Trail Change
- Date Posted
- Jul 11, 2021
- Section
- Medina
- Chapter
- Lake Plains Chapter
This update announces a map change that affects your Medina map regardless of its date of publication, although it relates specifically to the most recent version, January 2017. The segment affected lies between Point 21 (State Rd (C44) Bridge over East Branch Rocky R) and Point 22 (Top of the Ledges Picnic Area).
The reason for the change is a reroute conducted by your Buckeye Trail Crew with direction from Ralph Protano, Trails Development Manager for Cleveland Metroparks. The reroute moved the route of the trail from lowlands along the Rocky R which remained chronically wet, and also changed the route through Whipp’s Ledges themselves. The new route has reduced the distance between Point 21 and 22 by 0.2 miles. Details are presented below.
CW 42.0 N | CCW 13.6 W | Point 21 | State Rd (C44) Bridge over East Branch Rocky River
Continue N on APT along State Rd. After 300’, shortly after where the Hinckley Lake Loop Trail exits W, turn E across State Rd and follow the drive toward Ledges Picnic Area. After 200’, exit the drive onto the footpath at the base of steps; ascend E to a picnic area. After 0.11 mi, pass a BTA Interpretive Panel on lawn near the W end of the parking lot for Ledges Picnic Area. Join parking lot and head E. At the NE end of the parking lot near a picnic shelter, join a footpath that climbs NE on steps, crosses a service road that goes behind the picnic shelter, and continues NE. At the top of the steps (250’), turn N on footpath. The footpath will enter a field of boulders that have separated from the bedrock itself and are now sliding ever so slowly down slope. As the footpath climbs its way through these “sliders”, it turns gradually to the SE. And the boulders grow larger. After 0.1 mi, the footpath turns quite sharply N and ascends rather steeply into a slot between 2 massive rock walls, one of which is clearly the side of a slider while the other might be bedrock. Approaching the top of this slot, the footpath turns E and climbs to the rim of the ledges (300’). Here, the trail turns SE along the rim and you may look over more of these impressive cliffs from above. After 0.1 mi, turn N away from the ledges and ascend slowly.
CW 42.7 E | CCW 12.9 S | Point 22 | Top of the Ledges Picnic Area
Return to the text in your Medina map dated January 2017. The new route is about 0.2 mi shorter between Points 21 and 22. Deduct 0.2 mi from the values quoted in CW direction for Points greater than 22. Similarly, deduct 0.2 mi from the values quoted in the CCW direction for Points less than 21.
