REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

The annual Hike & Run is BACK! This beloved event benefits environmental education and promotes health and wellness while celebrating the Shaker Parklands. Partial proceeds also support the Jenny Goldman Memorial Nature Outreach Fund, which underwrites our Environmental Educator in Residence program that provides environmental education for hundreds of Cleveland school children each year.

Registration fee before September 1 is $25 for hikes, 1 mile and 5K and $30 for 10K. Prices will increase slightly after September 1. Nature Center members receive $5 off registration.

Packet Pick-Up Dates: Fri. Sept 16, 4PM-6PM at the Wine Spot and Sat. Sept 17, 10AM-12PM at the Nature Center meeting room.

REGISTRATION

HIKE

Hike Options
1-Mile: Pet-Friendly Family Hike Through the Nature Center
2-Mile: Lower Lake Historical Stroll
2-Mile: GirlTrek Empowerment Hike
6-Mile: Doan Brook Gorge Hike
4-Mile: Rim of the Gorge Hike
5-Mile: Four Lake Hike

HIKE REGISTRATION

For hike descriptions, see below.

RUN

5K & 10K Race
1 Mile Family Fun Run

Staggered start times begin at 8:30am.
This 5K run will wind through the streets along the scenic Shaker Lakes and Nature Center habitats. 1-Mile Fun Run is scheduled to begin at 8:35am.

COURSE MAP - COMING SOON

VOLUNTEER

6:00AM–1:00PM
Shifts available
Volunteers are needed to help with way-finding, registration, refreshments,
set-up, clean-up, route monitors, and more.

VOLUNTEER

Sponsorships

HIKE DESCRIPTIONS

1-Mile: Pet-Friendly Family Hike Through the Nature Center
Led by Nature Center at Shaker Lakes (NCSL). Register for a casual stroll along the Nature Center’s Trails to take in all the beauty and showcase the outdoor features of NCSL. For this special hike, leashed pets are welcome on Nature Center trails! Approximate time: 45 minutes, includes some accessible areas, but dirt trails and stairs are to be expected.

2-Mile: Lower Lake Historical Stroll
Led by Shaker Historical Society. Enjoy this guided leisurely hike through trails and neighborhood sidewalks. Shaker Historical Society will share stories, photographs, and historic sites illustrating how the landscape around Lower Lake has changed as land use and urban development evolved over hundreds of years. Approximate time: 60-90 minutes, includes elevation changes with staircases and hills.

2-Mile: GirlTrek Empowerment Hike
Led by GirlTrek. This easy hike through the Stearns Woodland Trail, to and around Southerly Park is led by Jo Ratliff of GirlTrek, a global movement of Black women leveraging the historic legacy of walking and the power of self-care as a pathway to heal and transform lives. Families are welcome! Approximate time: 1 hour, combination of dirt and paved off-street paths, as well as stairs.

6-Mile: Doan Brook Gorge Hike
Led by Cleveland Hiking Club. Challenge yourself with this difficult hike, which spans Doan Brook between the Nature Center and the Graffiti Dam just north and west of MLK Blvd. After going around Lower Lake and crossing Coventry Rd, we will follow the trails closest to Doan Brook, passing many historical points along the way. Hikers will climb small hills, negotiate tree roots, loose rocks, and low-hanging branches, so good hiking boots, hiking poles, and above all, good balance are recommended! Explore a beautiful trail, where you can hardly believe that heavily traveled roads are only a few dozen feet away. Approximate time: 2 1/2 – 3 hours, varied terrain.

4-Mile: Rim of the Gorge Hike
Led by Cleveland Hiking Club. Explore some of the lesser known trails in the area on this moderate hike around the rim of the Doan Brook Gorge. Look down and enjoy sweeping views of the gorge. A bit of history retained in some of the remains of past uses will be noted. Approximate time: 2-2.5 hours, varied terrain.

5-Mile: Four Lake Hike
Led by Cleveland Hiking Club. Step through the Shaker Parklands and beyond to discover all four of the Shaker Lakes. Two of the lakes in the Shaker Parklands were constructed by the Shakers and the other two were added as part of the Van Sweringen development of Shaker Heights. Approximate time: 2 hours, varied terrain.

Fundraising

FUNDRAISING

Registering for a hike or a race? Passionate about our mission? Help raise critical funds for the Nature Center by setting up a personal fundraising page. 100% of donations to your personal fundraiser will benefit our environmental education programs and public trails.

Setup is simple and easy: create your personal fundraising page during registration, then share with friends, family, and across social media to start raising funds that will support the Nature Center's mission!

To express our thanks, are offering special incentives for those who raise funds through their personal fundraising page:
-Raise $100+ and we will refund your entry fee.
-Raise $250+ and earn a Nature Center hat or water bottle and refunded entry fee.
-Raise $500+ and earn a Hike & Run sweatshirt, a hat or water bottle, and refunded entry fee.
-Raise $1,000+ and earn a pair of tickets to the annual Nature Center Benefit, a Hike & Run sweatshirt, a hat or water bottle, and refunded entry fee.