Time for some Ohio representation: Cuyahoga Valley National Park is up on the docket to get the Ridley Review treatment.
What is it?
The suburban national park – what it lacks in scenery, it makes up for with a rich history and a reclamation success story.
Fast Facts:
Location: Eastern Ohio, just south of Cleveland
Founded: 2000 (prior, a National Recreation Area since 1974)
Size: 50.89 square miles
Cost: IT’S FREEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!
Visited: 2023
The Ridley Review:
Until I heard the backstory, I had no clue how this ended up a national park. A quaint but rather unspectacular river valley in eastern Ohio, Cuyahoga is a microcosm of this country’s story, both good and bad. In the span of a little over 200 years, the land was stolen from Native Americans through a series of broken treaties, polluted and nearly destroyed by various corporations, and then came under the protection of the federal government, who has slowly been restoring Cuyahoga Valley to something akin to its original state. That wild ride is just part of the charm of Cuyahoga; it feels almost like one giant slice of Americana. Here you can enjoy freshly churned ice cream, shop at local artisanal shops, enjoy an old-timey train trip, bike along a riverside towpath, and visit a farm straight out of the 1800’s.
When you think national park, Cuyahoga Valley will never be the first to come to mind. The closest thing to an iconic landmark is a decent-sized waterfall. But the cleanup and preservation work done here to preserve a peaceful river valley deserved respect, and makes this place pretty darn cool.
The accessibility and cost is another feather in Cuyahoga’s cap: a short drive from Cleveland with no cost to enjoy. From its industrial days, there are loads of roads and highways passing through the park. Unlike most parks, the challenge is actually not to get lost on the maze of roads! A map is key here.
The Layout
A very long, narrow stretch of land from North-to-South. Running through the park are a towpath, roads, and even a railroad. The Boston Mill Visitor Center is located smack dab in the middle of the park, and a little to the South sits the town of Peninsula, which provides a lot of the food and shopping options.
Transportation
You do need some kind of transportation to get here, but once in the park you have myriad of options to explore. You can drive pretty much anywhere, of course, but the more charming options include taking the railroad, towpath, or paddling the Cuyahoga River as all traverse the length of the park.
The railroad has 7 stations throughout the park where one can hop on or off. From North to South they are: Rockside, Canal Exploration Center, Station Road Bridge, Boston Mill Visitor Center, Peninsula Depot, Indigo Lake, and Botzum. There is a stop in Akron south of the park if it is more convenient to board there. The train system is over 100 years old and the train cars are designed to reflect that. Tickets can be booked here or at the station.
The towpath is totally free and accessible via many, many parking areas throughout the park. A nice walk, the towpath is best experienced on two wheels, which allow the rider to meander along the river and see the whole of it in one day if you are feeling ballsy. The path is 20 miles in length, and wide enough at most parts to accommodate walkers and riders simultaneously.
If you bring your own equipment, the river is yours to explore as well. The NPS has done a fantastic job cleaning up the river from the low points of the 1970’s, and although the river is not safe to drink, it is safe to swim and paddle in.
Activities
Hiking, biking, rafting, train rides, shopping, restaurants, picnicking, farms and other exhibits to explore: the world is your oyster. Real big “Choose Your Own Adventure” vibes here.
Roads and Gas
So many roads there is no way I can cover them all in a writeup – just peep the map. Canal Road and Riverview Road are interconnected and traverse the length of the park North-to-South, while Interstates 80 and 271, along with highways 303 and 82, cut through the park horizontally.
Rating:
Not on any road trip list of must-sees, but if you are Ohio, pop over here for a day and it will surprise you.
Food & Lodging
Food
No chance of going hungry here! Two grab-and-go Trail Mix stores by the Boston Mill Visitor Center and the Peninsula Depot train stop provide many more snack options than just trail mix.
Peninsula, centrally located, houses several restaurants. I am privy to Fisher’s Cafe and Pub, which has a massive menu and homey, throwback vibes. Their famous Canal Chili lives up to the significant hype.
Lodging
Hotels
Two options inside the park with endless options in all directions outside.
The Stanford House provides a B&B-esque experience near the visitor center. Reservations are available up to 2 years prior here. A night here is not a cheap one – $600/night as of writing.
The Inn at Brandywine Falls sits within view of the park’s iconic waterfall, just off I271 on the eastern edge of the park. With rooms that appear to be designed to resemble the nostalgia of the early 1900’s, a room here (with breakfast included!) sets one back $200-240 a night. Book here.
Camping
Surprisingly, there are no campgrounds within the park. There are plenty of options nearby, however.1
Hikes and attractions:
Hikes
Brandywine Falls Gorge Loop – Parking next to the trailhead just inside the park’s eastern boundary off I271, hike down to the gorge and then follow a wooden platform down to the falls. Being the park’s main feature, it does get very crowded so be prepared to share the space with lots of others. The trail is the best way to see the falls up close; I would peg the waterfall as mid-sized. A must do on a trip to Cuyahoga Valley, even if the hike itself is nothing special.
Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail – at some point during a visit to Cuyahoga, you will encounter the towpath. This trail runs alongside the Cuyahoga River and other scenic features through the length of the park. To get a true Cuyahoga Valley experience, walk or bike the trail for even just a little bit. There are so many places to pick up the trail and park along the way; the Riverview Road turns out into parking areas for the towpath frequently. The path is super flat and largely wheelchair accessible.
The Ledges Trail – tucked into the quiet southeastern part of the park, this is unique trail that takes in and out of several rock formations and near some caves. Access the trailhead from a parking and picnic area just off Kendall Park Road. The road can be accessed by intersection with Akron-Cleveland Road outside the park, and by exiting highway 303 inside the park and heading South on Akron Peninsula Road. The road signage is confusing inside the park: next turn onto Truxell Road which will then magically morph into the same Kendall Park Road. Turn into the parking area at the same point as you do coming from outside the park. This hike offers a different look than the rest of park and being far away from the river and up in the hills, this is often a little quieter. I don’t think it’s necessary to do: the rocks are cool, but there isn’t a ton in the way of other scenery.
Other Well-Regarded Hikes (That I haven’t Done)
Blue Hen Falls – from the main Boston Mill Visitor Center, this 3 mile out-and-back trail takes you to a 15-foot waterfall with a neat pool of water.
National Park Rankings
- Yosemite National Park
- Olympic National Park
- Zion National Park
- Mount Rainier National Park
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Arches National Park
- Canyonlands National Park
- Crater Lake National Park
- Indiana Dunes National Park
- Shenandoah National Park
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Acadia National Park
- Redwood National Park
- Pinnacles National Park
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park
A note: as with all reviews to come, this will be updated upon any re-visit to the park. Feel free to comment or send in your own reviews or recommendations and we will get it added here!
