Top 10 Cleveland-area hikes with your dog
WILLOUGHBY HILLS, Ohio -- As part of my continuing series on the top 10 rated AllTrails hikes around the Cleveland metro area with my dog Sebastian, we are now at my #1 ranked trail, the North Chagrin Bridle Trail in the Cleveland Metroparks North Chagrin Reservation.
AllTrails lists the trail as “Easy” and 4.3 miles. We wandered a little and it was 4.85 miles and finished the hike in 1hr 53min. The North Chagrin Bridle Trail turned out to be a fun and slightly challenging adventure for both me and my dog, Sebastian. From the very start, the trail dipped away from and back toward the road, quickly pulling us into the woods.
Those early stretches had that perfect kind of forest quiet—just the two of us, the sound of Sebastian’s paws padding along the dirt, and the breeze rustling the leaves.
Since it’s a bridle trail, there were reminders that we were sharing the space with horses. Sebastian gave a good sniff to a few spots, but I kept us moving—there’s only so much lingering you want to do around horse droppings.
In addition to the horse droppings, we did encounter a couple of deer, so make sure to hold on tight to the leash if you your dog likes to chase wild animals - I saw it before Sebastian did, so I was prepared.
The path itself is fairly level, which made for an easy walk, though I did catch myself wishing I had worn sturdier hiking shoes. A couple of roots and uneven patches made me realize my ankles would’ve appreciated a little extra support.
About a mile and a quarter in, the trail treated us to some surprisingly pretty views looking down into a dry creek bed that cuts through the park. Sebastian paused to peer over the edge as if he knew it was something worth looking at too.
Another quarter mile brought us out to the main road and a parking lot. For a second, I thought about wrapping things up as it started to sprinkle, but Sebastian was still wagging his tail and eager to keep moving. We came across a bit of water in the creek, and Sebastian is never one to turn down a quick cool-down in a creek.
The trail markers were clear and easy to follow, which made it simple to stay on track as we continued.
The best part of the hike came when the trail dipped steeply down into the open field at Squires Castle. Sebastian bounded ahead, thrilled by the wide-open space.
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