-: A ribbon of forest, farmland, and the Cuyahoga River winding between Cleveland and Akron, with waterfalls, a scenic railroad, and one of the most accessible parks for a quick day trip.
Why Visit?: Cuyahoga Valley is one of the most genuinely accessible national parks in the system — sandwiched between Cleveland and Akron, it's an easy day trip rather than a destination vacation, which makes it a great option if you want a real national park experience without the long-haul travel. Waterfalls, farmland, and a historic scenic railroad all sit within a compact, easy-to-navigate footprint.
It's also one of the few national parks where you can ride a train through the scenery instead of hiking or driving, via the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
To use this map - use the buttons on the bottom right to toggle between the Parks, Places to stay (lodging), and Spots to visit in the parks (Spots)
Things to Do: Brandywine Falls is the park's signature sight, a 60-foot waterfall reachable via a short boardwalk trail. The Ledges Trail offers a moderate loop through sandstone cliffs and overlooks, one of the more scenic hikes in the park. For something different, ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, which lets you combine train travel with a one-way hike back.
Given its size, Cuyahoga Valley is genuinely doable in a single day even with a late start — worth keeping in mind if you're trying to fit it into a busier Midwest itinerary.
Closest airports: Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) and Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) both sit within about 30 minutes of the park, giving you real flexibility on flights.
Nearby Attractions: Downtown Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and lakefront are about 30 minutes north, and Akron's historic Stan Hywet Hall is a worthwhile stop if you're coming from the south.
Hiking Trails, Scenic Overlooks and More
A loop trail past the park’s signature 60-foot waterfall, with a boardwalk viewing platform right at the falls and a
A loop through sandstone cliffs and outcroppings, with a dramatic overlook partway around — one of the most scenic and
A short forest walk to two waterfalls in one trip — Blue Hen Falls and, with a bit more walking,
Where to Stay
No listings were found matching your selection. Something missing? Why not
add a listing?.
Products by Category
-
$23.42 – $29.93Price range: $23.42 through $29.93
-
$22.71 – $40.29Price range: $22.71 through $40.29
-
-
$38.58 – $68.38Price range: $38.58 through $68.38
-
$43.18 – $54.98Price range: $43.18 through $54.98
