The Best Things to do at Cuyahoga Valley National Park

The Best Things to do at NATIONAL PARK

By Kathryn Frazer

Just a quick drive from some of Ohio’s largest cities lies Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a 33,000-acre historic and natural area that may be close to the hustle and bustle of city life, but feels worlds away.

With a variety of things to see and do, including waterfalls, beautiful trails, local farms, canal history, and exploring by bike, kayak, or train, Cuyahoga Valley is unlike any other national park in the United States and makes for a fun and unique adventure!

About Cuyahoga Valley National Park

The area that now makes up Cuyahoga Valley National Park has been explored for thousands of years, starting with a few different Native American tribes.

In the late 1700s, settlers made their way to the Cuyahoga Valley from areas of New England, and by the 1830s, the Ohio and Erie Canal ran through the valley, connecting the Ohio River with Lake Erie and creating an inland water route between the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico.

In 1974, Cuyahoga Valley was designated a national recreation area, despite some pushback due to the river’s pollution at the time. After some cleanup efforts, it was upgraded to a national park in 2000, making it the 56th U.S. national park.

How To Get There

The park is located in northeast Ohio and is less than 30 minutes from Cleveland and Akron, which both have airports, making it a very accessible park to visit. It’s also close to many major highways that go through the Midwest and East Coast, so it’s a perfect road trip stop when driving across the country.

When To Visit

One of the best things about Cuyahoga Valley National Park is that it’s open year-round and every season provides a different experience.

Spring: Spring is the perfect time to visit the park if you want to see the waterfalls at their best, as the snowmelt and rain causes them to flow at a much higher rate than other times of the year.

Summer: Visiting in the summer will bring peak crowds and warmer, humid weather, but it also provides the most activity options, with farms open for the season, as well as the train running a full schedule.

Fall: Fall brings crisp days, foliage, fall activities, and less crowds than the summer season. While the waterfalls may not be as powerful this time of year, the fall scenery in the park is beautiful and many of the top attractions are open through October.

Winter: In the winter, the park turns into a winter wonderland, with snow covering the park’s trails and surrounding the waterfalls. This is a great time to experience the park without crowds and try some winter activities, such as cross-country skiing, tubing, and sledding.

Where To Stay

There isn’t a campground inside of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, but there are a handful of RV parks and campgrounds near the park, such as the Silver Springs Campground and a KOA.

If you plan to explore the greater area, Cleveland or Akron would be a perfect home base and offer a variety of lodging options, including hotels and Airbnbs, plus campgrounds on the outskirts of both cities.

Looking for a free spot to boondock? The Cabela’s in Avon, Ohio allows overnight parking and is only 45 minutes from the park.

Things To Know Before Visiting

It’s free! Unlike most national parks, which can cost between $20 and $35 per vehicle to visit, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is totally free!

Dogs are allowed on trails: In Cuyahoga Valley, leashed dogs are allowed on the park’s trails, which is rare in a national park!

RV parking is limited: Most parking lots at Cuyahoga Valley do not offer designated RV parking. There are some places where RVs can park, such as at the visitor center, Canal Exploration Center, and a few trailheads, but for the most part, the parking lots are designed for regular vehicles, although most can fit up to a Class B as well.

There is no park shuttle: Cuyahoga Valley National Park does not have an official park shuttle, so you’ll need your own vehicle or a bike in order to explore the park. You can bike in and around the park along the towpath trail, which we will share more about below.

The Best Things To Do At Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Brandywine Falls

Brandywine Falls: Brandywine Falls is one of the most popular sights at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This 60-foot waterfall is accessed by a quick walk down some boardwalks and stairs, which leads you to a couple of overlooks. To add to the adventure, you can hike the 1.5-mile Brandywine Gorge Trail, which takes you along the gorge and down to the creek.

Ledges Trail

Ledges Trail: The 2.3-mile Ledges Trail is an essential hike at the park and takes you alongside the Ritchie Ledges, a series of impressive rock formations tucked into a forest.

While on the trail, be sure to pay close attention to side trails that will take you to hidden slot canyons and nooks where you’re surrounded by rocks and moss, which feels like something out of a fairytale.

Blue Hen and Buttermilk Falls: Blue Hen Falls is another beautiful waterfall to check out, as long as you don’t mind a bit of a hike. At 3 miles round trip, this hike takes you to a picturesque 15-foot waterfall that flows off the side of a sandstone cliff. For an additional mile round trip, add on Buttermilk Falls, a 30-foot waterfall that cascades down a tiered rockface.

Towpath Trail

Bike the Towpath Trail: As we mentioned earlier, the Ohio and Erie Canal played a big role in this area’s history, and today you can experience part of the canal on the towpath trail, which is an 87-mile pathway, with 20 miles going through Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

This trail takes you along the same path that mules walked as they towed canal boats loaded with goods and passengers back in the 1800s, and is accessible by foot, bike, stroller, or wheelchair.

We highly recommend riding bikes along this pathway, and if you’re in need of a bike rental, Century Cycles in Peninsula is a great bike shop.

Scenic Railroad

Ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad: The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad has been going through the valley since 1880 and today offers scenic 3.5-hour railroad trips between May and October, as well as themed train rides during other times of the year.

One unique option on the train is to bike, kayak, or hike aboard! This means you take the train one way and your other preferred method of transportation the other way. During our visit to the park, we biked from Peninsula down to the Beaver Marsh and then took the train from Indigo Lake back to Peninsula. It made for such a fun experience in the park!

Szalay's Farm Market

Visit a Farm: Something else that makes Cuyahoga Valley unlike any other national park is that there are many farms both in and around the park. Some fun farms to visit are Szalay’s Farm & Market for corn and a variety of local produce and treats, Greenfield Berry Farms for blueberries, and Countryside Farmers Market on Saturdays to support many vendors!

Indigo Lake: This small but scenic lake is a great picnic pit stop when riding the Towpath Trail, with a few tables and plenty of grass to sit on.

Beaver Marsh

Beaver Marsh: The Beaver Marsh is a perfect example of how nature can be restored after damage from human intervention. Back in the 1800s, this area was a wetland, but it was drained when the railroad came through. Part of the land was used as a dairy farm and part as an auto body shop, with car parts littered everywhere.

In 1984, the area was cleaned and beavers started to return to the valley. They built dams, which flooded the area and restored natural water levels, allowing plants and diverse wildlife to return.

There is now a nice boardwalk that goes across the marsh where you can see tons of lily pads, plants, and if you’re lucky, wildlife.

Everett Road Covered Bridge: This red covered bridge was built in the 1800s and makes for a great, quick photo spot when visiting the park.

Hale Farm & Village: Hale Farm & Village is a living history museum that shares 19th century life through demonstrations, gardens, animals, and 32 historic buildings. There are costumed interpreters to share the story of what life was like and help transport you back in time.

Canal Exploration Center: To learn more about the history of the canal and its impact on the area, visit the Canal Exploration Center! Here you’ll be able to see a lock, learn the importance of mules, and interact with different exhibits. Note: Although this museum is located inside the park, it is run by a separate organization and has an additional fee.

With hiking, biking, trains, waterfalls, farms, and so much more, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a unique park experience and we hope you enjoy its variety, history, and scenery as much as we did! ■

About the author

To learn more about the author, visit Kathryn Frazer at instagram.com/adventuresofaplusk