Mill Creek Park

Mill Creek Park

Glenwood Avenue Youngstown, Ohio 44502

Mill Creek Park Official Website
Mill Creek Park map
Mill Creek Park trail guide

Also, see all the hotspots at:
Mahoning County Birding Drive

About this Location

It is most helpful when submitting eBird observations at Mill Creek Park to start a new checklist for each hotspot within the park. Use this general hotspot when you have a checklist that includes multiple locations or there was not a hotspot or personal location appropriate for your sightings.

About Mill Creek Park

See all hotspots at Mill Creek Park

Mill Creek Park was established in 1891 by Volney Rogers as the first park district in Ohio. Mill Creek Park is the largest area of the MetroParks encompassing 2,882 acres of the MetroParks’ 4,400 acres. Recreation opportunities include hiking, biking, boating, fishing, golf, tennis, volleyball, picnicking, cross-country skiing, sledding, and much more. Mill Creek Park offers 20 miles of drives and 15 miles of foot trails.

Mill Creek flows through the Park in a northerly direction supplying water to three lakes. Mill Creek Park extends along the Mill Creek Valley from Western Reserve Road to the confluence of Mill Creek and the Mahoning River.

The northern section of Mill Creek Park includes Lanterman’s Falls and the Mill Creek Gorge. This area offers breathtaking views with its cascading waters; steep hillsides, beautifully covered with deciduous and evergreen trees; bold sandstone outcroppings; and numerous grass-covered meadows. South of the gorge, the land is rolling and partly wooded.

Hitchcock Woods, south of US-224, includes dense woods and extensive wetlands, undeveloped except for primitive trails. The Mill Creek Preserve, acquired with grant monies in 2006-07, extends Mill Creek Park to Western Reserve Road and features a 102-acre Category 3 wetlands.

The Newport Wetlands, located at the southern end of the lake, provide habitats for a variety of plants and animals. Visitors can experience this complex web of flora and fauna by walking the Albert E. Davies Wetland Trail, a boardwalk through the wetlands with interpretive signs along the way. Kayakers can explore the wetland habitat through water trails inaccessible from land. Hikers can access West and East Channel and Islands Trails and West Newport Trail.

The Mill Creek Park trail guide shows the locations of restrooms and handicap-accessible trails.

Notable Trails

Mill Creek Park Trails
There are 16 trails in Mill Creek Park.

The Mill Creek Park trail guide has descriptions and detailed maps of each of these trails.

Mill Creek Gorge Trail Loop
Mill Creek Park is one of the largest Metroparks in the state. There are 16 hiking trails in the park, all of which are worthy of a good hike. However, the best hikes are two specific trails: East Gorge Trail and West Gorge Trail. These create a two-mile loop along Mill Creek when hiked together. This is a fabulously scenic route with trails cut through massive rock and rugged terrain. There is also a boardwalk, but only for a small portion of the trail.

Mill Creek Gorge Trail Loop
2 miles, West Gorge Trail and East Gorge Trail connectors make a loop.

West Gorge Trail (9)
1 mile; moderately difficult with some hills
Sandstone outcroppings
Views inspired Volney Rogers to establish Mill Creek Park
Lake Newport Dam at the south end

East Gorge Trail (10)
.5 mile; moderately difficult with steps and boardwalk
Scenic gorge and sandstone outcroppings including Umbrella Rock
View of Lantermans Falls

Parking for this hike is on the north end at the Suspension Bridge or on the south end at Lantermans Falls. The trails may be hiked in either direction, clockwise or counterclockwise.

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

  • Roadside viewing

Content from Mill Creek Park Official Website and 10 Best Hikes in Ohio (RootsRated)