Featured Trail Towns

Located approximately 35 miles east of downtown Cleveland, Chardon is among the early communities in the Western Reserve. Today, Chardon remains a town rich in history and culture, with its square at the heart of the city. Many activities and events are held there throughout the year, including summer concert series, car shows, farmers' market, and most notably, the annual Geauga County Maple Festival, which celebrates the county's maple syrup production industry and kicks off the spring season.

Indians found the St. Marys River to be an essential travel route. By portages of only six miles at high water and 26 at low water, they could travel from Lake Erie to the Gulf of Mexico. Before the construction of Grand Lake St. Marys, which drained about half of the river's watershed area, the river could handle the largest flat-bottom boats.