Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, located a short distance south of Cleveland, Ohio, is a nature destination comprised of forests, valleys, canals, and waterfalls. Considered the “valley of hope and possibilities,” it is also the only national park in the state of Ohio.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s greatest distinction from other national parks in the United States is its proximity to urban areas. This proximity allows it to feature a network of roads (including railways) that run throughout the park.

Since the park essentially envelops homes and towns, everything just melds together seamlessly. One moment, you’re on the main road and passing by some homes or local businesses. A moment later you could be hiking alongside steep rock faces and valleys.

When you visit, make sure to follow this adventure guide to maximize your time in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Recommended Duration of Visit

2 days (ideal), 1 day (doable), 8 hours (difficult)

Recommendations: Before Arriving

Finalize nearby lodging and decide whether to mostly hike or drive.

Recommendations: Adventure Gear

Weather-appropriate clothing, sun protection, sunglasses, and comfortable hiking shoes.

Click for some interesting facts about Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Cuyahoga is a Native American word meaning “crooked river.”
Unlike most national parks in the United States, Cuyahoga Valley National Park has no entrance fee.
The park is a conglomerate of city, county, state, and federal park areas.
The first Earth Day took place on 4/22/1970. It was in response to the Cuyahoga River chemical fire on 6/22/1969.

PEAK SEASONS

Summer (June to August) is the peak season.

CUYAHOGA VALLEY’S STORY

Created in 1974, the park protects open countryside, a canal that helped build the nation, and the river that helped sparked Earth Day and the Clean Water Act.

ATTRACTIONS

Brandy Wine Falls, The Ledges, Scenic Railroad.

Cuyahoga Valley Sign, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio, United States

LANDSCAPE

51 miles² (132 kilometers²) of forests, valleys, railroads, waterfalls, and a canal.

SPECIAL EVENTS

In the month of December, there is a Polar Express Train Ride.

PLANNING

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is very easy to visit, so minimal planning is required. There are roads (and even a railway) that run throughout the park. It’s also a relatively short distance from major cities and towns.

Note that the park has no entrance fee.

CUYAHOGA VALLEY’S STORY

Created in 1974, the park protects open countryside, a canal that helped build the nation, and the river that helped sparked Earth Day and the Clean Water Act.

PEAK SEASONS

Summer (June to August) is the peak season.

LANDSCAPE

51 miles² (132 kilometers²) of forests, valleys, railroads, waterfalls, and a canal.

ATTRACTIONS

Brandy Wine Falls, The Ledges, Scenic Railroad.

PLANNING

Note that the park has no entrance fee.

SPECIAL EVENTS

In the month of December, there is a Polar Express Train Ride.

Attractions and Activities

Attractions Overview

Just a Little Longer: Cuyahoga Valley National Park is special in the sense that you can visit it in a relatively short amount of time, or you can easily spend the whole day.
4 Ways to Explore: One of the most unique things about this park is the multitude of ways to explore it. You can walk/hike, bike, drive, or ride the train. The park is built to accommodate these 4 methods of transportation, so there are hiking and biking trails in addition to the roads and train tracks.

Attractions Overview

Just a Little Longer: Cuyahoga Valley National Park is special in the sense that you can visit it in a relatively short amount of time, or you can easily spend the whole day.
4 Ways to Explore: One of the most unique things about this park is the multitude of ways to explore it. You can walk/hike, bike, drive, or ride the train. The park is built to accommodate these 4 methods of transportation, so there are hiking and biking trails in addition to the roads and train tracks.

Canal Exploration Center: The exploration center celebrates the Ohio & Erie Canalway. The canal was dug by hand from 1825 to 1832, connecting Lake Erie to the Ohio River.

Serving as an interstate shipping route, the canal allowed people and products to flow across the United States. Entire towns formed around the canals as Ohio gained in population and wealth.

The center features interactive maps, exhibits, and games to showcase the monumental importance of canals in the early development of the United States.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 30 – 45 minutes.

Boston Mill Visitor Center: As the major hub and visitor center in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Boston Mill is the best starting point. It also features numerous maps and interactive exhibits centering around the Cuyahoga Valley region.

From the center, visitors can choose a variety of routes and trails to begin their Cuyahoga adventure. For example, from the visitor center, the hike to Brandywine Falls is approximately 5 miles (8 kilometers) round trip. There is also a train station nearby.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 30 – 60 minutes.

The Canal Exploration Center is one of the northernmost points of interest, so it should be visited earlier in the day.

Sometimes, the Brandwine Falls parking lot is entirely full, so hiking from the Boston Mill Visitor Center is a viable alternative.

Brandywine Falls: Brandywine Falls is a 60-foot (18.3-meter) waterfall that flows into a lush gorge. With vantage points from upper & lower boardwalks, this waterfall named after a type of alcoholic drink is the most popular attraction in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

In order to reach the falls, visitors will traverse through forests and creeks as they move along the 1.4-mile (2.3-kilometer) boardwalk loop.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 30 – 60 minutes.

Blue Hen Falls: Although much smaller than Brandywine Falls, Blue Hen Falls is a lovely little waterfall on arguably one of the best hiking trails in the entire park. It also isn’t actually blue (even though most photo edits would try to convince you otherwise). And even if the waterfall is relatively lackluster compared to its much grander cousin, the hike alone is worth it.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1.5 – 3 hours.

The trail starts near the Inn at Brandywine Falls B & B and follows the edge of the gorge, eventually taking you down toward the creek. And even though the loop is 1.4-miles (2.3-kilometers), it doesn’t take much hiking at all in order to reach the actual falls.

In order to reach Blue Hen Falls, you must take the Buckeye Trail from the visitor center. You are not allowed to park anywhere near the falls. The buckeye trail will eventually connect to the blue hen fall trails. The trail is a 3-mile (4.8-kilometer) round trip.

Scenic Road: Unlike most national parks in the United States, Cuyahoga’s most unique quality is its ability to efficiently be explored via 4 different routes. Visitors can explore the park via car, train, boat, or trails (hiking or biking).

The Scenic Road (i.e. Riverview Road) bisects the park and runs alongside the river. Driving along the Scenic Road is the quickest way to see most of what the park has to offer. Along the way, visitors can choose to visit attractions to their liking.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: Variable depending on the route taken.

Scenic Railroad: The railroad is the most unique method of transportation in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, so discovering Cuyahoga Valley by train deserves a strong recommendation.

Cost: Tickets for the train must be purchased in advance. Refer to the official Scenic Railroad website for more information. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 3 hours.

The Scenic Road leads right to the Boston Mill Visitor Center where there is a train station. Some visitors choose to park their vehicle here and travel via train.

Train rides are not available at certain times of the year, so make sure to check in advance. Also note that it is actually illegal to walk on the railroad tracks.

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Peninsula Depot: One of the most unique aspects of this national park is the railroad that runs through the center. This particular depot is in the festive part of town. With a ticket, visitors can take a genuine railroad ride throughout the park.

The depot also resides next to restaurants, shops, and galleries.

Cost: For more information and booking tickets, refer to the official Scenic Railroad website. Recommended Duration of Visit: Variable depending on the train ride.

The Ledges: In terms of landscape, The Ledges represent the best of what Cuyahoga Valley National Park has to offer. It features expansive valley views, stunning nature, miles of hiking trails, and towering rock faces.

If there was any doubt about Cuyahoga Valley’s national park status, then The Ledges would surely dispel those doubts.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 2 – 3 hours.

There is a “Polar Express” around Christmas time. It is essentially a Christmas/winter-themed railroad ride.

To find the trail, head for the ledges trailhead parking lot (searchable on Google Maps) and follow the signs carefully.