Cuyahoga Valley NP is an unusual national park in several ways. While it has the usual scenic trails, natural beauty and history, it’s intermixed with towns, farms and especially roads, including the two interstates that bisect the park, and whose traffic you can hear virtually everywhere in the park. There’s a ski resort, an outdoor music venue and operating industry within the park boundaries, This is not, in other words, an isolated back country getaway, and it’s even unclear when you are in the park and when you are in a neighboring community. As a National Park, it’s pretty understated. The most interesting and unique geographic features are the “ledges” rock formations visible on a 2-mile hike. There’s also the picturesque Brandywine Falls and smaller Blue Hen Falls, and a beaver marsh; nice enough, but more like the kinds of features you see in state parks rather than in a national park. The park was originally a canal with industrial uses, and remnants of these and exhibits about this history are plentiful. A passenger train and towpath traverse the sprawling park and would be a good way to see it. Overall, it’s a park with nice hiking and biking trails, a river to paddle, and historic villages to enjoy, but it doesn’t have the incredible vistas and natural features of the most famous national parks. It also doesn’t have an entrance fee, which seems to be a recognition that it’s not a top tier national park.See more..
The main draw of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is the Mound City Group, a collection of large reconstructed mounds commemorating the Hopewell tribe.See more..
4.0Blue Hen Falls(88 reviews) - Waterfall hike National Parks
Located in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, this trail is a bit strenuous as it’s a pretty steep ascent in a short distance. We went when the trail was a bit muddy, so proper shoes are a must. There was some trail management under way when we were there, so I’m guessing it’ll be more easily hiked in the near future. Some steep steps, both rock and wood, were along the trail. There’s a short span along a roadway, and the trail wasn’t marked very well. Again, I’m guessing that will be improved soon. During most of the trail, traffic noise is very apparent. Once you arrive at the falls, all that traffic noise is drowned out by the roaring water. Even during the dry time that we went, it was still a pretty big falls and definitely worth the hike. There are clean restrooms at the visitor center below the trail, none anywhere else. Some rude dog owners left their baggies of poop along the trail - shame on them! Otherwise the trail was pretty clean. Definitely worth the hike!See more..
3.5Deer Lick Cave Trail(2 reviews) - A short stop National Parks • Caverns & Caves • Hiking Trails
This is in the Brecksville Reservation Metro Park. There's a sign off the main road directing you to the cave. The parking area is very small. The "hike" is only a couple of hundred yards to an observation area. You can see all the caves. A short loop hike takes you down & around for a closer view. There is an incline to get back up.See more..
4.5Stanford Trail(2 reviews) - Out & back trail..can be extended National Parks • Hiking Trails • Waterfalls
This trailhead is found at the parking lot for the Stanford House in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The lot is located behind the barn. The trail is muddy for a good portion & icy in others. It is hilly with steps in areas. You can access a trail to Brandywine Falls at the far end. The scenery is wooded & you pass a creek & walk along the valley. You can take a short hike to a pond & there is a path that loops around the pond. See more..
3.0Haskell Run Trail(2 reviews) - Quick trail.. National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
You can access this trail from the Happy Days parking lot but the trailhead is across the street. There is a tunnel under the road to get there & it was .75 miles from the lot through the loop and back. You go through an old small cemetery then down & up a hill and cross over a creek. You then briefly go through a field before you get back to the Happy Days lodge. There are other trails that cab be accessed from this area ( to the Ledges). See more..
4.0Old Carriage Trail(1 review) - Nice hike off the towpath.. National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
We parked at the Red Lock Trailhead. The parking lot was almost full on a weekend afternoon. You walk up the towpath & the trail starts off to the right & loops back to the towpath. There was a steep incline during the initial portion then it levels out. It was muddy & slippery so hiking boots are a must. It is wooded & a portion is adjacent to a housing development. We saw deer, a small waterfall & passed over a creek. There was a short detour around a closed portion of the trail. It was roughly 5 1/2 miles total. See more..
4.0Butler's Trail(1 review) - Peaceful hike.. National Parks • Equestrian Trails • Hiking Trails
Park at the Wetmore Trailhead. The trailhead is across the street to the left as you exit the parking lot. You can also access it from the Langes Trail and make it a loop. It is 0.6 miles out from the Butler trailhead and about 1.7 mile loop if you catch the Langes Run portion. It is mostly wooded and not difficult but slightly hilly. In this winter season it was not very busy. It is also a bridle trail but I did not see any horses on it midweek. There is a bathroom at the Wetmore trailhead and plenty of parking. This is considered part of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.See more..
5.0Langes Run Trail(1 review) - Great winter hike.. National Parks • Equestrian Trails • Hiking Trails
This is officially part of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This trail is a bridle & hiking trail. You park at the Wetmore trailhead. The trail starts across the street & even though it says it is a loop you would have to walk the road back but we connected with the Wetmore trail & extended it for a total of almost 5 miles. It is hilly, wooded & there were a few creeks to cross over. Hiking boots recommended. Beautiful views along the way with some tall pines too. The parking lot was spacious but filling up on a Saturday morning. There is an area for horse trailers & there was only one horse seen on our visit. See more..
5.0Salt Run Trail(1 review) - Hilly loop trail.. National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
You will find the start of the trail on the far side of Kendall Lake. Park in the Kendall Lake lot for which there are plenty of spots. You should follow signs for the Lake trail & will walk 0.5 mile to the trailhead. The trail was frozen on a cold wintry morning & we passed a few hikers & runners on a weekend. There are multiple hills with steps & short bridges. It is wooded & on a portion you can hear road noise. You will end close to 4.3 miles because it includes the Lake trail which is a loop around the Lake. From the parking lot facing Kendall Lake you will need to walk towards the left to the Cross Country trail to catch the Lake trail. See more..
4.0Riding Run Bridle Trail(1 review) - Nice winter hike.. National Parks • Equestrian Trails • Hiking Trails
You park at the Everett Bridge parking lot for this trailhead and you will have to walk about 0.25 mile to start of trail. Walk through the bridge and follow path to the right along left side of the creek and then as you get to the cross road there is a sign and path to take you to the trail. The parking lot was full on a Sunday morning but this trail was not busy (we only passed a few hikers and did not see anyone riding horses today). Parts of the path were very muddy. We went clockwise on the loop and the 2nd half was more fine gravel/part road and easier to navigate. It is hilly on the first portion. It takes you through some tall pines and along a valley ridgeline. Including the walk from the parking lot and back it was 3.75 miles. You can access some other trails from this parking lot. This is part of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. There is a restroom at the parking lot.See more..
4.0Boston Run Trail(1 review) - Nice loop trail.. National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
The trailhead is on the right side of the Happy Days parking lot. Plenty of parking available. Is a hilly trail, some parts are muddy at this time of the year. Is mostly a wooded area in a valley. There is a shortcut towards the middle if you need it but the loop takes you 3.1 miles. There is some road noise along one portion. There were only a few hikers on a weekday. If you wanted to add a short hike the same day there is the Haskell Run trail (.75 mi) across the road which you access from the same lot . See more..
4.0Cross Country Trail(1 review) - Straightforward loop trail... Bodies of Water • National Parks • Hiking Trails Pretty straightforward trail. There is an incline at the beginning & some hills going down toward the end. At this time of the year it was muddy & somewhat slippery but okay with good hiking boots. Partially wooded with some open fields & a pretty creek in the valley towards the middle of the hike. Was not busy at all for our hike midweek. The trailhead starts to the left side of the parking lot. The lot is large. You can extend the hike & take the Lake trail loop at the end. There are steps up & down at the end of that trail. It was just under 3 miles with Lake trail added on. This is part of the Cuyahoga National Park at Kendall Lake.See more..
3.0Oak Hill Trail(1 review) - Short loop trail.. National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
This is a 1.5 mile loop trail as part of the CVNP. There is a parking lot which was near empty on a weekday in winter. It was muddy but manageable. Would be okay for kids/families since is relatively flat. You could extend the hike & do the Plateau Trail which takes off near the middle of this one. This trail us wooded & there is a small pond along the way. See more..
3.0Lake Trail(1 review) - Quick trail.. National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
This takes you around Kendall Lake. Is 1 mile loop & the best place to start is to the left of the parking lot. Head towards the Cross Country trail & the Lake trail will go off to the right. It takes you through the woods then to an open area around the lake & then up a short hill with railroad-style steps which then runs briefly close to Truxell road & back to the road that takes you to the parking lot. You can access either the Cross Country trail or Salt Run trail along the way. See more..
9/11 Memorial(0 review) Saturday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour National Parks See more..
