Cuyahoga National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is the only national park in the state of Ohio. Although the park stretches between the urban cities of Cleveland and Akron, the winding Cuyahoga River preserves the serene landscape. Originally, Cuyahoga Valley was a National Recreation Area but was re-designated as a national park in 2000. Inside the national park, you will discover native plants and wildlife, marshlands, limestone ledges, and even a few waterfalls! To add to the perks of this park, it is free to visit!
Even with one day to explore, you will unearth a variety of breathtaking landscapes, all uniquely their own. Here’s what we did with our day (and a half) at the park:
Before setting off on our hikes, we stopped at the Boston Mill Visitor Center to get our passport stamped. During the summer, you can also visit the Canal Exploration Center to learn more about the history of the Ohio & Erie Canals. While you are here, we suggest not forgetting your bug spray for the upcoming hikes. Learn from our mistakes, because we had a rough couple of hours in the woods…
The Falls
To avoid the crowds, we headed to Brandywine Falls first. You have a couple of options for viewing the falls. You can either take the boardwalk down to the falls or if you are fine with adding a couple miles, you can take the Gorge Trail. This 1.5-mile hike takes you on a loop down to the gorge, crossing the creek (and the falls) a couple of times before finding the boardwalk for a closer look at the falls. Although Brandywine Falls is the most notable, there are other falls you can check out if you have more time to spend! Within the park, there is Blue Hen Falls or the Great Falls of Tinker’s Creek & Bridal Veil Falls found in the Cleveland Metroparks.
Hiking Trails
The Virginia Kendall Ledges trail circles stunning rock formations (Clayton loved) and had amazing views along the way. We also stopped at the Ledges Overlook which showcases an expansive view of the Cuyahoga Valley. Although any season would be stunning, we are sure fall would be the most breathtaking. Do keep in mind that the path was confusing at times so be super-mindful of the signs as you are walking! On our way to the Ira Trailhead, we stopped at Kendall Lake and walked the Lake Trail. The trial is short - only a mile long - but was a nice change of pace. If at this point you are hungry, you must stop at Szalay’s Farm and Market. We honestly came across this place unexpectedly, well because we were lost. Either way, they had a great selection of fruits that you could enjoy on their swinging picnic tables out front.
Our last hike, or really walk, was to the Beaver Marsh from the Ira Trailhead. If you take the train ride, it was hilarious to find out why this Beaver Marsh came to be (we won’t spoil it for you). We came to the marsh a few times on our trip and at different times in hopes of seeing beavers. To no avail did we see beavers, but we did see other wildlife! We spotted snakes, snapping turtles, and a crane - all up close! If you have time or need to rest, find one of the benches and just watch. Enjoy nature and wildlife and calmness from how quiet it can get.
Extra Time?
If you have time, check out the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. We went the following day before we headed back home. This railroad is the only one of its kind operating inside of a national park. The railroad offers scenic rides, themed trips, and even has options for loading up your bike. The staff was extremely kind and informational. We still tell others about all the facts we learned aboard the train.
Where to stay?
We found an Airbnb in Akron, Ohio. Our stay was about 15 minutes from the park, so it was perfect. If you are willing to stay in a private room, you should check out Patricia’s place! She is super friendly and sweet. If we ever travel back to Akron, we will definitely stay in her humble abode again.
