Cuyahoga Valley: Ohio’s national park, and it costs nothing to enter
The park runs along the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron, carries more than 125 miles of trail, and the Park Service says no entrance pass is required.
Ohio’s national park sits between its two largest northern cities. The National Park Service describes Cuyahoga Valley National Park this way: “Though a short distance from the urban areas of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park seems worlds away.”
The landscape is river valley rather than mountain or canyon. In the Park Service’s words, “The winding Cuyahoga River gives way to deep forests, rolling hills, and open farmlands.”
The practical fact worth knowing before a visit is the cost. The Park Service states plainly: “An entrance pass is not required to access Cuyahoga Valley National Park.” Some things inside the park are charged for — the Ledges and Octagon shelters in the Virginia Kendall area are reservable through recreation.gov, and other facilities are rented through the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park — but walking in costs nothing.
For walking, the Park Service says “Over 125 miles of hiking trails are available”. The best known route is not a wilderness path but an industrial one: the Towpath Trail, which the Park Service invites visitors to “walk or ride… to follow the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal”. The canal that built Ohio’s economy in the 1830s is now the park’s main artery.
The other landmark most visitors head for is Brandywine Falls, viewed from a boardwalk platform, with the Brandywine Gorge Loop running through the ravine below it.
Trail closures for construction and weather are common and are posted by the park. Check the park’s own alerts before setting out rather than relying on a map alone.
Plan a visit: https://www.nps.gov/cuva/
Read the fee page: https://www.nps.gov/cuva/planyourvisit/fees.htm