting grassland and marsh birds. For a full, current checklist, search this park's name on eBird's Hotspot Explorer.

Fishing

  • Fishing on Hinckley Lake; check Cleveland Metroparks. Ohio fishing license required for ages 16 and up.

Hunting

Hunting is not permitted in Cleveland Metroparks reservations.

The Buzzards Come Home

Every March, on a schedule locals swear by, turkey vultures return to Hinckley Township, and the reservation throws a party. Crowds gather on the ledges and the lakeshore to watch the birds circle in.

The old explanation is a hunt. In the early 1800s the settlers held a huge drive on Christmas Eve that left the woods full of carcasses, and the buzzards, the story goes, have been coming back to feed ever since.

Behind the legend

The annual return of the buzzards and the reservation's role are documented in Cleveland Metroparks' guides, which date the tradition to the 1950s. The hunt story is the traditional local explanation. The birds are turkey vultures, which migrate north each spring and roost in large groups in some places, and they would do so with or without a legend.

If you go

Come in mid-March for the return, or in summer for Whipp's Ledges and the Ledge Pool.

Mounds & earthworks near Hinckley Reservation

Ancient earthworks within easy reach of this park. Tap one for its history, legends and visiting details.

Fort Hill Earthworks (Rocky River)

North Olmsted · Cuyahoga County · Northeast Ohio
A 155-step climb from the Rocky River Nature Center brings you to three long earthen walls cutting across a shale bluff 90 feet above the river.
National Register of Historic Places
About 16 miles from this park · Over 2,000 years old (Cleveland Metroparks)

Waterfalls near Hinckley Reservation

Falls inside or within reach of this park. Stay behind railings and on marked trails; wet rock is slick in every season.

Blue Hen Falls

Boston Township · Summit County
A small, photogenic shale ledge waterfall in a quiet Cuyahoga Valley ravine, reached by an easy to moderate hike on the Buckeye Trail.
15 ftModerate hikeLegend
About 8 miles from this park

Brandywine Falls

Sagamore Hills · Summit County
The tallest waterfall in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, reached by an easy boardwalk with a wheelchair accessible upper overlook.
60 to 65 ftEasy walkAccessible overlook
About 10 miles from this park

Bridal Veil Falls

Walton Hills · Cuyahoga County
A short, family friendly boardwalk walk to a tiered cascade in Bedford Reservation, one of the most photographed waterfalls near Cleveland.
20 ftEasy walk
About 13 miles from this park

Berea Falls

Berea · Cuyahoga County
A small urban waterfall tucked beneath three bridges in Rocky River Reservation, easy to reach from a small trailside parking area.
25 ftEasy walk
About 14 miles from this park

The Buckeye Trail at Hinckley Reservation

Ohio's 1,444-mile blue-blazed loop passes through or beside this park. Tap a section for its route, camping, water and resupply.

24 Medina Section

56 miles · Lorain, Medina, Summit, Cuyahoga
Whipp's Ledges and the annual return of the buzzards
3 parks

There is no camping in Hinckley Reservation. The nearest Buckeye Trail camp is Findley State Park to the west.

Restaurants nearby

Fosters Tavern of Hinckley
Pizza and burgers; open daily
Directions
Buzzard Cove Pizzeria
Pizza with mini golf and ice cream; open daily
Directions

Gas stations nearby

Par Mar Stores
Convenience store on Ridge Road
Directions

Details last checked 2026-09-22. Confirm hours and prices before you go.

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