Two Days in Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Cuyahoga Valley, formed over many millions of years ago with the help of oceans, glaciers and rivers, is now a refuge for native plants and wildlife. Its rolling hills, dense forest, wetlands and open farmlands are home to the mighty Cuyahoga River. The park preserves natural features including its many waterfalls and sandstone formations, and provides a haven to historic attractions such as the Everett Covered Bridge, Canal Exploration Center and Stanford House. Frequently mentioned as a top spot in the Midwest for fall foliage, mid-October is an exceptional time to visit. With Cuyahoga Valley National Park the closest national park to us, we've spent quite a bit of time there.

Day 1

Brandywine Falls

Canal Exploration Center

Bike the Towpath

Szalay's Farm & Market

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

The Ledges

We began our relaxing weekend with a quick visit to the park's most well-known feature, Brandywine Falls. There are a number of ways to reach the waterfall, but having done all of those hikes in the past, we opted to just drive to it and walk the boardwalk to the overlooks.

Following Brandywine Falls, we drove to the Canal Exploration Center to learn more about the Ohio & Erie Canalway, an important canal built in the 1820s and 30s and used to carry vital freight to a growing nation. After lunch at Fisher's Cafe in downtown Peninsula, we hopped on our bikes and rode the Towpath Trail from Peninsula to Szalay' Farm & Market for dinner ingredients and some fruit for breakfast in the morning.

Later in the afternoon, we jumped on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and took a scenic ride through the valley aboard the National Park Flyer. The ride is narrated by park volunteers who discuss the history of the park and railroad, and was well-worth the time.

We then headed to the Inn at Brandywine Falls, a luxury inn overlooking Brandywine Falls in the heart of the park. After we cooked dinner with the food we bought at Szalay's, we headed out to hike the Ledges Trail, aiming to get back to the overlook for a beautiful sunset.

Afterward, it was back to the Inn at Brandywine Falls for a relaxing evening and a good night's sleep.

Day 2

Boston Mill Visitor Center

Paddle The River

Salt Run

Blue Hen Falls & Buttermilk Falls

In the morning, we headed out to Boston Mill Visitor Center to chat with a ranger about a few things, then had breakfast along the Cuyahoga River behind the visitor center.

Afterward, we headed to Burning River Adventures for a relaxing paddle down the Cuyahoga River. They've always done a great job and the prices are very reasonable. Following the paddle, we headed out to hike Salt Run, a short but beautiful trail that passes through Pine Hollow near its conclusion. It's a personal favorite of mine, and as always, did not disappoint.

After that, we drove back out to the Boston Mill Visitor Center to hike out to Blue Hen Falls, another very popular waterfall within the park's confines. Blue Hen Falls got its name during the Prohibition era when a nearby illegal whiskey still, known as Blue Hen, was in operation. Or so the rangers say. We passed Blue Hen, knowing we wanted to catch it around sunset, and headed out to Buttermilk Falls, a far less traveled and unofficial waterfall in the park that lies about three quarters of a mile beyond Blue Hen.

On the way back, we stopped at Blue Hen for another sunset, which did not disappoint. By this time, the crowds had all left the falls, leaving us with a little bit of time to relax in solitude before heading back.

After another memorable day exploring the most visited national park in the Midwest, we returned to the Inn and dozed off. Throughout the trip, we never felt rushed and always had plenty of time to relax between adventures. Even though summer is Cuyahoga Valley National Park's busiest season, the crowds rarely took away from the experience. The Ledges and the spectacular sunset from the overlook were the clear highlights, along with our visits to Szalay's Farm & Market and Blue Hen and Buttermilk Falls. Downtown Peninsula was also well worth exploring, especially the shops tucked behind Winking Lizard, though it was by far the busiest area we encountered.