Reflections & Roots: Hiking the Kendall Lake Loop in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

The Kendall Lake Loop is a gentle, scenic hike that wraps around a quiet lake nestled in the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The trail meanders through shaded woods, open clearings, and low-lying wetlands, offering a peaceful blend of ecosystems in just 1.5 miles. It’s an easy, family-friendly walk with occasional muddy patches and wooden bridges that add a touch of adventure. Whether you’re looking to reflect by the water or simply stretch your legs in nature, this loop is a refreshing, low-effort escape into the park’s quieter side.

Trail Info

Length 1.5 miles

Elevation gain 80 feet

Route Loop

Permit required no

Dogs allowed on leash

Trailhead elevation 817'

Water none filterable

Don't miss sunset at the lake

Hiking the Kendall Lake Loop

After wrapping up a hike on the nearby Salt Run Trail, I make my way over to the Kendall Lake Loop Trail, just a short drive away, hoping to catch the sunset. The parking lot is mostly quiet—just a few anglers and a small group scanning the sky for bats. With about 40 minutes until the sun sets, I set off on the 1.5-mile loop. The trail begins in a shaded forest, where moss blankets the ground beneath a canopy of mixed hardwoods.

Not far in, it passes through a stone tunnel built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

Beyond the tunnel, the path hugs a marshy stretch flanked by hardwoods and pines, the air alive with the croaks of bullfrogs.

• 

• 

It then curves along the lake’s edge, weaving first through dense marsh plants and then a more open section with wider views.

• 

• 

I stop for a moment to take in the lake, where the sky’s reflection shifts from soft blue to pink.

• 

• 

A short wooden staircase leads down into a patch of tall reeds, then over a small footbridge spanning a trickling stream.

Another wooden staircase climbs into a final patch of forest—again a mix of hardwoods and aromatic pines—before the loop closes out back at the trailhead.

• 

• 

Before leaving, I wander over to a cluster of wooden chairs on the Kendall Lake Pier to snap a few photos of the sunset. It’s my first time at the lake during golden hour, and it doesn’t disappoint.

I’ll be back soon—probably for a half-day loop linking Salt Run, Cross Country, and Kendall Lake into one long loop. Next time, I'll stick around a bit longer after sunset.