Rooted in Beauty: Hiking Cuyahoga Valley's Tree Farm Trail

Tucked away in the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the Tree Farm Trail offers a peaceful escape into Ohio’s rich woodland scenery. The 2.8-mile loop winds through fields of Christmas trees, open meadows, pine and hardwood forest, and beside the picturesque Horseshoe Pond, making it a favorite for hikers seeking solitude, seasonal color, or a short family adventure. Whether you’re a seasoned local or a first-time visitor, the Tree Farm Trail delivers a scenic slice of the park’s diverse landscape in a short, rewarding hike.

Trailhead elevation 906'

Water none

Don't miss sunrise at Horseshoe Pond or near the Christmas tree fields

Hiking the Tree Farm Trail

Heather and I arrive at the Horseshoe Pond Trailhead at 5:45 AM, fifteen minutes before sunrise. Knowing how muddy things get after a good rain, I lace up my boots in lieu of my trail runners and we head out. We follow the paved path and wooden boardwalk down to Horseshoe Pond, circling it slowly to catch the first light of day.

It’s a calm, muggy morning, and we have the place entirely to ourselves. A great blue heron perches on a rock by the pond as we reminisce about our second date—a winter hike on this very trail.

From there, we begin our hike along the pond’s eastern edge before stepping into a dense forest of mixed hardwoods and pine. Within a few hundred yards, the trail narrows into a grassy, tunnel-like corridor that draws us forward beneath the canopy.

A small clearing opens up along this stretch, revealing rows of Christmas trees still growing nearby. We pause to take in the sunrise—quiet and golden—before moving on.

Soon the trail shifts south, and through breaks in the trees, we glimpse vast fields of evergreens stretching into the distance. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of Christmas trees blanket the landscape to our left. The fields belong to Heritage Farms, an Ohio Century Farm that has been in the Bishop-Haramis family for over 175 years.

Soon after, we re-enter the forest, the morning light filtering through leaves and branches.

As we walk, we talk—about living together in the not too distant future, about traveling across the country, and our favorite trails in the valley. The trail winds through alternating stretches of pine forest and leafy green tunnels before arriving at one of my favorite spots: a long corridor of towering pines, straight and majestic. Walking through them with Heather makes it all the more perfect.

From there, we continue through a series of green tunnels, each one muddier than the last. True to form, the Tree Farm Trail lives up to its reputation for being a muddy mess without a good stretch of dry weather.

As the loop nears its end, we pass another stand of towering pines, more grassy corridors, and finally emerge onto a narrow dirt path that leads us back to where we started.

It’s my tenth or twelfth time hiking the Tree Farm Trail—but the first outside of winter. Seeing this part of the valley burst to life in vibrant summer greens was a whole new experience, and sharing it with Heather made it even better. We’ll definitely be back—the solitude and those quiet early morning views are more than worth it.