Cuyahoga Valley National Park preserves and protects 33,000 acres along the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio. Managed by the National Park Service, the National Park combines cultural, historical, recreational, and natural activities in one setting. It’s one of the Top 10 most visited parks in the National Park System, welcoming 2.6 million visitors every year.
The National Park runs through the Southern Cuyahoga County and Northern Summit County Sections of the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area.
You can discover the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Park by walking, bicycling or running on the 20 miles of Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail running through the park. From the Towpath, you can make connections to many natural and historic sites as well as to Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad — with seven Boarding Stations within the Park boundaries. Operated in partnership with the National Park, the rail travels through 26 miles of the Park on its journey through the Canalway.
Located within the park you’ll also find many public attractions and facilities, including:
- Blossom Music Center, the summer home of The Cleveland Orchestra
- Hale Farm & Village, operated by The Western Reserve Historical Society
- Boy Scout and Girl Scout camps
- Ski areas, and so much more
In the National Park only, the Towpath Trail is open 24 hours a day, giving you the chance to explore after dark. (Headlights at night are mandatory for bicyclists!) Beyond the park, you can continue your journey on the Canalway — traveling north or south along the Towpath Trail.
In a fairly recent partnership, the Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy
is working with the park to re-establish cultural landscapes in the park through a long-term agricultural leasing program that creates small family farms. The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park engages public support for the park and enhances public use/enjoyment of the park through a variety of fund-raising, educational, cultural and arts programming.
Learn more at:
www.nps.gov/cuva or
www.dayinthevalley.com
Along the Towpath Trail, in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Within the National Park, the Towpath Trail is accessible 24-hours-a-day, providing unique opportunities to see nocturnal wildlife and get a workout in, no matter what your schedule. Be sure to stop at the Canal Visitor Center at Lock 38 to learn about 12,000 years of local history and check out a lock that’s been restored to its 1905 condition. Take in the sights and sounds of nature as you head further south into Pinery Narrows — a gorgeous, 2.7-mile stretch of trail south of historic Frazee House — as the trail swings deeper into parklands. Continue on to Boston, one of Summit County’s oldest settlements, where you can take a hike over to the magnificent, 63-foot Brandywine Falls, located just about a mile west of the Towpath Trail, before continuing on to the charming village of Peninsula, where hungry hikers and bikers can grab a bite at Winking Lizard Tavern and Fisher’s Café & Pub.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park — Towpath Fast Facts
Number of towpath miles: 20
Number of trailheads: 13
Key Visitor Centers: Canal Visitor Center, Boston Store Visitor Center