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Outdoor Resources

Our goal at the Adventure Center is to give you the skills, experience and confidence you need to begin planning your own outdoor adventures. We would love to have you attend all of our trips and clinics, but if you're ready to get out there "On Your Own," check out these great resources below.  Please help us keep our list up to date. If you know of another resource to add to this list, please email Chris Lukas, Assistant Director, Outdoor Adventure at clukas@kent.edu.  

Home and Virtual Adventures
Biking & Cycling
Climbing - Indoors
  • Ascend
    Bouldering gym in Youngstown Ohio
  • Claridon Woodlands Bouldering
    A free form boulder wall located in Claridon Woodlands park. 
  • Cleveland Rocks
    A rock climbing and yoga gym in Cleveland, Ohio. The gym features lead climbing, top rope, auto-belays walls and a spacious bouldering area. 
  • Climb Cleveland
    A rock climbing, bouldering, and yoga gym in Cleveland Ohio.
  • Kendall Cliffs
    Outfitting service and rock climbing gym in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
  • Nosotros
    A bouldering and community gym with two locations in the Cleveland, OH area.
  • On the Rocks
    Rock climbing gym in Elyria Ohio.
  • Rock Mill
    A bouldering, fitness, and yoga gym in Akron Ohio.
  • Shaker Rocks
    A climbing, fitness, and yoga gym located in Shaker Heights, Ohio.
Climbing - Outdoors
  • Beach City Wildlife Area
    Bouldering and climbing area near Beach City, OH.
  • Logtown
    An old quarry that has been repurposed into a recreational climbing area. Logtown is located in Lisbon, Ohio and features 45 classic sport & traditional climb routes.
  • Mountain Project
    A resource to track down and provide information for climbing spots and routes all over.
  • McConnells Mills State Park
    Two climbing and rappelling areas at McConnells Mill State Park in Pennsylvania. 
  • Mill Creek Park
    A metropark in Youngstown, OH that allows bouldering within a permitted area of the park.
  • Northern Ohio climbing areas
    An informational resource to help you locate climbing areas and communities across Ohio.
  • Sawyer Quarry
    An old quarry that has been repurposed into a recreational climbing area. Sawyer quarry is located near Perrysburg, Ohio and offers climbing and rappelling opportunities. 
  • Whipps Ledges
    High quality sandstone ledges in Hinckley, OH that offer various traditional and top roping routes. 
Disc Golf
Hiking & Walking
Paddling
  • Cuyahoga River Water Trail
    Designated as a protected water trail, the Cuyahoga River has over 90 miles of traversable river that the public can access and enjoy.
  • Wingfoot Lake State Park
    Located in Portage County, Wingfoot Lake is a 444-acre lake that offers plenty of on- and off-water recreational activities. 
  • City of Akron Watershed Division
    Lake Rockwell Reservoir, Lake Pippen, LaDue Reservoir, East Branch Reservoir, Mogadore Reservoir and Rockwell South Canoe Launch
Places to Visit
  • Beckwith Orchards
    A local orchard in Kent Ohio offering fresh fruit and baked goods in a scenic setting. 
  • Crown Point Ecology Center
    The mission of Crown Point is to demonstrate the practical applications of ecology and to connect spirituality, social justice and environmental protection. 
  • Main Street Kent
    A non-profit organization focused on the promotion, beautification, and revitalization of downtown Kent. 
  • Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
    A non-profit organization focused on the promotion, beautification, and revitalization of downtown Kent. 
  • The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes
    The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes conserves a natural area, connects people with nature and inspires environmental stewardship. 
  • The Wilderness Center
    An education center to educate our community on issues related to our natural world, preserve and protect our natural lands, and inspires others to action. 
Running
  • Runners World
    A resource for the most recent information, news, and events regarding running. 
  • Muddy Paws
    A resource for finding long distance running races and community. 
  • Ohio to Erie Trail
    Scenic 326 mile multipurpose trail connecting the Ohio river to the shores of Lake Erie.
  • Trail Run Project
    Informative resource to locate running trails around your area. 
Skiing & Snowboarding
Useful Organizations and Information
  • Friends of the Crooked River
    A volunteer organization formed to give the 100-mile length of the Cuyahoga River a voice. They work to protect and care for our local river and its ecosystem.
  • Gohio Commute
    Gohio helps commuters all across the state explore their commute options. 
  • iNaturalist
    An informative application that allows users to become more familiar about their natural environment through recording their observations and interacting with their community. 
  • Kent State Office of Sustainability
    A resource for information about our local habitats, and descriptions about the environments that Kent State University manages on its grounds. 
  • Kent State Regional Campus - The Great Outdoors
    Celebrate the natural wonder and outdoor spirit of America by reconnecting with nature. Use our lists of recreation areas and events to get started today. 
  • Leave No Trace
    With pioneering Science, hands-on training and simple guidelines, Leave No Trace helps you explore the outdoors sustainably every time you get outside. 
  • Ohio Department of Natural Resources
    Government agency tasked with managing Ohio's natural resources. 
  • Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
    Government agency tasked with enforcing environmental laws and regulations. 
  • REI's - Expert Advice Pages
    A go-to source for all the information you need to learn new skills, choose and maintain gear, prep for your trips and have amazing adventures.
  • Stark Campus Recreation & Wellness Center
    The Recreation & Wellness Center at Kent State Stark promotes physical, social and mental well-being. Students can also take for-credit classes in Physical Activity, Wellness & Sport (PWS) and Dance (DAN).
  • West Creek Conservancy
    A nonprofit nature conservancy based in Cleveland working to make our city spaces cleaner and greener. 
  • Western Reserve Land Conservancy
    A nonprofit nature conservancy working to provide the people of our region with essential natural assets through land conservation and restoration. 
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