Another gem in the Geauga County Parks District collection. This lush forest rings the East Branch Reservoir — the headwaters of the Cuyahoga River. The property is entirely owned by the City of Akron, GPD has the lease to operate civilian recreational use of the land and water. The shelters are terrific — great shape and thoughtfully constructed. Residents can reserve them in advance via GPD’s website or they are first-come, first-serve. Campsites are footsteps away from the lakeshore(some sites closer than others — check the map when reserving) so overnight campers can kayak and canoe if they want. The main entrance along 608(Old State Road) at the south side of the park also serves as an entry point to the paved Maple Highlands bicycle trail. You can also access the boat ramp/canoe beach, trailer parking, and overnight camp sites from this entrance. The northern entrance has a picnic area. The lake(reservoir) itself is peaceful and large enough to find yourself alone if you want. Kayaking and canoeing are completely allowed as boats with electric motors(up to 1.5-h.p.). Interestingly enough, we frequently find Amish folks using this park for recreation, too — horses, buggies, and all! This is definitely one of our favorite parks in the Geauga area.
