Lake Metroparks offers approximately six miles of groomed trails at Chapin Forest Reservation and has skis and snowshoes available to rent at the Pine Lodge Ski Center. The center is open into the evening every night and has approximately a mile of trail that is lit for a unique Information about the center including operating hours, rentals, and directions to the park are included in the information below.

• Cross-country ski and Snowshoeing at Chapin Forest media contact: Brian Davidson
  (440) 256-2111
  ...
• Snowshoeing at Penitentiary Glen Reservation media contact: Dan Burnett
  (440) 256-1404

Lake Metroparks presents...
Winter sports activities in the parks
Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and ice-skating

Now that the snow has arrived, winter sports enthusiasts can enjoy a wide variety of recreational opportunities Lake Metroparks has to offer. Lake effect snow-covered parks offer the perfect settings for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and ice-skating. Tremendous trails, facilities, and a wide variety of programs are available for people of all ages.

The Pine Lodge Ski Center at Chapin Forest Reservation offers cross-country skiers excellent opportunities to enjoy this winter sport. This popular park, located at 10381 Hobart Road in Kirtland, offers approximately six miles of groomed trails that will challenge any ability from Novice to Intermediate. The trails are groomed and renovated at the beginning of each day as weather permits. Two snowmobiles and various pieces of grooming equipment allow Lake Metroparks to offer cross-country skiers some of the best skiing in Ohio.

The ski center is opened and staffed when weather, snow accumulation, and conditions warrant (four inches of snow are needed to ski on). Approximately one mile of lighted trail is lit nightly to accommodate the skiing public, weather permitting.

The Pine Lodge Ski Center hours of operation for the ’06-’07 season:
Monday – Friday: Noon – 8 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 9 am - 8 pm

Holiday break hours:

• December 18 – January 2: 9 am to 8 pm
• Christmas Eve: 9 am – 6 pm
• Christmas Day: Noon – 5:00
• New Year’s Eve: 9 am to 8 pm
• New Year’s Day: 9 am to 8 pm
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan 15): 9 am to 8 pm
• Teacher’s In-service Day (Jan 22): 9 am to 8 pm
• Presidents’ Day (Feb 19): 9 am to 8 pm

The Lake Metroparks Winter Sports Hotline - (440) 954 4178 – is updated daily to provide ski conditions and snow accumulation reports. It is recommended to call before coming out to confirm the center is open.

Equipment rentals for cross-country skis and snowshoes are available at the center on a first-come, first-served basis. Ski rental includes ski boots, skis and poles. Ski boot sizes are available in child size 10 through adult size 14. For more information about cross-country skiing at Chapin Forest Reservation, including rental rates, call the Pine Lodge Ski Center at (440) 256-3810 or visit www.lakemetroparks.com .

Ski lessons are available for all ages at the Pine Lodge Ski Center. Lake Metroparks also offers a wide variety of pre-registered winter sports activities and programs for children, adults, seniors and scouting opportunities. Winter-themed birthday parties are also a popular opportunity. Information about ski lessons and winter sports programs is available online at www.lakemetroparks.com .

The Pine Lodge Ski Center at the Chapin Forest Reservation is located at 10381 Hobart Road in Kirtland. Directions: Take I-90 to Rt. 306 south for 3.5 miles to Chardon Road (Rt. 6) and turn right (west) for one mile to Hobart Road. Turn right (north) for almost l/2 mile to the park entrance located on the right (east) side of the road.

Additional trails that are popular for cross-country skiing offered by Lake Metroparks are located at Girdled Road Reservation (North and South) in Concord Twp., and Penitentiary Glen Reservation in Kirtland. Trails are groomed regularly at both the Chapin Forest and Girdled Road Reservations. The trails at Penitentiary Glen Reservation provide the opportunity for people to ski on un-groomed trails.

Snowshoe rentals are also available at the Penitentiary Glen Nature Center in Kirtland. Nearly seven miles of trails within the park are available for snowshoeing and await your discovery. Snow accumulation and conditions will determine snowshoe rental availability. Novices at snowshoeing are invited to experience the Peppermint Trail at Penitentiary Glen. This quarter-mile loop is just right for beginners and families and includes a complimentary peppermint stick for all. Stop by the Snowshoe Lodge in the Nature Center, relax and enjoy a cup of steaming hot chocolate, coffee or tea.

Snowshoe rentals are available 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily through March 4 on an hourly and daily basis (weather dependent). Rentals are available on a first-come basis and cannot be reserved; rentals end one hour before closing. Hours for rentals on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve are 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and the Nature Center is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. For information about snowshoeing at Penitentiary Glen Reservation including rates and availability, call (440) 256-1404 or visit www.lakemetroparks.com .

The Penitentiary Glen Nature Center is located at 8668 Kirtland-Chardon Road in Kirtland. Directions: Take I-90 to Rt. 306. Head south one mile to Rt. 615. Turn left and follow 1/8 mile to Kirtland-Chardon Road. Turn right onto Kirtland-Chardon Road and proceed two miles to Penitentiary Glen Reservation on the right.

Other popular wintertime activities include sledding and ice-skating. Other sledding hills are available, weather permitting, at Hidden Valley Park (Madison Township) and Riverview Park (Madison), and Chapin Forest Reservation (Kirtland). There is an outdoor ice rink available for ice-skating, conditions permitting, at Chagrin River Park (Reeves Road entrance in Willoughby).