Top 10 Things to do in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Written and Photographed by Caly Behymer
Located just 30 minutes south of Cleveland lies Cuyahoga Valley, home to one of the lesser-known national parks, Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This area of Ohio is home to several waterfalls, rolling hills, steep ledges, marshland and the legendary Ohio and Erie Canals. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, encompassing 33,000 acres between Cleveland and Akron, is full of natural beauty and history. The park’s unique location, nestled between quaint towns and along the Ohio and Erie Canals, makes a trip to this national park unique and memorable.
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10. Stop by the Boston Mill Visitor Center—The visitor center is a great place to start your Cuyahoga Valley National Park adventure. Park rangers are available to chat with daily and can help you plan your visit and learn about the valley and canals’ history. Grab a map of the park and surrounding area to ensure you see all you want during your visit.
9. Visit Peninsula—The heart of the national park is the town of Peninsula. This small, charming town of just four square miles offers several restaurants, a popcorn shop, a train depot, a music venue, shopping options and sandstone quarries. The town was settled in 1818 and retains its historic charm, which you can see in some landmark buildings around the center.
8. Enjoy the Towpath Trail—The famous Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail passes through Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The entire trail is 90 miles, with 20 passing through the park. The wide, flat trail follows the former canals and offers spectacular scenery. The path is open for walking, running and biking. Beaver Marsh Boardwalk and the Canal Exploration Center are must-see stops along the Towpath Trail.
7. Visit Beaver Marsh—These 90 acres of land had been drained in the 1800s to be developed into a dairy farm. Later, it was home to a giant junkyard. Once the national park bought the land, they removed the decaying cars, reintroduced beavers and restored the land to a marsh. A boardwalk crosses the marsh, allowing visitors to enjoy views across the marsh to see the lily pads, check out turtles warming in the sun, catch a glimpse of a beaver and bird-watch the many species that call this land home. Be sure to head south of Beaver Marsh to see the remnants of an old lock and a section of the canal.
6. See a Covered Bridge—Everett Covered Bridge is the only remaining covered bridge in Summit County and is located in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Believed to have been built around 1877, this red, whimsical wooden bridge crosses Furnace Run, a tributary of the Cuyahoga River. The bridge was reconstructed in 1986 after a storm damaged it. Today, visitors can walk across the bridge and return to a bygone era of wooden bridges.
5. Step Back in Time at Hale Farm—A proper living history museum, Hale Farm & Village allows visitors to experience life on a farmstead from the early 1800s. The site is a recreation of a 19th-century village where an array of artisans like candlemakers, spinners, weavers, glassblowers, potters and blacksmiths demonstrate their skills as they would’ve been in the 1800s. Also on site is the preserved Hale family farmhouse, a schoolhouse, a church and a blacksmith shop.
4. Take a Hike—With 125 miles of hiking trails in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, you can find one to meet your hiking needs. The Ledges Trailhead is a short 2.2-mile loop trail that offers stunning views and beautiful geological features. Part of the trail winds through the Ritchie Ledges, featuring towering sandstone cliffs and deep crevices. Waterfall lovers should make a stop at Brandywine Falls. The Brandywine Falls Loop is 2.6 miles and is considered an easy hike. It takes hikers by the 65-foot-tall Brandywine Falls.
3. Visit a Surrounding Town—Cuyahoga Valley has quaint, charming towns with plenty to keep you occupied for days. These small towns feature wineries, incredible food, great shopping, breweries and so much more. Hudson is one such town and a great place to stop for delicious eats at Hudson’s Restaurant. Try Olesia’s Taverne of Richfield for an authentic European meal of homemade stuffed cabbage, pierogies, kraut and kielbasa, and Russian ravioli.
2. See a Working Lock—The Canal Exploration Center is located in a restored 19th-century canal-era building. The inside of the building is home to exhibits that showcase the canal’s impact on transportation, industry, and daily life in the 1800s. Outside, Lock 38 is the last functioning lock on the Ohio and Erie Canal. During the summer, demonstrations show how the locks operated.
1. Take a Train Ride—What better way to see a national park than by a historic train? A must-do while in the park is the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway. Take a two-hour roundtrip tour through the park and witness some of the most spectacular landscapes that the park has to offer. The train even provides a shuttle service for hiking or biking the Towpath Trail or kayaking the river. Enjoy your day in the park and hop on the train at one of the stops for a ride back to your starting point. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway even does murder mystery trains, beer and wine trains, dinner trains, children reading trains and special events during the holidays.
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