Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a stretch of land in Ohio that preserves the rural landscape between Akron and Cleveland. The Cuyahoga River flows through this gem among the Ohio national parks, and the park is a popular attraction for hiking and biking along its lush paths. In addition to the beautiful flora and fauna that proliferate at Cuyahoga Valley Ohio, visitors to the park can also experience some of the history and culture of this part of America. The historic remnants of the Ohio and Erie Canal can still be seen, as well as several quaint buildings at the Village of Peninsula, a small bucolic town with a museum, shops, art galleries, and bike rental shops. You can also take a ride on the historic trains of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

Many visitors to Cuyahoga Valley National Park spend their time there hiking or biking along its well-maintained trails and paths. The Ohio and Erie Towpath Trail is a well-marked, twenty-mile trail that follows the Ohio and Erie Canal, and is well worth exploring at least part of the way. You can access the trail from several trailheads, including at the Canal Visitor Center. As you walk on the crushed limestone path, you will see great floodplain forests rising around you, with giant sycamore trees, cottonwoods, and silver maples. You may glimpse white-tailed deer and beavers as you walk through the valley, and as the trail follows the canal, you will also be able to see many locks in the river that were used to enable boats to traverse the canal all the way out to the St. Lawrence River. Demonstrations of the locks take place regularly at the Canal Visitor Center.

One aspect that makes Cuyahoga unique among Ohio national parks is the historical farmland that you may encounter as you walk through the park. The federal government is working to reestablish some of these farms using sustainable farming methods, and some of the farms are already operational within the heart of the Cuyahoga Valley. You can visit some of these farms and sample some of their produce, as well as fresh-baked bread, artisan cheeses, and other products. A farmer's market is maintained at the Village of Peninsula, where you can buy products grown in the valley as well as browse the shops and galleries.

Ohio Map

A highlight of your visit may be taking a ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. The only train running through one of the Ohio national parks, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad operates steam-powered and diesel-electric trains on a historic track dating from the 1880s. You can choose the length and kind of trip you want, with rides less than two hours long, to rides that take you all around the park. You can also use the railroad as a shuttle service between different areas of the park as you hike or bike around all day. The railroad parallels the Towpath Trail, so if you are touring on the twenty miles of trail you can catch the train for shortcuts through the park.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park also hosts many events and concerts throughout the year, primarily in the Village of Peninsula, and you can even rent the Township Hall for your own event. There are several inns located throughout the park where you can find accommodation, including the Inn at Brandywine Falls located within the park. There is a primitive campsite available inside the National Park, but campsites with better-developed facilities can be found at the state parks surrounding Cuyahoga Valley.