You'll Feel As Though You're Swimming At The Basin Of Niagara Falls At This Little-Known Spillway In Ohio
By Sarah McCosham|Published June 29, 2023
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
Okay, let me begin by saying that OF COURSE the natural swimming pool at the basin of the waterfall of this Ohio spillway is neither as large nor well-known as *the* Niagara Falls. But that doesn’t make this little-known spillway in Ohio any less wondrous than its New York counterpart. What Hinckley Spillway lacks in size, it more than makes up for in splendor — and swim-ability. One of just a handful of glorious and guarded Cleveland Metroparks that offers seasonal swimming, there’s nothing that compares to a summer day spent splashing about in the waters of this little-known spillway.
Tucked away in northeast Ohio's Medina County, Hinckley Reservation and its eponymous 90-acre lake have long beckoned to Clevelanders during the heat of summer in the Buckeye State.
In addition to offering lots of spots to recreate and cool off in the water, visitors to Hinckley Lake have the unique opportunity to swim in the basin of... a waterfall? Yes! It's true!
This Cleveland Metropark features a sandy beach, expansive pool, and, thanks to the spillway, a roaring waterfall that pours into the pool below, inviting folks to swim in its basin!
In addition to the nearby boathouse and watercraft rentals, Hinckley Spillway has restrooms and picnic areas, making this a perennial favorite for families in The Land!
One thing I must note, however: while the water is clean, clear, and safe for swimming, it's also known for... um... snakes. I am vehemently anti-snake, but my kids? They'd be delighted to find themselves among such company in the water.
And as the spillway is a bit rocky, I'd definitely recommend some sort of footwear when exploring and swimming... my kids live in Natives during the summer.
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Slather up the sunscreen and enjoy this waterfall pool while you can -- the waters of Hinckley Lake will soon be drained for a rehabilitation project expected to last until summer 2026 -- but luckily, the project isn't slated to start until after summer 2023.
