Cleveland’s my gym: Shaker Lakes

These are the last days before my 5K race, so it is time to get serious. Come on Angel, you better work (B****)! Having this race as a goal has really motivated me to keep running during late spring, a time I usually allocate to bike rides. It may have been the realization that my race was coming up, or the eating “out of control” while at our friends’ party the night before, but I had a strong desire to go running this weekend. And running I did; I went for an outdoor run along one of my favorite places to do so: the Shaker Lakes. 

Four manmade (dammed) lakes actually make up the “Shaker Lakes”. The ones I like running around are the Horseshoe and the Lower Shaker Lakes. These are located between North Park and South Park Boulevards, and go from west to east from Coventry Rd to Park Dr. (respectively) and they separate the cities of Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights. It’s an area about 2 miles long if you go straight from one end to the next. However, there are many trails that will provide additional area for your run or hike; some are close to the road, and others go all the way down to the lake. Along the way, you’ll see the people who visit the park by foot or bike, and of course, you’re bound to see a few dogs taking their “me-time” along the trails. The trails are a combination of paved trail, dirt trail, and boardwalk (thankfully not all at once), with a very short segment that’s loose gravel, and it’s clearly labeled as such (in case you ride your bike). 

Around the Lower Lake, there’s the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes. Beyond the building that houses an educational center, a gift shop, and restrooms, the center has nice boardwalk trails where you can see, and hear the birds that call this area home, and a beautiful marsh. If you go towards the north side (right side if you are walking from the building), there’s a gate that allows you to go out to the street, to the intersection of North Park, South Park and South Woodland Boulevards. Across S. Woodland lies the Lower Shaker Lake Park. The north side of the park is mostly an “upper” level paved trail that goes parallel to North Park, and a “lower” dirt trail that’s really close to the water. I personally worry about tripping on a root and falling into the lake while running, but I’ve been known to be overly cautious sometimes. The south side of the park has dirt trails only, but this side is mostly at the street level. The south side is wider than the other side, and there are benches where some people go to read, to rest, or just to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

There’s another park around the Horseshoe Lake, called the Horseshoe Lake Park (of course). Once again, the north side is narrower than the south side, and it’s mostly a paved trail at street level. As of June 2014, there’s construction at the Belmont School so there’s a bit of what I’ll call “construction smell” while you are by the intersection of North Park Blvd. and Lee Rd., but as soon as you pass the construction site it fades away. The trail turns into a dirt path as you intersect Shelburne Rd (where you start going south). At some point, the trail narrows dramatically, and many people choose to walk on the road (opposite to traffic, with caution), but you can technically still fit on the trail. You’ll quickly reach the entrance to the Horseshoe Lake Park. This park has a few barbecue and picnic areas, it has restrooms, and there are areas for kids to play. There are some short trails that loop around and take you very close to the lake (great views), and some of the trails can take you to towards the south side of the park. At this side you’ll find benches, gardens, and a beautiful path along the lake that connects back to North Park Blvd. Across from South Park Blvd. you can see the Shaker Historical Society Museum, and  there are other shaker landmarks along the park as well.

There’s ample parking at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, and also some street parking around the entrance to the Horseshoe Lake Park. Some people park on the bicycle lanes along North Park, but that’s just not nice. Bicycle parking (a few racks) is available at both parks. The two parks also have nice, clean restrooms and water fountains. Both the Shaker Historical Society Museum and the Nature Center have bicycle oriented activities during the summer that are worth considering!

Cleveland's my gym: Bratenahl

Although I absolutely love riding my bike, hikes - and especially urban walks - hold a very special place in my heart. I’m lucky; Greater Cleveland has many areas that are beautiful, have tons of character and are inviting to the urban hiker who is hungry for the stories told by both nature and man-built structures.  For these purposes, it’s difficult to think of a place that tops Bratenahl, OH. Like it’s the case with many other foreign-born Clevelanders, it took me a few years to even know this beautiful little village existed even though I lived just 4 short-miles away from it. That changed the day I bought this neat “guide” book Cleveland on foot, by Patience Cameron Hoskins, where she describes 50 walks and hikes around the Greater Cleveland area. I laced up my hiking shoes, I grabbed my book, and Bratenahl was the first walk I took.

Bratenahl is one of the oldest Cleveland suburbs. It’s bordered by Cleveland on its south, east and west borders, and by Lake Erie to the north. The former lakefront farmland quickly evolved into one of Cleveland’s first suburbs, and has housed some of the most influential (and affluent) Clevelanders throughout its history. As a result, Bratenahl has some of the most beautiful, palatial homes in our region, a testament to its wealth. The village itself is small; it’s about 1 square mile, and Lakeshore Boulevard is its main artery. As you go down Lakeshore, you see the grand old mansions with perfectly manicured landscapes, beautiful “normal” houses that are quite adorable, and some wooded areas that add to the charm of the village (and where I saw a fox for the first time). You can actually see stunning views of the lake through many of the properties, and if you are there just before dusk you can see breathtaking sights of these gorgeous homes bathing in the twilight. The sounds too can be surreal, so you may not want to wear headphones while you are there. A bird sanctuary, Bratenahl is graced with the intertwining songs of birds that graciously (for the most part) serve as a soundtrack to your urban walk. The village is so quiet that all you hear are those birds and the traffic from I90, which instead of disturbing, serves as a reminder of the city that lives literally across the street.

The best way to get to Bratenahl is to get off I90 at Exit 177 (MLK). If you are coming from the south (University Circle), just go down MLK all the way to the lake. You can park at the Cleveland Lakefront Park (or Gordon Park), and then walk East on Lakeshore Boulevard as far as you are comfortable. If you just follow Lakeshore all the way to the end of Bratenahl (E.140^th) the walk will be about 3 miles long, so a round trip will add up to about 6 miles, and it will take you about 2 hours to complete. The terrain is moderately easy to walk on; it’s mostly flat, with some small “hills” along the way. If you want to get more out of your visit, get a copy of Hoskins’ book for a description of the most notable houses (and their owners), some of them off-Lakeshore. There are restrooms at the park, but make sure to bring your own snacks and water, because there’s nowhere to buy them along the way.

I took a few pictures where you can see views of the road itself. The houses are what you want to see, but I felt somewhat creepy taking pictures of people’s homes to publish them online, so I didn’t. Trust me, it’s beautiful down there. Go and check it out.