Summit County Metroparks Fall Hiking Spree - Hiker's Choice

​Every year between September 1st and November 30th the Summit County Metroparks host their annual Fall Hiking Spree. Hikers must complete 8 of the 15 trails listed in order to receive a metal badge that adorns the hiking stick you will receive upon completion of your first hiking spree. Spree is free to all Summit Co. residents, non-residents may participate but to receive hiking rewards it is $10 first year then $5 for veteran hikers.
List and more information can be found here.
For us, the hiking spree really motivated us to get out and explore more of the area's metroparks, sure we had a handful of favorites already, but years ago when we were new to the area it pushed us to explore more of the parks that we wouldn't have explored otherwise and we ended up finding a few new favorites. 

This year to inspire all of you to get out and explore I'll be posting about each of the trails and hikes we complete. I'd love to hear your feedback about your experiences on each of the trails we post!

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Oct 20, 2015 - Hiker's Choice - Firestone Metropark - Redwing Trail

Every year hikers can pick their own trail to explore and gain credit for the hiking spree, our choice: Redwing Trail at Firestone Metropark. 
Now sure, we tend to go for the more challenging trails, nothing like the sense of accomplishment you get after hiking up the big hill on the Chuckery Trail, but sometimes, taking a slow walk down a quiet easy trail is just as fulfilling. 
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This trail leads you along a beautifully wooded path, opening upon two ponds (Turtle pond in the summer does not disappoint, we've seen upwards of 20 turtles at a time there!). Beyond the ponds the trail walks you alongside the river, oftentimes mallards wait for you at each turn. Wintertime at this park brings a wide variety of birds along the river, one winter at the bridge along the river there were so many chickadees looking for food they landed on us when we held our hands out! It's at this point where the trails split apart, one way takes you along the willow trail, the other, the redwing. Here you'll come upon a boardwalk weaving you through the cattails and the reeds, all along the hike we could hear little sparrows hopping and fluttering about. At the end of the boardwalk you'll overlook the open grassy area, usually finding people playing frisbee or throwing balls for their pups, following the tree-line you'll enter another wooded area, twisting, turning, and climbing the view is beautiful. The path brings you down the hill and through a wildflower area (see past post about the yellow flowers, that was here!) then back to the beginning. 

Nothing too strenuous but just right for a peaceful walk in the woods.

Wildlife we saw:
squirrels and chipmunks
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