Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

National Park · Ohio, United States
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Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a United States national park that preserves and reclaims the rural landscape along the Cuyahoga River between Akron and Cleveland in Northeast Ohio. The 32,572-acre park is administered by the National Park Service and is the only national park in Ohio. It was established in 1974 as the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area and was designated as a national park in 2000.

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Located between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio (about a half hour from each), Cuyahoga Valley National Park is an easy escape. Nature may slow down in winter, but this park keeps hopping, giving local residents and visitors alike a reason to get out of the house and into the outdoors. The railroad also operates through the winter and offers special rides you won’t want to miss, like the beer-tasting and wine-tasting trains, dinner trains, and a holiday season journey to the “North Pole.”
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National Park Winter Wonderlands
National Park Foundation15 places
Although not as well known as some other parks, Cuyahoga Valley is an ideal spot to watch changing foliage, colorful wildflowers and wildlife. Nestled between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, this midwestern park may become a new favorite. To see a magical view of Blue Hen Falls, the Blue Hen Falls Trail is an easy hike that the whole family can do together. At half a mile and just under thirty minutes, it’s a great intro trail and leads to the peaceful waterfall.
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The railroad in Cuyahoga Valley National Park operates through the winter, offering themed rides that make it a compelling journey this time of year. Settle in for special culinary offerings, including beer-tasting and wine-tasting expeditions. Best of all, visitors who hop aboard during the holiday season can enjoy a festive trip to the “North Pole,” complete with a visit from Santa that’s sure to delight younger guests.
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Roadtrippers11 places
Ohio’s only national park, Cuyahoga Valley, is a haven of natural beauty and serenity. The old Ohio and Erie Canal travels through it, and the park’s most famous hike follows the canal’s towpath. There are waterfalls, shady groves of trees, historic farmsteads, and even a scenic train ride through the park. The park is bike-friendly, so bring your bike along (or rent one nearby).
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A short drive from Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, Cuyahoga provides the weekend respite and open space that many weary urbanites need. This park offers not only natural treasures—forests, hills, open farmland, and the Cuyahoga River—but historical interest as well. The Cuyahoga Valley played a key role in American history as the site of the Ohio & Erie Canal, which opened Ohio up to settlement in the early-to-mid 1800s.
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Hidden National Park Gems
National Park Foundation10 places
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a hidden gem for trail runners, tucked between the urban sprawl of both Akron and Cleveland, Ohio. This park makes a crucial refuge for nature and a welcome retreat for those who seek it. With over 110 miles of trail spread across 33,000 acres, Cuyahoga offers the rare opportunity to run through deep woods and lose the drone of city traffic.
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Best Trail Runs in Cuyahoga Valley
FATMAP8 places
A short drive from Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, is Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This park offers not only natural treasures—forests, hills, open farmland, and the Cuyahoga River—but historical interest as well. The Cuyahoga Valley played a key role in American history as the site of the Ohio & Erie Canal, which opened Ohio up to settlement in the early-to-mid 1800s.
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Tucked between the urban sprawl of both Akron and Cleveland, Ohio, Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers an escape to nature and an abundance of hiking. With over 110 miles of trail spread across 33,000 acres, the park offers a “refuge for flora and fauna, gives a sense of times past, and provides recreation and solitude for Ohio’s residents and visitors,” according to the National Park Service. Use this guide to discover the best family-friendly and dog-friendly trails within the park.
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Best Family Hikes in Cuyahoga Valley
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Not far from Cleveland and Akron in Ohio, Cuyahoga Valley National Park features a wide variety of landscapes from gorgeous forests and rolling hills, to open farmlands still in use. Becoming a national park in 2000, this 33,000-acre (13,350ha) area is not quite as old or large as some of the others on this list, but its beauty is just as powerful. The park is brimming with picturesque scenery and hours of activities, including walks along the Towpath Trail.
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