Exploring Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Best Tips + Activities

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is one of the few national parks in the middle of the country and the only national park in Ohio. It is tucked between the cities of Cleveland and Akron, making it easy to access. Downtown Cleveland is just a short drive of thirty minutes from the park. The two nearest airports in northeast Ohio are Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Akron-Canton Airport. Given the park’s central location between small towns and major urban areas, it’s considered an “urban park.”

The park was first designated as Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area in 1974 before becoming a national park in 2000. Cuyahoga Valley National Park is known for its beautiful waterfalls, historic sites, the Ohio and Erie Canalway, and multiple miles of trails that are great for biking. The park follows the Cuyahoga River and was once a vital link in developing the frontier of the United States.

Podcast Episode Overview

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are exploring Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio!

This national park is so incredible because it was an important area for the development of the wild frontier. It also sparked a crucial environmental movement and opened up discussions on the importance of the natural environment.

You don’t usually hear much about this national park, even though it sees millions of visitors each year! We wanted to explore Cuyahoga Valley with you today so that you can discover this spectacular national park.

In this episode, we discuss:

The Canal Exploration Center
Our favorite thing to do at this national park
The gateway towns in this area
The accessibility of this park
Our favorite restaurants in the area
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
The Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath
Cool trails you’ll want to check out
The haunted bridge you can’t miss

We hope you enjoyed learning all about this lesser-known national park! Cuyahoga Valley is such a unique park, and we highly recommend making a trip to see it for yourself.

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:

Canal Exploration Center

Starting in the northern part of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, you can check out the Canal Exploration Center.

This center is along the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail and is one of the best things you can do to kick off your trip. Understanding the preserved canal system is critical to appreciating the rest of the park.

You’ll notice how many of the park’s features tie into this canalway, which was crucial for shipping goods. The Canal Exploration Center has fantastic interactive exhibits that will help you and your family understand the rich history of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Riding Bikes on the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail

One of my favorite activities in Cuyahoga Valley is biking along the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail! This trail follows the old mule path used to pull canal boats. It’s a flat and easy ride, and biking is easily the best way to experience this trail.

The Cuyahoga River winds in and out around the Towpath Trail, making it scenic and full of wildlife. The Towpath Trail extends throughout the entire park and beyond. It’s like a choose-your-own-adventure path where you can stop or start wherever you want to see other highlights in the park!

Boston Mill Visitor Center and Peninsula

Moving toward the southern part of the park, you’ll run into the Boston Mill Visitor Center and the town of Peninsula, which serves as the central hub of Cuyahoga Valley.

The Boston Mill Visitor is a renovated general store.

You can head out to several of the best hikes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park from the central hub. The hiking trail to Blue Hen Falls starts just across the street from the Boston Mill Visitor Center and is three miles roundtrip.

Just a short drive away is the 1.5-mile Brandywine Gorge Trail, which leads to Brandywine Falls. We love this waterfall so much that it made our list of top national park waterfalls! This trail follows Brandywine Creek to the stunning 65-foot Brandywine Falls. If the parking lot is full, the National Park Service has recommendations on other trails to access the waterfall.

We ate at the Winking Lizard Tavern in Peninsula. We highly recommend stopping here after a day of biking and hiking. Check out our free resources for more tips on what to see and do in Cuyahoga Valley!

If you need to rent a bike, Peninsula has two great bike shops located just off the Towpath Trail: Eddys Bike Shop and Pedego Electric Bikes.

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

The scenic train ride is my other favorite activity in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This is one of the park’s most popular attractions, and for good reason. How many other parks have a historic train that takes you throughout the entire park and beyond?

The train hosts various events throughout the year, including murder mystery dinners, bingo, trivia, family fun rides, crafts, and more.

A great time to visit Cuyahoga Valley is in the fall, from early to late October. You can take the scenic train ride to see the best of the fall foliage in the dense forests throughout the park.

The Ledges Trail

One of the best hikes in the park is to the Ledges, a 1.8-mile trail that leads to stunning views of moss-covered cliffs. This is one of the best areas to take family photos. If you don’t have much time, the Ledges Trail should be the one hike you do.

The Southern End of Cuyahoga Valley National Park

The park is only 51 square miles and tucked between urban areas, so it won’t take long to reach the southern portion.

In this area, you’ll find the Everett Covered Bridge. Fun fact: the covered bridge was built because horses would get scared while crossing the Cuyahoga River. It was a simple solution to shield them from seeing the river while they walked over it.

According to legend, a man who died crossing the river in the 1800s haunts the Everett Covered Bridge. We believe the stories, but you’ll have to decide for yourself when you visit! You’ll know the legends are true if you hear paranormal voices, the sound of horses, or see orbs. Make sure you check your pictures for anything out of place!

The Beaver Marsh is another favorite area of ours on the park’s south end. Nature has reclaimed this area from industry that polluted the canals. The Cuyahoga River was accidentally lit on fire several times because it was so polluted. We were so happy to see nature rebound after such a harsh period of history!

We’re excited to hear about your visit to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and we hope we’ve convinced you to visit this Midwest park.

Remember to complete your task for this week! Would you rather ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad or bike the Towpath? Let us know on our Facebook or Instagram page!

Links mentioned in this podcast episode:

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