The Best Things to Do in Cleveland in the Fall
Published by: Cleveland Traveler
Original article found here
1. See Fall colors
We’re so lucky here in northeast Ohio; we have fall colors to rival all the “famous” autumn locations in the US – but without the droves of tourists. There is no shortage of places to see incredible fall colors in and around Cleveland, whether you want to hike, bike, or drive to see them.
Some of my favorite places to go leaf-peeping include:
Rocky River Reservation – Make a stop at Berea Falls Scenic Overlook, and climb the Fort Hill steps for excellent views.
Bedford Reservation – Especially at Tinker’s Creek Gorge Scenic Overlook, but the area around Great Falls of Tinker’s Creek is also a good bet.
North Chagrin Reservation – Several hiking trails here have great colors, and the area around Squire’s Castle is also worth stopping to see.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park – Ohio’s only national park is excellent in the fall. Hike the Ledges Trail, check out the Everett Road Covered Bridge, or book a ticket on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad for one of their “Fall Flyer” routes.
Some local trees will start changing in September, but peak color in this part of Ohio is usually around mid-October.
2. Visit Holden Arboretum
While the main draw at Holden Arboretum in autumn is the fall colors, there’s more to do here than just admiring the leaves. Stroll through the different gardens and trails to see what’s in bloom, and just enjoy being out in nature.
Walk through the “Skeleton Grove,” too, where 12 giant skeletons are striking poses in the Main Display Garden.
When you do want to do that leaf-peeping, head for the Murch Canopy Walk and Kalberer Emergent Tower, both of which offer up fantastic views of the surrounding forests. (Note that both of these do usually close for the season in November.)
In 2025, the arboretum is also hosting a Fall Forest Fest October 11-12 (10 a.m.-4 p.m. each day), where there will be food trucks, games, marshmallow roasting, and more.
3. Enjoy fall events at local metroparks
Lake Metroparks Farmpark fall fun – Fall events at the Lake Metroparks Farmpark include a corn maze, sunflower and apple harvest weekends, a pumpkin patch, and a Halloween drive-through event. (More info on the drive-thru Halloween event here.)
Halloween Fair (Lorain County Metro Parks) – The Halloween Fair is back at the Carlisle Visitor Center in LaGrange in October. The event includes a haunted walking trail, train rides, games, and more. Tickets go on sale September 23. Find more info here.
Fall Hiking Spree (Summit County) – The Summit County Metro Parks runs an annual event to encourage people to get outdoors in the autumn. Running from September through November, participants are challenged to complete 8 different hikes throughout Summit County. The included hikes are usually fairly easy and family-friendly. Learn all about it here.
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