The F. A. Seiberling Nature Realm is a 104 acre Summit County Metro Park. The park has a large 10,000 sq. ft. nature center with exhibits detailing the natural history of the area.
The nature center includes an observation deck overlooking a pond and terrariums containing a number of Ohio reptiles and amphibians. The day we visited an individual associated with the park was introducing visitors to an Eastern Foxsnake (Elaphe gloydi).
There are two and a half miles of hiking trails on the property. We followed the Cherry Trail to the Fernwood trail. Along the way we crossed a 110-foot long pedestrian suspension bridge over a ravine. At the far end of the Fernwood trail we connected with the Seneca trail that went up to the top of a ridgeline and then down past Echo Pond. There were water fowl in the pond and midland painted turtles basking on the shore line.
The Seiberling Nature Realm has a large parking area, picnic tables (and benches along the trails), several observation decks, a gift shop, and rest rooms. Check the Nature Realm’s web page for hours of operation of the visitor center. Dogs are not permitted at the site.
Additional information
- Summit County Metro Parks: F. A. Seiberling Nature Realm
- Facebook: F. A. Seiberling Nature Realm
- TrekOhio: Summit County Parks & Preserves
Location
Address: 1828 Smith Rd., Akron 44313
More on Summit County
Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Scenic Railroad
Deep Lock Quarry Metro Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Ledges Trail
Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Beaver Marsh
They’ve done a really beautiful job with integrating the signage into the park…. So lovely! The park’s constructions also blend very well with the natural surroundings. Wonderful!!
awesome I seen the new park itself but never went into the building yet, had no idea they put a aquarium in there, will have to check it out when we go to check out the flowering trees once they get going.
Roberta, it’s not a big aquarium. Instead they have a number of smaller aquariums and terrariums. But I still enjoyed looking over the animals that they had in there. It was nice to see that they were caring for injured animals, and I couldn’t believe how well that salamander was able to hide in the mud in its terrarium.
most projects like aquariums start small and build from there it is nice they have this so they can care for the animals at the naturalum if they get injuried, it doesn’t happen, and I love that suspension bridge as well.
Thank you for sharing. This is within an easy drive for me. I’ll check it out.