Day Trips From Cleveland: Discovering Cuyahoga Valley National Park
BY
Ankita
Nov 20, 2023
Looking for exciting outdoor activities near Cleveland? Head to Cuyahoga Valley! Bridging the gap between Cleveland and Akron, the amazing north-south national park offers you multiple outdoor leisure options. You will be delighted to explore its waterfalls, hills, and caves. At the same time, the meandering river views create a unique background for landscape photography.
Hiking, boating, biking, camping, and sightseeing available within the park won’t make you bored. Not to mention the picturesque walks through steep narrow ravines, rocky floodplains, and lush contrasting farmland.
Animal life is also abundant there. The area is home to wild species such as beaver, deer, and dozens of varieties of birds, including wood duck and heron. So, cruising Cuyahoga Valley National Park is definitely on the list of the best Cleveland day trips. If you are planning such a ride, find all the necessary information below.
How Did The Park Begin?
The roots go back to the mid-19th century when it was simply a popular vacation spot for city residents. However, in the 1960s and 1970s, rapid commercial development and urban expansion began to threaten the rural areas of the northeast Ohio region.
Locals and environmental groups have pressured the government to preserve the scenic natural environment of the undeveloped territory between Akron and Cleveland. Based on the results of the contamination analysis, corporate giants such as Ford, Chrysler, General Motors, and 3M were forced to pay for cleanup work. The park was closed in 1987 for cleaning and was finally re-opened only in 2011.
What's Interesting In The Park?
With an area of nearly 10,000 hectares, the Cuyahoga Valley includes several natural areas such as forests, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, wetlands, meadows, hills, and ravines. As a result, you can enjoy a variety of recreational activities - hiking, biking, kayaking, sledding, and cross-country skiing to mention a few. Visitors will also be pleased to take a scenic train ride through the valley. Let's look at the major things that are worth researching within the area.
Nature And Wildlife In Cuyahoga Valley
You probably imagine yourself leisurely strolling through the park, inhaling the morning aromas of the awakened forest. Then, you see a fox running in the distance or a turtle slowly crawling between the bushes. Luckily, this is possible in the Cuyahoga Valley.
The natural vegetation of the national park consists of mixed mesophytic forests with many deciduous trees such as oak, maple, hickory, and beech. Other natural habitats such as wet grasslands, wetlands, and old field habitats alternate with these forests.
According to statistics, the area between Cleveland and Akon supports more than 943 plant species. However, about 20% of them are not of local origin. 16 species of these exotic plants are considered invasive and pose a significant threat to the park's native plant communities.
The wildlife in this reserve includes a variety of representatives living in the water, on land, and in the air. Starting with 8 species of frogs and 9 species of salamanders, the list of recorded inhabitants consists of about 20 species of reptiles (11 snakes, 8 turtles, and 1 skink). Not to mention over 39 species of mammals. These include coyotes, raccoons, red foxes, beavers, skunks, river otters, moles, opossums, bats, and white-tailed deer.
Also, the park is home to more than 250 species of birds. Some of the famous species include peregrine falcons, bald eagles, Canada geese, great blue herons, yellow warblers, goldfinches, blue jays, woodpeckers, etc. The park’s nature potential is so big that you are sure to discover the naturalist in you while exploring the local hiking trails!
Scenic Hikes In Cuyahoga Valley
Walking is the best way to thoroughly explore the local landscapes. Moreover, you have more than 125 miles of specialized hiking trails of varying difficulty levels and elevation changes. Check out the TOP-3 most popular ones below.
Brandywine Gorge Trail
This 1.4-mile-long loop trail takes you to Brandywine Falls - the area's most iconic highlight. To get started, walk down to the overlook point and watch the waterfall into the 70-foot-deep gorge. Your hike may end here, but we recommend continuing along the embankment and seeing the coastal natural beauty. The entire walk takes approximately 30-40 minutes at a leisurely pace. If you want to avoid the crowds of tourists at the waterfall, plan to start your hike before 10 am.
The Ledges Trail
If you're looking for a trail to explore the park as thoroughly as possible, you've found it. The 1.8-mile-long route passes ledges, the so-called flat sandstone formations jutting out of the bedrock. Nature has created a whole architectural ensemble of such formations, and now you can stroll through its labyrinths. Stones covered with moss add mysticism and a special atmosphere to this place. Icebox Cave is one more iconic place to visit along the way. Expect to spend about 50-60 minutes on this scenic hike.
Blue Hen Falls Trail
Prepare your legs for a challenging route with a lot of elevation change. However, you will receive great rewards for your efforts. You'll walk about 3 miles of dirt trails, with a short section running along Boston Mills Rd. The final point of your hike is Blue Hen Falls. The route is replete with enchanting forest panoramas and you will get multiple spectacular overlooks along the way. The average time needed to complete the trail is 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Waterfalls In Cuyahoga Valley National Park
The unique geological structure of the region with large differences in elevation and the presence of rivers and streams contributed to the formation of waterfalls. In total, there are about 100 waterfalls in the park, with most located in the northern section. Among the most famous are:
Brandywine Falls (70 ft)
Bridal Veil Falls (20ft)
Blue Hen Falls (15 feet)
Falls (15 feet)
Great Falls of Tinkers Creek (20ft)
How To Get There And Navigate Around?
Regular buses run to/from the park, but nothing is more enjoyable than exploring it on your schedule. Therefore, we recommend that you go to Rental24h.com and book a car rental at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. You get access to multiple Cleveland Airport car hire deals in different categories, allowing you to choose the perfect vehicle for your specific needs.
Once you're behind the wheel, head to the Boston Mill Visitor Center. From downtown Cleveland, get on I-77 S and drive approximately 15 miles south. Then, take exit 146 toward I-80/Toledo/Youngstown and keep right to follow signs for OH-21/Richfield. After this, turn right onto OH-21 S/Brecksville Rd, and after half a mile turn left onto Boston Mills Rd. Finally, drive over Black Rd and continue onto Boston Mills Rd to arrive at your destination.
The Cuyahoga Valley visitor center is open from 9:30 am to 5 pm every day and provides information on in-park routes and local activities. If necessary, the staff will help you plan your upcoming trip and show you a specialized place to stay.
So, consider an outing to Cuyahoga Valley when deciding between various day excursions from Cleveland. Both you and your children will enjoy this outdoor experience. Moreover, any time of the year is excellent for your ride.
The average annual temperature in the region is about 18°C (65°F) with about 528 mm of precipitation per year. The highest temperature reaches around 27°C (81°F) in July, while the lowest temperature drops to -1°C (31°F) in January. However, the period from mid-spring to mid-autumn is the most pleasant due to the comfortable weather.
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