Cross-country skiing is a great pastime that the family can enjoy during the winter. Thankfully, there are many great spots across Northeast Ohio where you can rent equipment, learn how to cross-country ski, and enjoy the sport during the winter months. Make sure to call and check the weather conditions before heading out. Most locations have a minimum snowfall.

To avoid disappointment, please check the websites listed to confirm hours, pricing, and equipment availability before planning your trip.

Places to Go Cross Country Skiing in Ohio

Cross-Country Skiing Near Me

Cleveland Metroparks

Cuyahoga County – Skiing is permitted on the bridle, hiking, and unplowed all-purpose trails, as well as the fairways and rough areas of Big Met, Little Met, Shawnee Hills, Seneca, Mastick Woods, and Sleepy Hollow golf courses when there is a four-inch snow base. Ski rentals are available at Big Met golf course by the hour; for cross-country ski conditions call (216) 635-3270, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Big Met Golf Course
Rocky River Reservation, 4811 Valley Pkwy., Fairview Park, OH 44126
(440) 331-1070
Website

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Summit County – Suggested areas and trails for cross-country skiing in the park include: Boston Run Trail, Cross Country Trail & Pine Grove Trail at Kendall Lake Trailhead, Ledges Field, Oak Hill Trail & Plateau Trail at the Oak Hill Trailhead, Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, and Tree Farm Trail.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Multiple trails within the Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Website

Findley State Park

Lorain County – There are 5 miles of trails available when the ground is frozen and snow-covered. You must provide your own ski equipment.

Findley State Park
25381 State Route 58, Wellington, OH 44090
(440) 647-0534
Website

Geauga Park District

Geauga County – Skiing is permitted at more than 20 parks located in the district. A variety of programs are offered on the website.

Geauga Park District
Beartown Lakes Reservation – Geauga Park District, 18870 Quinn Rd., Chagrin Falls, OH 44023
Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Park, 7940 Cedar Rd., Chesterland, OH 44026
Big Creek Park, 9160 Robinson Rd., Chardon, OH 44024
Burton Wetlands Nature Preserve, 15681 Old Rider Rd., Burton, OH 44021
Chickagami Park, 17957 Tavern Rd., Burton, OH 44021
Claridon Woodlands, 11383 Claridon Troy Rd., Chardon, OH 44024
Eldon Russell Park, 16315 Rapids Rd., Burton, OH 44021
Frohring Meadows, 16780 Savage Rd., Chagrin Falls, OH 44023
Headwaters Park, 13365 Old State Rd., Huntsburg, OH 44046
Holbrook Hollows, 7250 Country Ln., Chagrin Falls, OH 44023
Modroo Preserve, 15695 Hemlock Rd., Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
Mountain Run Station, 12601 Chardon-Windsor Rd., Chardon, OH 44024
Observatory Park, 10610 Clay St., Montville, OH 44064
Orchard Hills Park, 11340 Caves Rd., Chesterland, OH 44026
Russell Uplands Preserve, 15200 Russell Rd., Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
Sunnybrook Preserve, 12474 Heath Rd., Chesterland, OH 44026
Swine Creek Reservation, 16004 Hayes Rd., Middlefield, OH 44062
The Maple Highlands Trail, 9280 Ravenna Rd., Chardon, OH 44024
The Rookery, 10110 Cedar Rd., Chesterland, OH 44026
The West Woods, 9465 Kinsman Rd., Novelty, OH 44072
Tupelo Pond in Big Creek Park, 9373 Ravenna Rd., Chardon, OH 44024
Walter C. Best Wildlife Preserve, 11620 Ravenna Rd., Chardon, OH 44024
Whitlam Woods, 12500 Pearl Rd., Chardon, OH 44024
Website

Geneva State Park

Ashtabula County – There are 2 miles of trails available when the ground is frozen and snow-covered. You must provide your own ski equipment.

Geneva State Park
4499 Padanarum Rd., Geneva, OH 44041
(440) 466-8400
Website

Headlands Beach State Park

Lake County – There are 1.5 miles of trails available when the ground is frozen and snow-covered. You must provide your own ski equipment.

Headlands Beach State Park
9601 Headlands Rd., Mentor, OH 44060
(440) 466-8400
Website

Lake Metroparks

Lake County – Skiing is available at Chapin Forest Reservation and Girdled Road Reservation. Ski equipment can be rented at Pine Lodge Ski Center, plus the Chapin Forest trails are lighted for you at night. In south/central Lake County, 9 kilometers at the south entrance of Girdled Road Reservation are groomed – some of it flat, but also some challenging terrain. Each park offers a different experience.

Chapin Forest Reservation
Pine Lodge Cross-Country Ski Center, 10381 Hobart Rd., Kirtland, OH 44094
For up-to-date conditions and to find out if Pine Lodge Ski Center is open, call the Winter Sports Hotline at (440) 256-2118, ext. 4178
Website

Girdled Road Reservation
South Entrance, 12926 Radcliffe Rd., Concord Twp., OH 44077
For up-to-date conditions, call the Winter Sports Hotline at (440) 256-2118, ext. 4178
Website

Lake Milton State Park

Mahoning County – There are 1.25 miles of trails available when the ground is frozen and snow-covered. You must provide your own ski equipment.

Lake Milton State Park
16801 Mahoning Ave., Lake Milton, OH 44429
(330) 235-0030
Website

Lorain County Metroparks

Lorain County – Cross-country skiing is allowed in all 18 Lorain County parks! Bring your own skis and enjoy the parks in the winter as no trails are groomed this time of the year. Note that cross-country skiing is only allowed in Forest Hills Golf Course and the formal gardens at Schoepfle Garden when there is at least 3” of packed snow.

Lorain County Metroparks
Amherst Beaver Creek Reservation: 913 N. Lake St., Amherst, OH 44001
Black River Reservation: 3 locations
Caley Reservation: 18207 West Rd., Wellington, OH 44090
Carlisle Reservation: 3 locations
Cascade Park: 387 Furnace St., Elyria, OH 44035
Charlemont Reservation: 48600 New London Eastern Rd., New London, OH 44851
Columbia Reservation: 25145 Royalton Rd, Columbia Station, OH 44028
French Creek Reservation: 2 Locations
Hollstein Reservation: 47160 Hollstein Dr., Amherst, OH 44001
Indian Hollow Reservation/Sheldon Woods: 38744 Parsons Rd., Grafton, OH 44044
Kipton Reservation: 16000 State Route 511, Oberlin, OH 44074
Kopf Family Reservation: 32649 Electric Blvd., Avon Lake, OH 44012
Miller Nature Preserve: 2739 Center Rd., Avon, OH 44011
North Coast Inland Trail (Kipton to Elyria)
Sandy Ridge Reservation: 6195 Otten Rd., North Ridgeville, OH 44039
Schoepfle Garden: 11106 Market St., Wakeman, OH 44889
Vermilion River Reservation: 51211 N. Ridge Rd., Vermilion, OH 44089
Wellington Reservation: 535 Jones Rd., Wellington, OH 44090
Website

Medina County Park District

Medina County – Skiing is permitted in 8 different parks within the district. You must provide your own ski equipment.

Allardale Park
401 Remsen Rd., Medina, OH 44256
Website

Buckeye Woods Park
6335 Wedgewood Rd., Medina, OH 44256
Website

Green Leaf Park
1674 S. Medina Line Rd., Sharon Center, OH 44274
Website

Hubbard Valley Park
8600 Hubbard Valley Rd., Seville, OH 44273
Website

Lake Medina
Medina, OH 44256
Website

Letha House Park
Richman Rd., Spencer, OH 44275
Website

Plum Creek Park
Plum Creek Pkwy., Brunswick Hills, OH 44212
Website

River Styx Park
8200 River Styx Rd., Wadsworth, OH 44281
Website

Mill Creek Metroparks

Mahoning County – Skiing is permitted on 7 trails in the MetroPark areas as well as Mill Creek and Par 3 Golf Courses. You must provide your own ski equipment.

Mill Creek Golf Course – Mill Creek Metroparks
1 W. Golf Dr, Boardman, OH 44512
(330) 740-7112
Website

Par 3 Golf Course – Mill Creek Metroparks
Wick Recreation Area: 1861 McCollum Rd., Youngstown, OH 44509
(330) 740-7114
Website

Mosquito Lake State Park

Trumbull County – There are 15 miles of trails available when the ground is frozen and snow-covered. You must provide your own ski equipment.

Mosquito Lake State Park
1439 State Route 305, Cortland, OH 44410
(330) 637-2856
Website

Portage Lakes State Park

Summit County – There are 5.75 miles of trails available when the ground is frozen and snow-covered. You must provide your own ski equipment.

Portage Lakes State Park
5031 Manchester Rd., Akron, OH 44319
(330) 644-2220
Website

Portage Park District
Portage County – Skiing is permitted on 8 of the trails in the district ranging from 1.9 to 7 miles long. You must provide your own ski equipment. {Website}
Where: 705 Oakwood St. – Suite 4, Ravenna, OH 44266

Punderson State Park

Geauga County – There are 2 moderate-level trails and one easy trail available when the ground is frozen and snow-covered. You must provide your own ski equipment.

Punderson State Park
11755 Kinsman Rd., Newbury, OH 44065
(440) 564-2279
Website

Pymatuning State Park

Ashtabula County – Skiing is allowed on the 1-mile Beaver Dam Trail. You must provide your own equipment.

Pymatuning State Park
6100 Pymatuning Lake Rd., Andover, OH 44003
(440) 261-4551
Website

Stark Parks

Stark County – Cross-country skiing rentals will be offered if proper weather conditions (3″ to 4″ inches of snow) are present. All rentals are 2 hours, cash or check. Trails are not groomed for skiing. Other popular locations for on-your-own cross-country skiing include Tam O'Shanter Park, Olde Muskingum Trail, Iron Horse Trail, and the Nickel Plate Trail.

Quail Hollow Park
13480 Congress Lake Ave., Hartville, OH 44632
General Information: (330) 477-3552
Rentals & Reservations: (330) 409-8096
Website

Summit Metroparks

Summit County – Skiing is permitted in 8 of the Metroparks, as well as on the 34-mile Bike & Hike Trail, the district’s 22.4 miles of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, and the 6-mile Freedom Trail in Tallmadge. Two inches of snow must be on the ground to ski.

Summit Metroparks
Firestone Metro Park: Warner Road Area, 200 E. Warner Rd., Akron, OH 44319
Furnace Run Metro Park: Brushwood Area, 4955 Townsend Rd., Richfield, OH 44286
Goodyear Heights Metro Park: Pioneer Area, 550 Frazier Ave., Akron, OH 44305
Munroe Falls Metro Park: Lake Area, 521 S. River Rd., Munroe Falls, OH 44262
Munroe Falls Metro Park: Tallmadge Meadows Area, 1088 North Ave., Tallmadge, OH 44278
Silver Creek Metro Park: Cross-country Course, 4579 S. Medina Line Rd., Norton, OH 44203
Silver Creek Metro Park: Pheasant Run Area, 5000 S. Hametown Rd., Norton, OH 44203
Springfield Bog Metro Park: Prairie Trail, 1400 Portage Line Rd., Akron, OH 44312
Website

West Branch State Park

Portage County – There is 1 mile of trail available when the ground is frozen and snow-covered. You must provide your own ski equipment.

West Branch State Park
5570 Esworthy Rd., Ravenna, OH 44266
(330) 235-0030
Website

Western Reserve Greenway

Trumbull County – This trail is 16.7 miles long and has two trailheads. You must provide your own ski equipment.

Western Reserve Greenway
1328 Hyde-Oakfield Rd., North Bloomfield, OH 44450
547 Center St. E (State Route 305), Warren, OH 44483
Website

More Winter Fun Things to do in Ohio

• Winter Fun Guide – Details on 100+ Things to do in Ohio during the winter months
• Sledding in Northeast Ohio – With over 60 locations to choose from, there is sure to be a hill near you.
• Indoor & Outdoor Ice Rinks – Northeast Ohio is home to a handful of seasonal outdoor rinks.  Admission is typically inexpensive (and sometimes FREE) and there is a small fee to rent ice skates (assuming you don’t have a pair of your own).
• Ski Resorts in Ohio – Ready to hit the slopes?  Whether for skiing or snowboarding Ohio has a number of ski resorts to meet your needs.  All have trails ranging from beginner to expert and offer classes for various skill levels.
• Snow Tubing in Ohio – Experience the thrill of cruising down a snow-covered hill in a tube by yourself or linked with your friends.