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Cascade Falls Park

3.7 ★★★★☆ 29 Google reviews · Running trail in Painesville, Ohio · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Crushed gravel
Distance
60 mi
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Cascade Falls Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Crushed gravel60 miOpen 24hScenicFlat & fastHilly

What runners say about Cascade Falls Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (29 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“So if you had a beautiful waterfall on your property with a public trail nearby would you want people trespassing onto your property?”

The trail starts with 1/4 of easy flat walking, a nice warm up. The next 1/4 mile is descending to the observation landing. Okay view, falls not very robust this time of year. 1/4 incline, 1/4 mile cool down. The incline will get your heart rate up. Overall, just a nice 1/2 mile walk

★★★★☆ — Michael , Oct 2023

I wish all the people complaining about the view, the signs, and the trail cam realized that these falls are on private property! They are not owned by the metro parks. So if you had a beautiful waterfall on your property with a public trail nearby would you want people trespassing onto your property?

★★★★★ — Karen , Oct 2025

Not a bad park to stop at and walk the trail. This park just opened recently so it will likely be a few years before they add a few more amenities on the site. The trail ends at the waterfall which can be difficult to get a good view of but theres space for trails to be extended possibly in the future.

★★★★☆ — S , Oct 2023

Quick hike, starts out flat and declines down to the Cascade falls. Not a large waterfall and not the most scenic view. Across the parking lot is a longer hiking trail. Closer to the Cascade was a bit too steep so possibly add hand rail?

★★★★☆ — Victoria , Oct 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 29 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 29 mentions

“The trail ends at the waterfall which can be difficult to get a good view of but theres space for trails to be extended possibly in the future.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 12 mentions

“Closer to the Cascade was a bit too steep so possibly add hand rail?”

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone 3 mentions

“It does have a steep incline but still gravel trail.”

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Flat & fast 2 mentions

“Quick hike, starts out flat and declines down to the Cascade falls.”

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🏃 Long-run distance (5mi+)

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Plan your run at Cascade Falls Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfaceCrushed gravel — the rail-trail classic: softer than asphalt, still smooth enough for tempo work
  • Distance60 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • Websitelakemetroparks.com
  • Phone(440) 639-7275
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Cascade Falls Park

12795 Girdled Rd, Painesville, OH 44077

Get directions

Running trails near Painesville

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

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Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.