Description : From the oak-hickory forests on the ridge tops to the cottonwoods, willows and sycamores of Chippewa Creek's flat floodplain, Brecksville Reservation is a study of contrasts. The reservation is deeply cut by seven distinct gorges which have a wide variety of soil and sunlight conditions, fostering the growth of rare, unusual and endangered plants. Chippewa Creek, in the northern section of the reservation, flows through a remarkable gorge that was left behind by the glaciers that once covered this area.
The reservation has an excellent and extensive system of trails, including a section of the "Buckeye Trail." Squire Rich Home & Museum, managed by the Brecksville Historical Society, and Sleepy Hollow Golf Course, both on Brecksville Road, are also a part of the reservation.
Want to discover deep forested ravines, walk through a restored Ohio prairie with grasses over eight feet tall, or explore glacial river valleys carved over 10,000 years ago? The Brecksville Nature Center offers all this and more to park visitors each year.
The Brecksville Nature Center was created in 1939 by Works Progress Administration craftsmen. Excellent examples of chestnut carpentry with curved walnut leaves, wrought iron work and native stones grace the building inside and out. A fascinating wildlife feeding area attracts native mammals and birds year-round. In winter months, eager chickadees will often land in visitors' hands for sunflower seeds.
