National park · Ohio

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Ohio's only national park, preserving 33,000 acres of restored riverside forest, farmland, and the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath between Cleveland and Akron.

Entrance
No fee listed by NPS
Hours
Open 24 hours daily Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Established
December 27, 1974
Region
Great Lakes & Upper Midwest
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Photo: NPS Photo · Public domain (US National Park Service)
The Cuyahoga Valley National Park patch

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History

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is significant for its role in preserving the industrial, commercial, and rural landscape along the Cuyahoga River. It is the only national park in Ohio and originated as a national recreation area, highlighting the importance of environmental conservation in urban settings.

Key events

  1. The park was originally designated as a national recreation area in 1974 and redesignated as a national park in 2000.
  2. Cuyahoga Valley National Park is the twelfth-most visited national park in the United States, attracting nearly 2.9 million visitors in 2023.
  3. 1969Infamous Cuyahoga River fire near Cleveland helped spur the environmental legislation that led to the park's creation.

Trails

  • Ledges Trail 2.2 mi · Easy
  • Brandywine Gorge Trail 1.5 mi · Moderate
  • Blue Hen Falls Trail 2.8 mi · Moderate
  • Stanford Trail 4.8 mi · Moderate
  • Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail 90 mi · Easy

Plan your visit

Hours · Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Open 24 hours, every day

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is open everyday, 24 hours a day with the following exceptions: Brandywine Falls, Ledges, Octagon, Kendall Lake, and Kendall Hills close from dusk until morning opening.

Entrance fees

NPS lists no entrance fee for this park.

Fees and hours as of May 2026. Check current details on NPS.gov

When to go

  • Fall. Peak foliage October, scenic railroad, fewer crowds
  • Spring. Wildflowers bloom, waterfalls at peak flow, bird migration
  • Summer. All activities available, farmers market, longest days
  • Winter. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, sledding

Wildlife

BeaversRiver ottersWhite-tailed deerRed foxesGreat blue heronsBald eaglesSnapping turtlesBarred owls

Nearby patches

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