Experience the Mentor park trails in winter with the crunch of your footsteps in the snow, sunlight filtered through bare trees, and the hush of a winter afternoon.
Winter is a special time to explore Mentor’s 1,200 acres of parkland and surrounding natural areas. From easy paved walkways to challenging trails, Mentor city parks offer plenty of opportunities for casual walkers and avid hikers alike to connect with nature in the colder months.
For a quick, less strenuous winter walk on paved paths, visit Edward R. Walsh Park, Springbrook Gardens Park, or the Mentor Municipal Complex.
Walsh’s 1.5-mile walkway skirts the park’s perimeter, winding through a short wooded area and past the fishing pond. It’s perfect for a family outing: snow-covered soccer fields provide space to play, and the playground remains open year-round for releasing pent-up energy.
Springbrook Gardens Park offers 1.7 miles of paved paths, including an all-access boardwalk with views of a large pond. The former nursery site has been transformed into a prairie of native plants, with a restored stream bed enhancing habitat for birds and wildlife. Keep an eye out for great blue herons and other native species that inhabit our parks year round.
The all-purpose path at the Mentor Municipal Complex winds through and around Civic Center Park and directly connects to several points of interest including the all-peoples playground, ballcourts, and nearby neighborhoods.
For more challenging terrain, head to Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve. Over three miles of hiking trails encircle the preserve, offering four distinct vistas: Mentor Lagoons Marina, Mentor Marsh, upland forest, and the Lake Erie shoreline.
Veer off the main trail onto the Marsh Rim Trail, which winds through upland forest along the marsh’s western edge. Without leaves on the trees, hikers enjoy expansive views of the marsh. This mile-long trail connects to the Overlook Trail, providing views of and access to Lake Erie.
The Zimmerman Trail, accessible from Morton Community Park, is part of the Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve and follows the marsh’s northern edge. This two-mile hike (four miles round trip) leads through upland and swamp forest, crossing streams and shallow ravines to a small parking area on Headlands Road. Along the way, you’ll find ample opportunities to spot wildlife and take in marsh views.
Mentor’s park trails and the Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve trails are open from dawn to dusk year-round. We invite you to get outdoors and experience the season’s beauty on a winter hike.
Learn more about outdoor activities in our community at cityofmentor.com/parks.