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Cuyahoga Valley's Salt Run Trail: A Scenic Hike with Roots That Run Deep
Updated: Sep 8
The Salt Run Trail delivers a woodsy, slightly rugged hike that feels tucked away from the busier parts of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This 3.5-mile loop winds through a mix of hardwood and beautiful pine forest, and sloping terrain, with plenty of exposed tree roots to keep you on your toes. It’s a favorite among trail runners and hikers looking for a bit of a workout without venturing too far off the beaten path. Quiet and shaded, the trail offers a real sense of solitude, especially in the early morning or late afternoon light.
Trail Info
Length 3.5 miles
Elevation gain 410 feet
Route Loop
Permit required no
Dogs allowed on leash
Trailhead elevation 906'
Water none filterable
Don't miss taking it slow through Pine Hollow
Hiking the Salt Run Trail
I arrive at the Pine Hollow Trailhead around 6 PM on a humid late-June evening, ready to hike Salt Run for the first time in years. The spacious lot is surprisingly quiet—just two other cars—and with a couple picnicking near the trailhead, it looks like I’ll have the trail to myself. Wanting to save the most scenic stretch for last, I opt to hike the loop clockwise. I cross the broad, grassy hill above Kendall Lake—popular for sledding in winter—and step into the forest.
The trail immediately drops, lined with pine needles and tangled tree roots, while tall pines tower on all sides.
After crossing a small wooden footbridge, the trail climbs sharply before leveling out into a grove of mixed hardwoods. Soon, it begins to wind through a series of gentle hills, passing above shaded ravines and descending one wooden staircase after another, weaving deeper into the woods.
At about 1.1 miles in, the trail passes White Oak Spring—a tiny seep at the base of a massive white oak. It’s never held much fascination for me, so I keep moving.
The evening light filters through the trees as birdsong fills the forest. The recent rains have left the ground soft and the mosquitoes relentless. After I descend again, skunk cabbage appears in large patches every few hundred feet.
Around mile 2.3, another staircase leads to a wooden footbridge crossing Salt Run, the stream that gives the trail its name.
From here begins the stretch I remember best—one of the most beautiful in the park—and it doesn’t disappoint. Fern-filled woods, pine-scented air, and a trio of footbridges lead me onward.
The scent of pine grows stronger as I reach a long, winding staircase. It climbs briefly, then the trail dips again into the most stunning section of the hike.
Here, the forest is thick with towering pines and a soft, springy floor of needles. The trail winds and curves in near silence. The pine scent is almost intoxicating. To me, this is one of the most beautiful places in all of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
I slow my pace to savor it. “Anyone who visits Cuyahoga Valley National Park and misses Pine Hollow,” I think, “is truly missing out.”
Eventually, another staircase marks the final descent, then comes a wide break in the trees, and one last uphill stretch—nearly as scenic as what came before—again surrounded by soaring pines.
The trail leads me out of the woods and back along the narrow path to the trailhead, completing the loop.
It’s been years since I last hiked Salt Run, but it won’t be that long again. It’s too good not to come back to. With daylight fading, I head over to the nearby Kendall Lake Loop to catch the sunset and take a quiet stroll around the water.
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