HomeOhioAurora › Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve

Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 169 Google reviews · Running trail in Aurora, Ohio · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve'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.

MixedLoopScenicFlat & fastRestroomsTrailhead parkingQuiet

Rustic walking trails in a wetlands area home to many birds & reptiles & mammals such as beavers.

What runners say about Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (169 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“Beautiful place to walk, run, hang out, relax and enjoy the wonderful water.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“If you're looking for a peaceful and scenic walk, this is the place to go!”

👟 good for all levels 4 mentions

“A nice, flat, easy walk at Liberty Park I was there on a weekday at noon and had the place to myself!”

Really nice park to just get right out of the park and be able to walk down a trail. What I like best is there is no dogs allowed on the trails. Some folks will hate me for saying that, but I get tired of having to dodge doggie dropping. Or the folks who just decide to dump their bag on the trail...

★★★★★ — Robert , Aug 2017

Lovely short trail. Saw quite some wild life here, turtle, otter. Definitely need to bring bug spray next time.

★★★★☆ — Evelyn , Apr 2021

Quite beautiful park at this time! Great hiking and birds watching place! Will back in spring time

★★★★★ — Jane , Nov 2022

Beautiful place to walk, run, hang out, relax and enjoy the wonderful water.

★★★★★ — Yuleidys , Jul 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 169 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 7 mentions

“I seen this nice open area while i was running and had to stop to take a picture of this view”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 7 mentions

“The trail on the other side of the road from the parking lot has a smooth gravel trail the other side is nice but made of dirt paths with roots sticking out.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 4 mentions

“The trail on the other side of the road from the parking lot has a smooth gravel trail the other side is nice but made of dirt paths with roots sticking out.”

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone 3 mentions

“The trail on the other side of the road from the parking lot has a smooth gravel trail the other side is nice but made of dirt paths with roots sticking out.”

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Flat & fast 3 mentions

“A nice, flat, easy walk at Liberty Park I was there on a weekday at noon and had the place to myself!”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“If you're looking for a peaceful and scenic walk, this is the place to go!”

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🔁 Loop trail 2 mentions

“You start on a path through the woods and then it meanders through the ponds to loop back.”

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🚻 Restrooms

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Plan your run at Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • Websiteohiodnr.gov
  • Phone(614) 265-6565
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 AM–11 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–11 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–11 PM
Thursday Closed
Friday 6 AM–11 PM
Saturday 6 AM–11 PM
Sunday 6 AM–11 PM

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 Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve

1230 Old Mill Rd, Aurora, OH 44202

Get directions

Running trails near Aurora

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

Trumbull Woods Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 20 reviews

Hudson, OH

Natural surface

1.1 miles away

Liberty Park, Tinkers Creek Area

4.4 ★★★★☆ 181 reviews

Streetsboro, OH

LoopMixedScenicDog-friendly

This park with 355 acres of swamps & marshlands is a popular spot for fishing, hiking & picnicking.

1.2 miles away

Aurora Wetlands Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 8 reviews

Aurora, OH

1.5 miles away

Liberty Park - Pond Brook Conservation Area

4.7 ★★★★★ 30 reviews

Twinsburg, OH

1.6 miLoopMixedShaded

1.5 miles away

Seneca Ponds

4.3 ★★★★☆ 70 reviews

Streetsboro, OH

LoopScenicDog-friendly

Park featuring a figure-eight loop and opportunities for fishing.

2.3 miles away

Hudson Springs Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 1,132 reviews

Hudson, OH

2 miLoopCrushed gravelScenic

Large, 260-acre park with a huge lake for fishing, plus walking trails & pavilions.

2.5 miles away

All running trails in Aurora, OH →

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.