We couldn’t wait to get out and discover Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park! We took our 2 youngsters and headed out to see what the park needed to provide. What did we uncover on that day? An unbelievable expertise and a park that might shortly fill just a few days fairly than the one day we had. We managed so as to add an additional half-day, however even that wasn’t sufficient.
Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park is a comparatively newer nationwide park that didn’t be part of the ranks as a United States nationwide park till the 12 months 2000. This national park and recreation areas are situated in northeast Ohio between Cleveland and Akron, and due to this, it’s laborious to consider the setting will likely be something however city.
Nonetheless, it’s the one nationwide park Ohio has, and we felt it was one thing we actually ought to take a look at whereas we had been within the state, so we dutifully put aside a day to discover the place.
A lot to our shock, the park is in no way city. As a substitute, it’s house to inexperienced forests, rolling hills, attention-grabbing rock formations, wetlands, creeks and waterfalls, and naturally, the Cuyahoga River. It additionally has a implausible practice and a few fairly unbelievable historical past classes to supply friends.
Our largest mistake throughout our journey? Was Not doing sufficient analysis earlier than visiting Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park. We truthfully didn’t anticipate there to be a lot to discover. Please don’t make the identical mistake we did. Take a look at the information and the three-day itinerary under so you’ll be able to put together your go to totally.
Day 1: Boston Mill Space
Begin your go to within the coronary heart of the park. This space is also known as the Boston Mill Space, and it’s the proper place to get your first style of Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park.
Cease 1: Boston Mill Customer Heart
Truthfully, it is a small customer heart, however the displays right here comprise some attention-grabbing info and are value a couple of minutes of your time. Be sure you chat with a ranger when you’re there to study any closures or different essential present data, and seize junior ranger books you probably have youngsters in tow.
Tip:
When you have a toddler or preschooler, there’s a particular Junior Junior Ranger exercise card set they’ll do to be able to earn a badge of their very own!
Cease 2: Blue Hen Falls
You’ll be able to hike alongside the Buckeye Path to Blue Hen Falls from the Boston Mill Customer Heart. It is a three-mile spherical journey hike, and although it’s brief, it’s extremely steep. That mentioned, the reward on the finish is a small however lovely waterfall, so there’s something to inspire everybody to get there.
Should you plan to hike this path, you should definitely put on sturdy sneakers, carry water, and attempt to go to on a dry day when the steep climb will likely be much less slippery.
Cease 3: Bike to Brecksville Station and Journey the Practice Again
As talked about earlier than, this park is house to a practice—a.ok.a. the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, which makes journeys across the park.
The round-trip experience takes 3.5 hours, so that you’d spend a superb chunk of your day seeing the entire route. That mentioned, you see it a motorbike experience or hike aboard from one practice station to a different after which experience the practice again to your start line. The payment to do that is smaller than the payment for a round-trip experience, and also you’ll get a style of the practice with out spending a complete day using.
Tip:
The practice schedule does change once in a while. Ensure that to test the present timetable earlier than planning your day!
Cease 5: Brandywine Falls
From what I perceive, no journey to Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park is full with out seeing Brandywine Falls. I assume this implies our personal go to was incomplete as a result of we didn’t get to see this one. The car parking zone for the falls was beneath development on the time, which means we might have needed to hike 5 miles round-trip to get there. There have been different issues we wished to do, so we opted out. Nonetheless, it’s on the highest of our record for subsequent time.
Day 2: Southern Part
Day two is spent within the southern part of the park. This was our favourite space to discover, however we solely noticed a small fraction of what was there.
Should you discover that the choices under don’t fill a complete day, take into account exploring one of many many different factors of curiosity within the southern part of the park.
Cease 1: Beaver Marsh
An excellent thrilling spot on this nationwide park, Beaver Marsh is the proper instance of what a distinction all of us could make by taking good care of our surroundings.
You see, again within the 1800s, this wetland was drained, and the Ohio and Erie Canal got here via over time, properties had been made, and litter was dumped on the land. Within the Eighties, the US authorities purchased the land, and the buildings had been eliminated. That they had plans for the land, however beavers began returning to the valley round this time and constructed dams that flooded the land.
This prompted mass trash cleanup efforts, and now the marsh is a thriving wetland with some of the numerous ecosystems within the park.
Cease 2: Szalay’s Candy Corn Farm
Though the Nationwide Park Service doesn’t run this farm, it’s on park property and is value a cease throughout your go to. The farm sells recent seasonal produce that’s completely scrumptious. A small on-site eatery is open on the weekends in the summertime and fall, and the farm has a pageant vibe within the autumn.
This specific cease shouldn’t be listed on the official park map. Nonetheless, my GPS pulled it up with out subject.
Tip:
Should you’re solely shopping for produce (and never planning to have a meal there), plan to cease in on a weekday! We didn’t expertise Szalay’s on the weekend, however I hear it will get hectic. Along with Szalay’s Farm you should definitely go to Hale Farm situated on the southwestern fringe of the park.
Cease 3: Everett Coated Bridge
Coated bridges are so cool, and they’re fairly considerable within the state of Ohio. Everett Coated Bridge is the one remaining coated bridge in Summit, County. It’s painted brilliant pink and is enjoyable to see and {photograph}, however it’s going to in all probability solely be a fast cease.
This is perhaps a superb place for a fast snack whereas the youngsters run round. There are additionally just a few trails close to the bridge that is perhaps value trying out.
Cease 4: Ledges Path
The Virginia Kendall Ledges Path was our absolute favourite a part of Cuyahoga Valley! That further half day that I mentioned we managed to get in? We made that journey exactly to complete this path.
This hike is rated as reasonably difficult, however our 2-year-old conquered it with little or no assist. At 2.3 miles, Ledges is a comparatively brief path, however the quite a few wonderful climbing, sliding, and hiding spots meant our group of children and kids-at-heart a superb 3.5 hours to complete it.
The path runs and winds out and in of fantastic rock formations, and the entire place is roofed in moss, giving it an enchanted forest vibe. It was a bit wet after we visited, however that simply made it really feel much more magical.
Along with implausible rock formations and plenty of enjoyable nooks and crannies to discover, this path additionally takes you by Ledges Overlook, which means you get a extremely cool view. Should you can, time issues, so that you get to the overlook to see the sundown. You’ll be able to stroll straight again to your automotive from there, so mild shouldn’t be a difficulty.
Day 3: Bedford Reservation and Brecksville Reservation
Your final day will likely be spent within the park’s Bedford Reservation and Brecksville Reservation areas. There’s a lot to do in these sections. We tried to choose the most effective choices, however be happy so as to add sights you probably have further time!
Cease 1: Canal Exploration Heart
An absolute must-see if you wish to be taught in regards to the space’s historical past—and an ideal cease for roadschoolers moreover—the Canal Exploration Heart might be the most effective customer heart within the park. This restored historic tavern is packed filled with attention-grabbing displays on the historical past of the Ohio and Erie Canal, which as soon as carried items into the heartland.
When you’re completed wanting round contained in the customer heart, you should definitely head exterior to take a look at the totally purposeful canal lock. You’ll be able to even see an indication of how the lock works in case you go to on a summer time weekend (I want we might’ve recognized this).
Using the Ohio and Erie Canal dramatically impacted the best way the folks of this space lived and labored. Subsequently, it’s positively one thing you’ll need to study throughout your go to, and that is the proper place to do exactly that.
Cease 2: Tinker’s Creek Gorge Overlook
When you’re within the space, you should definitely cease by the Tinker’s Creek Gorge Overlook. This brief cease lets you look over the gorge and is kind of pretty. I’m guessing it will be much more lovely within the fall when the timber within the gorge flip to brilliant oranges and reds.
I believe it’s vital to notice that this isn’t one thing I’d drive far out of my technique to see. Nonetheless, it’s value a fast cease if and when you find yourself close by, and for the reason that Canal Exploration Heart and the following cease are each shut, I believed it was a pleasant addition to this itinerary.
Cease 3: Bridal Veil Falls Overlook Path
Who wouldn’t respect a brief, candy hike to see a ravishing waterfall? That’s precisely what the Bridal Veil Falls Overlook Path is. This 0.4-mile path is well accessed from a big parking space throughout the highway from the trailhead. It contains some stairs however is properly maintained and never overly strenuous.
Tip:
For the most effective waterfall viewing, take into account visiting in spring. It’ll be even higher in case you can go to after a superb rain. The falls are fairly dry in the summertime months.
Cease 4: Deer Lick Cave
Our children love a superb cave hike. That’s why the Deer Lick Cave path was on our to-do record. Sadly, it’s additionally one of many issues we by no means did get to, however it stays on the must-do record for subsequent time!
From what I collect, it is a 4.2-mile hike path that loops via the forest (and that alone sounds nice to me). A creek runs via the forest close to the path, and sooner or later, you’ll run right into a waterfall. After all, the most effective half is the small “cave” discovered alongside the path. That is really a rock overhang fairly than an precise cave, however it appears to be like completely enjoyable to discover!
Tip:
You’ll park on the nature heart, and there are restrooms for hikers to make use of close by. Younger youngsters may additionally prefer to discover the character heart a bit.
Cease 5: Swim or Paddle within the Cuyahoga River
After all, you’ll positively need to take a while to benefit from the Cuyahoga River whereas within the nationwide park. You would do that from the shore, however in my view, water is rather more gratifying whenever you’re both in it or on it.
The excellent news? Getting in or on the Cuyahoga River is completely allowed. We spent a superb portion of our first day within the park, letting the youngsters splash and swim within the river, they usually completely adored it. We additionally noticed loads of kayaks and paddleboards coming into the water.
In keeping with the web site, swimming is allowed in all components of the river (although you’ll want to use common sense and keep away if the present appears to be like harmful), and there are a variety of locations to place kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards into the water. Simply be sure to test this web page for recognized hazards.
When to Go to Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park
Questioning when to plan your journey to this park? We visited in August, and the climate was beautiful (although I’m instructed it could get fairly darn scorching).
We’ll go to once more and can seemingly attempt to time our go to within the autumn so we will benefit from the fall colours that I’m sure the park is filled with. I think about this could even be a superb park to go to within the spring. And those that take pleasure in winter sports activities may benefit from the snowboarding and sledding areas of the park through the chilly months.
The place to Keep when Visiting Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park
After all, you will have someplace to remain throughout your go to. We had been in our RV and had been really staying about an hour away at Kenisee Lake RV Campground. This was advantageous as a result of we had been planning to see different issues close to that campground. Nonetheless, those that are planning to spend most of their time within the nationwide park ought to look into the choices under.
Campground
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort: Akron-Canton
In our opinion, tenting is the best way to go when visiting a nationwide park. A few of our favourite campgrounds are the various family-friendly Jellystone Parks scattered throughout the nation. This Jellystone campground is simply half-hour exterior Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park, making it an amazing alternative!
Lodge
Nothing says trip fairly like a pleasant lodge. This lodge is the proper lodging choice for you in order for you someplace snug to go to after taking part in exterior all day. You’ll love the placement, on-site eating choices, exercise room, swimming pool, and different facilities.
Sheraton Suites Akron Cuyahoga Falls
Overlooking the Cuyahoga River and intently situated near the Akron Zoological Park and Akron Artwork Museum.
Holiday Inn Cleveland – South Independence
Situated simply 10 miles from Cleveland Hopkins Worldwide Airport and solely a 15-minute drive from The Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame and Museum
Trip Leases
Quiet & Private in the heart of National Park
Are you on the lookout for a spot that’s in an ideal location? This rental home is definitely within the nationwide park! Not solely that, however the home additionally boasts three bedrooms, two bogs, and loads of room to unfold out after an extended day of exploring.
Beautifully Restored Historic Home
Situated simply 7 miles from Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park, this beautiful house is situated within the coronary heart of Hudson’s historic district
We totally loved our time in Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Recreation Space and actually can’t wait to go to once more. Particularly now that we now have a greater concept of what to anticipate. Hopefully, this information has given you a good suggestion of the way to plan your time within the nationwide park so you’ll be able to see greater than we did and have a blast doing it!
Extra Wonderful Actions Close by
Book a Private City Tour Expertise the historical past, tradition, and meals of Cleveland.
Cleveland History Center See historical past up shut at this wonderful museum.
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Chelsea is a wandering, roadschooling mother to 2 little adventurers. She has been residing and touring in her RV for over 5 years and likes to share ideas, methods, and data with anybody who will learn what she has to say. Apart from touring and writing, Chelsea can be loves studying about historical past, Irish dancing, and visiting Disney World.
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