The parking area for the Chippewal Inlet Trail South is on Chippewa Road north of Chippewa Lake.

Among the largest natural inland lakes in the State of Ohio, Chippewa Lake was created some 14,000 years ago by the melting of massive glacial ice sheets as they retreated north. Chippewa Lake has a long history of human habitation going back thousands of years when Native Americans visited the fertile wetlands and lake shores to hunt and trade. In recent history, the lake served as a playground for generations of visitors to the storied Chippewa Lake Amusement Park, which closed its doors in 1978 after 100 years.

The Medina County Park District purchased open land on the west side of the lake over a period of years. In 2007, the park district acquired the lake itself. Since then, the park district has opened Krabill Lodge, a reservable enclosed lodge off Ballash Road. Today the lake is open to the public, once again, with a public boat launch off Westfield Landing Road.

Utilizing available grants and mitigation banking, the park district has been able to fund the restoration of streams and wetlands north of the lake, which will improve water quality and enhance habitat for wildlife. Together these restoration projects help preserve this special natural resource for all to enjoy for generations to come.

The Chippewa Inlet Trail is a 3.95-mile long asphalt and crushed limestone trail. The trail runs south from OH-42 in Lafayette Township, through Buckeye Woods Park, across OH-162, to Chippewa Road. From upland pine stands to wet woods and restored wetlands, this trail has a variety of interesting habitats for users to experience. The trail loops around a wetland restoration project on the north side of the park.