National Park Week 2025 – Cuyahoga Valley National Park!

Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio is another lesser-known park worth visiting. This park was created 50 years ago to provide a natural oasis amidst the surrounding suburban sprawl and preserve the historical significance of the Ohio & Erie Canal that passes through the park. It also encompasses the Cuyahoga River, providing many opportunities for outdoor recreation. You can drive, bike, or hike through the scenic natural forests and farmlands to 30 waterfalls! 

As with all park visits, we stopped at the Visitors Center first. Inside, there is a small exhibit explaining the park’s history. Friendly park rangers also recommended the best trails and activities for the day.

We also did the scenic drive and hiked down the Brandywine Falls Trail to the iconic Brandywine Falls waterfall. This is one of the main attractions in the park. The trail is one of the shorter paved accessible trails near the Visitors Center, but there are many trails of varying difficulties around the park. It was beautiful; it actually looked like the postcard. LoL

There are many special activities this year to celebrate Cuyahoga Valley’s 50th anniversary of becoming a national park. It’s only 30 minutes south of Cleveland and 20 minutes north of Akron. Along the coast of Lake Erie, there are plenty of attractions near Cleveland, such as the Rock’ n Roll Hall of Fame, science museums, and the house from The Christmas Story movie! Further south, near Akron, is the Pro Football Hall of Fame, plus many other attractions around Ohio to round out your trip. Be sure to add this serene park to your next Ohio trip.

I hope you get a chance to explore the national parks, including some lesser-known parks that may not get the attention they deserve. For more details on this park, visit the Cuyahoga Valley National Park page.

Please contact me if you would like to chat about planning a National Park trip.