Where the Trail Bends and the Bridge Beckons: Hiking Cuyahoga Valley's Furnace Run

Hiking the Furnace Run Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a peaceful loop through dense forest, rolling hills, and streamside stretches. Depending on which direction you hike, the Everett Covered Bridge either welcomes you at the start or rewards you at the end. The bright red bridge—the last remaining covered bridge in Summit County—is a reconstructed 19th-century structure that adds a touch of historic charm to the trail. Along the way, you’ll encounter a mix of shaded hardwoods, gentle climbs, and the soothing sound of Furnace Run flowing nearby. Whether you begin or end your hike with the covered bridge, it’s a memorable highlight that ties together the natural beauty and cultural history of the park.

Trail Info

Length 2.1 miles

Elevation gain 275 feet

Route Loop

Permit required no

Dogs allowed on leash

Trailhead elevation 748'

Water filterable along Furnace Run

Don't miss Everett Covered Bridge

Hiking the Furnace Run Trail

It’s a warm Fourth of July weekend morning when Heather and I arrive at the Everett Covered Bridge Trailhead. We’ve both hiked the Furnace Run Trail before, but never together. Since I enjoy stairs, we decide to hike the loop counterclockwise—tackling the staircase near the beginning rather than descending it at the end. From the parking area, we cross Everett Road to a clearly marked trail sign on the far side.

The path starts off flat but quickly reaches the winding staircase, where we begin to climb. In two-tenths of a mile, we ascend about 180 feet—what has to be the steepest stretch of trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

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At the top, the terrain levels out and winds through a shady mix of hardwoods and pine. A light blanket of pine needles cushions the trail, softening our footsteps as we walk.

A short while later, we cross Oak Hill Road and begin a gentle descent. Within a tenth of a mile, we reach a well-marked junction offering a shortcut or the full two-mile loop. We opt for the full route and continue steeply downhill.

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At the bottom of the valley, the trail meanders through dense woods, crossing a wooden footbridge before entering a quiet stand of fragrant pines.

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Soon after, we cross Everett Road and begin following the eastern bank of Furnace Run. We step off trail to the stream’s edge to admire the reflections on the water. Heather takes a few photos, including one of a snakeskin that she found, before we continue our hike.

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The path continues alongside Furnace Run, weaving through a mix of tall pines, young saplings, and mature hardwoods.

So where did Furnace Run get its name from?

An 1881 History of Summit County explains that they name "Furnace Run" came from the discovery of iron ore in the valley surrounding the stream and the expectation that an iron furnace would be constructed nearby. However, it appears that no iron furnace was ever built along Furnace Run itself, so the name was likely to commemorate an anticipated furnace that never materialized.

The stream was more consequential than its size might suggest. Furnace Run begins in the Richfield area and flows roughly 10 miles before entering the Cuyahoga River near Everett, passing through what are now Furnace Run Metro Park and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Today, it's considered one of the healthier and more intact tributaries of the Cuyahoga River.

Its historical importance became especially apparent with construction of the Ohio & Erie Canal. Canal engineers originally built a stone culvert to carry Furnace Run beneath the canal, but the stream repeatedly deposited sand and gravel, flooded surrounding farmland, and damaged the structure. After part of the culvert collapsed in 1858, engineers replaced it in 1860 with the Furnace Run Aqueduct, which carried the canal over the stream instead.

Today, park visitors can find remnants of the aqueduct, just west of where the Towpath Trail crosses Furnace Run near Szalay's Farm & Market.

Eventually, the trail leads us to the historic Everett Covered Bridge. We pause to take it in just as an older couple strolls through.

The peaceful scene today stands in stark contrast to one of the darker stories associated with this crossing. On the night of February 1, 1877, local farmer John Gilson and his wife were returning home during a winter storm when they attempted to cross Furnace Run near this spot. The creek had swollen, and a large mass of ice reportedly blocked the usual ford. As the couple tried to make their way around it, Mrs. Gilson was thrown into the icy water while John was dragged by his frightened horse into the deeper, fast-moving current. His wife was rescued, but John disappeared beneath the water, and his body wasn't recovered until four days later.

Local tradition holds that Gilson's death demonstrated the need for a safer crossing and ultimately led to the construction of the Everett Covered Bridge. The exact date the original bridge was built remains a bit uncertain, so historians cannot definitively say the tragedy was the reason for its construction. Still, the story offers a sobering glimpse into life in the Cuyahoga Valley before reliable bridges, when residents traveling by horse and wagon often had little choice but to ford streams that could become treacherous after storms or during winter thaws. Today, the covered bridge spanning Furnace Run serves as both one of CVNP's most recognizable landmarks and a reminder of just how important a safe crossing once was to the people who lived here.

From there, it’s a short walk along the crushed gravel path back to the trailhead.

We hop in the car and head to Szalay’s Farm & Market for some fresh fruit and something cold to drink—a local staple that rounds out any visit to the Everett Historic District.

Along the way, I point out to Heather the site of a Hopewell burial mound, discovered just a few hundred yards from the Everett Covered Bridge Trailhead back in 1875, when artifacts were unearthed during the construction of a schoolhouse. Measuring about 16 feet in diameter, the mound was later excavated in 1970 by a team from Case Western Reserve University. They uncovered a limestone crypt containing human remains along with copper and stone tools, beads, pottery sherds, gorgets, and charred animal bones—evidence of a mortuary ceremony and a sign that the Hopewell once inhabited the valley.

Today, the mound lies quietly along the side of Everett Road, entirely hidden among the trees and other vegetation, unnoticed by the many park visitors who pass by without realizing its historical significance. A second, more easily recognizable Hopewell mound—often called the Botzum Mound—can be found within the park near the Botzum Trailhead.