Best Waterfall Hikes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Those searching for the best waterfall hikes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park will find everything from iconic cascades to secluded waterfalls hidden deep within the park's forests. Famous destinations like Brandywine Falls and Blue Hen Falls rank among the most popular hikes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, attracting visitors with their impressive scenery and well-maintained trails. But beyond the well-known landmarks, adventurous hikers can discover hidden gems like Raccoon and Romane Falls and Crazy Man's Hollow Falls, waterfalls tucked away from the crowds that showcase a quieter side of the park. Whether you're planning a weekend adventure or looking for the best waterfalls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, below covers the top trails and hidden waterfalls for every type of hiker. Trust a local, who has explored the park for decades.

Twin Sister Falls

Twin Sister Falls is one of the best hidden waterfall hikes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, offering a short but adventurous hike to a secluded 65-foot seasonal waterfall. Beginning at the Station Road Bridge Trailhead, the out-and-back hike is approximately 2 miles round trip with about minimal elevation gain. Flowing most impressively after heavy rain or spring snowmelt, Twin Sister Falls is a rewarding destination for hikers looking to discover one of the park's lesser-known waterfalls away from the crowds. It's also one of the very best winter hikes in the entire park.

For hike details and photos, visit Twin Sister Falls: One of Cuyahoga Valley National Park's Hidden Waterfalls.

Raccoon & Romane Falls

Raccoon and Romane Falls are among the most secluded and least-visited waterfalls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, rewarding adventurous hikers willing to leave established trails behind. While reaching the falls can be difficult during the warmer months due to a deep canal crossing, winter transforms the route into one of the park's best hidden hikes. Frozen ground and dormant vegetation make navigation considerably easier, and the waterfalls become surrounded by beautiful ice formations, creating one of the most scenic and rewarding winter hikes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

For hike details and photos, visit Raccoon Falls & Romane Falls: Hidden Waterfalls in Cuyahoga Valley.

Crazy Man's Hollow Falls

Hidden within Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Crazy Man's Hollow Falls is one of the park's best-kept secrets, known primarily by locals and adventurous hikers willing to venture off the beaten path. Like Twin Sister Falls, the seasonal waterfall only comes to life after periods of heavy rain or spring snowmelt, when water spills dramatically over the towering shale cliff into the hollow below. Even when the falls aren't flowing, the rugged gorge is an impressive destination, and winter transforms the area into a spectacular scene of frozen cascades and towering ice formations, making it one of the park's most rewarding cold-weather hikes.

For hike details and photos, visit Crazy Man's Hollow Falls: A Hidden Waterfall in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Contour Falls

Contour Falls is one of the most secluded waterfalls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, tucked away in a rugged ravine that few visitors ever discover. Like Raccoon and Romane Falls, it is best reached during the winter months, when frozen ground and easier navigation make the off-trail route far more accessible than it is during the rest of the year. Although hikers should still expect some obstacles along the way, the reward is a beautiful multi-tiered waterfall that often becomes framed by impressive ice formations, making it one of the park's most spectacular hidden winter destinations.

For hike details and photos, visit Hiking to Contour Falls: One of Cuyahoga Valley's Best Kept Secrets.

Brandywine Falls

Brandywine Falls is the most iconic waterfall in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, drawing visitors with its impressive 60-foot cascade and easy access from the Brandywine Falls Trailhead. While the boardwalk to the overlooks is just a short walk, hikers looking for a more scenic experience can complete the Brandywine Gorge Loop or Stanford House to Brandywine Falls Loop, which descend into the gorge and offers views of the creek, sandstone cliffs, and lush forest. Early risers will also find it one of the most photogenic locations anywhere in the park come sunrise.

For hike details and photos, visit Hike to Brandywine Falls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Blue Hen Falls

Blue Hen Falls is one of the most popular waterfall hikes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, leading hikers to a picturesque 15-foot waterfall tucked within a peaceful forest ravine. Beginning at the Boston Mill Visitor Center, the out-and-back hike is approximately 3 miles round trip with 450 feet of elevation gain, making it one of the park's more strenuous waterfall hikes. The scenic trail follows the Buckeye Trail through hardwood forest before reaching the falls, which flow year-round and are especially impressive after periods of heavy rain or spring snowmelt, or during winter when they freeze over. It's also a fantastic sunset hike, especially when paired with Buttermilk Falls (below).

For hike details and photos, visit From Bootlegging to Hiking Trail: The Legend of Cuyahoga Valley's Blue Hen Falls.

Buttermilk Falls

Buttermilk Falls is one of the most scenic unofficial waterfall hikes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, featuring a beautiful 30-foot cascade that tumbles over layered sandstone into a peaceful forest setting. Starting from the Boston Mill Visitor Center, the out-and-back hike is approximately 4.3 miles round trip with about 580 feet of elevation gain, following the Buckeye Trail past Blue Hen Falls before continuing to Buttermilk Falls. The falls are best viewed after heavy rain or spring snowmelt, or during the winter when they freeze over.

For hike details and photos, visit Buttermilk Falls: Cuyahoga Valley National Park's Most Scenic Waterfall.