Top Five Spots to Not Miss in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is one of the most visited National Parks in the United States! The park had approximately 2.8 million recreational visits in 2020, making it the 7th most frequented national park last year. Due to its close proximity to the cities of Cleveland and Akron in Ohio, the park draws in locals and visitors alike!
About Cuyahoga
Cuyahoga Valley National Park encompasses approximately 33,000 acres of forest, rolling hills, wetlands, rivers, and waterfalls, making it an excellent place for nature enthusiasts to explore and enjoy the outdoors. The park also has numerous historical sites, including old villages, the Ohio and Erie Towpath Trail, Everett Covered Bridge, and Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. The park truly has something for everyone to enjoy!
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is open everyday of the year and has no entrance fees. Leashed dogs are allowed on all trails, except for the East Rim mountain bike trails.
Location
Cuyahoga Valley National Park encompasses 50-square-miles of the rural landscape along the Cuyahoga River between the cities of Cleveland and Akron in northeast Ohio. Centrally positioned in the middle of the park is the Boston Mill Visitor Center, which is located at the intersection of Riverview Road and Boston Mills Road. The Visitor Center is open daily from 9:30am to 5pm, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.
Weather & Best Time to Visit
Weather at Cuyahoga Valley National Park is typical of northeast Ohio with four distinct seasons. The spring brings rain and warming temperatures. Summer is typically warm and humid. Fall often brings mixed temperatures and conditions, but the fall foliage is a big draw for visitors (usually peaks during the first few weeks in October). Winter is usually frigid and snowy due to lake effect from nearby Lake Erie.
Top Five Spots to Not Miss in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Due to the park’s small size, it is possible to explore multiple areas of the park in one day. There are over 125 miles of hiking trails that vary in difficulty and habitat--park trails go through woodlands, wetlands, and fields.
(1)Brandywine Gorge Trail
There are about 100 waterfalls in the Cuyahoga Valley, with the tallest being Brandywine Falls. The falls measure 65-feet in height! The Brandywine Gorge Trail passes through forest, crosses over the top of the falls, and finishes on a boardwalk looking over the falls. The overlook has the most iconic view in the park!
Trail Stats: 1.5-mile loop with 160 feet of elevation gain
Rating: Easy-moderate
Parking: There's a large trailhead parking lot, but Brandywine is the most popular spot in the park, so it can get extremely crowded.
Dogs: Allowed, if kept on leash.
Other Notes: Visitors can skip the Brandywine Gorge Loop altogether and go directly to the boardwalk viewing platform from the parking lot. The upper boardwalk is an accessible area for viewing the falls, whereas the lower viewing deck requires visitors to walk down approximately 80 steps.
(2)The Ledges Trail
The Ledges Trail is one of the most unique trails in the park! The trail loops around large rock outcroppings known as The Ledges. In some areas, the massive sandstone walls and cliffs reach nearly 100 feet tall! This hike was my favorite one that we did in the park during our trip.
Trail Stats: 2.2-mile loop with 105 feet of elevation gain
Rating: Easy-moderate
Parking: There's a large parking lot at the trailhead. The lot can get very busy on the weekends, especially midday.
Dogs: Allowed, if kept on leash.
Other Notes: The Ledges Trail connects to a larger network of trails in the Virginia Kendall area. There is also a large pavilion and numerous picnic areas near the trailhead.
(3) Beaver Marsh
Beaver Marsh is the most naturally diverse habitat in the park. Depending on the season, visitors can enjoy viewing frogs, turtles, beavers, and a variety of birds. The Beaver Marsh boardwalk viewing platforms are located along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath approximately 0.25-miles north of the Ira Trailhead.
Trail Stats: 0.5-mile out-and-back with negligible gain
Rating: Easy and fully accessible.
Parking: There's a small parking lot available at the Ira Trailhead (3801 Riverview Road, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44264).
Dogs: Allowed, if kept on leash.
Other Notes: The best chance of viewing wildlife is the early morning and late evening when wildlife is most active.
(4) Blue Hen Falls
The 15-foot Blue Hen Falls is described as one of the prettiest falls in the park. It is located near the Boston Mill Visitor Center and can be accessed via the Buckeye Trail. Unfortunately, we were unable to see Blue Hen Falls during our visit in Cuyahoga. The trail is closed for trail rehabilitation, which is planned to be completed in November 2021. Before visiting, be sure to check the NPS Website for updates regarding trail closures.
Trail Stats: 2.5-miles out-and-back with 250-feet of elevation gain
Rating: Moderate
Parking: Parking is available at the Boston Mill Visitor Center (6947 Riverview Rd, Peninsula, OH 44264).
Dogs: Allowed, if kept on leash.
Other Notes: The Buckeye Trail can be very muddy, is hilly, and has a long set of stairs at the end. The hike also requires crossing an unmarked road.
(5) Everett Covered Bridge
The Everett Covered Bridge located in Cuyahoga Valley National Park is the last remaining covered bridge in Summit County. The bridge survived until 1975 when a storm destroyed it. Fortunately, it was reconstructed to be historically accurate in 1986. To access the bridge, follow the short, paved path from the trailhead.
Trail Stats: 0.4-mile out-and-back with negligible gain
Rating: Easy
Parking: There is a parking lot at the covered bridge trailhead (2247 Everett Rd, Peninsula, OH 44264).
Dogs: Allowed, if kept on leash.
Other Notes: In the Everett Area there are numerous longer trails to enjoy, including Riding Run (4.0-miles), Perkins Trail (2.75-miles), and Furnace Run Trail (2.1-miles).
BONUS-Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad runs parallel to the Cuyahoga River through the park north to south and is a unique way to experience the area. On the National Park Scenic Excursion, visitors can sit back and take in the surrounding scenery and wildlife. The roundtrip ride lasts about 3 and half hours and tickets cost $10-$35 per person.
Hikers and bikers can also utilize the train with an Explorer Pass. This allows visitors to hike or bike one-way along the canal towpath and ride the train back to their starting point.
We had an excellent time exploring Cuyahoga Valley National Park. There’s so many excellent places to explore from historical covered bridges to amazing hiking trails to cascading waterfalls. I hope this guide inspires you to visit!
