Located in Ohio, Cuyahoga Valley National Park feels different. Yes, typically when you think of a national park, you think of the mountains and ruggedness that’s found out west in places like Glacier or Yosemite. Cuyahoga Valley doesn’t have that same dramatic scenery and it’s significantly less remote—it’s only a half hour drive from Cleveland, Ohio, a city of over 350,000 people. So it has less dramatic scenery and isn’t super remote? Why go? Well, despite all that, there are some fun hikes and some nice scenery. Plus, it’s pretty easy to get around and things are closer together.

In this guide, I’m going to lay out how I recommend spending one day at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. You’ll get a chance to do some fun hikes, view some waterfalls, and take in this area of Ohio.

Tinker Creek Falls at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Tinker Creek Falls

One Day in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

This covers what I feel is the best of the best of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. There are of course other ways to spend your time and I’ll give some other ideas at the end of this post. If one of those sounds intriguing, either budget more time or skip one (or more) of the items on this list.

Now let’s get into your one day in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

8:00 – Beaver Marsh

Beaver Marsh is the first stop of the day. The parking lot is small and this area is a popular spot with birders, so I do recommend trying to get here early. If you don’t manage to get a spot, head on to the next stop and then circle back (which is what I had to do).

Beaver Marsh, unsurprisingly is a marsh and offers the chance to see some wildlife but also some unique scenery that will be different than everything else you’re seeing today. From the parking lot, it’s a 0.75 mile round trip walk along a flat path to reach the boardwalk and viewing platforms. From here, lookout onto the marsh and water and see what wildlife you can spot.

Trail Stats: 0.75 miles, flat. Allow 30 minutes

Beaver Marsh at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Beaver Marsh

8:30 – Everett Covered Bridge

The next stop is just up the road from Beaver Marsh and it’s a quick stop to see the Everett Covered

Bridge. Yes, there is a hiking trail that leads from here, but with all of the other hiking on this itinerary, I think your time could be best spent on one of those other hikes. But make a quick stop here and snap a photograph of the bridge.

9:00 – The Ledges Trail

We’re finally getting to the first major trail of the day and it’s a good one. In fact it’s many people’s favorite trails at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This is the Ledges Trail and it takes you through some fun scenery and allows for a bit of fun rock scrambling.

From the parking lot, you’ll hike out and reach an overlook of The Ledges (not to be confused with the Ledges Overlook which overlooks the tree tops—we’ll get there later). Looking down into the rocks, get excited for what’s about to come. You’ll then descend down some stairs and you’ll need to make a decision. The trail forms a loop that leads back to this point and there’s three ways you could go about it.

Option 1, and what I did, is to head to the right and save the Ledges for the very end. If you’re planning to hike the whole loop (it’s 2.7 miles from the parking lot, the loop, and back to the parking lot), this is what I recommend you do. The trail is fine, but the highlight is the Ledges and for me, it felt like a great “grand finale” to my hike.

Option 2 is to head to the left, do the Ledges, and then continue on for the entire loop.

Option 3 is to do the Ledges and then turn around and go back the way you came. Essentially, you’ll shorten this trail to just be one mile out and back. You’ll hit the best part of the trail, but you’ll miss the rest of the scenery.

The choice is yours.

For those doing the full loop, on about the exact opposite point of the loop from the ledges, you’ll reach the Ledges Overlook. Follow the signs and don’t skip this as it gives a nice overlook of the area. For those who chose option 3, you can still reach the Ledges Overlook, but you’ll have to access it from the parking lot.

Trail Stats: 2.7 miles, 250 feet of elevation gain. Allow 60 to 90 minutes.

Ledges Trail at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Ledges Trail

10:30 – Kendall Lake

Next up is Kendall Lake. This small lake offers a more peaceful experience than some of the other places at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Plus it can be a nice stroll around the lake.

For those wanting to add more hiking into their day, add a trip around Kendall Lake. If you aren’t feeling up for an extra mile and a half (no judgment as I decided last second to skip the hike), stop for a quick view of the lake. Just as a note that if you skip hiking, the rest of your one day itinerary will move up.

Trail Stats: 1.5 miles, mostly flat

Kendall Lake at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Kendall Lake

12:00 – Visitor Center and Blue Hen Falls

There are several visitor centers at Cuyahoga Valley, but we’ll aim for the one at the Blue Hen Falls Trailhead. Stop in for any information you may need, but then get ready to hike.

After the Visitor Center, cross the road and start hiking. The trail starts off with a steady climb of a few hundred feet as you wind your way through the forest. You’ll then do a short road on a pedestrian path near the road before crossing another section of road. Note there is no parking here, which is why you needed to park at the Visitor Center and hike from there.

Descend the stairs and continue hiking until you reach Blue Hen Falls. While the waterfall isn’t very powerful, it’s still pretty in its own way. The water falls off a rock in two streams before reaching the river below. Snap your photos and retrace your steps back to the trailhead.

Trail Stats: 2.6 miles, 525 feet of elevation gain. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours.

Blue Hen Falls at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Blue Hen Falls

2:00 – Brandywine Falls and Brandywine Gorge

Brandywine Falls is next and you’ll have a choice to make. From the main parking lot, you can just walk out to the falls or you can hike the loop around Brandywine Gorge. I did the full loop and enjoyed the fall colors as I walked through forest and along the river, but the choice is yours.

From the parking lot, you’ll walk down a trail and down a boardwalk. Take the stairs on the left to reach the viewing platform for Brandywine Falls. This waterfall flows directly down along a rock face and is one of the most iconic views of Cuyahoga Valley.

If you decide to hike Brandywine Gorge, retrace your steps back up the stairs, then continue on the boardwalk. You’ll briefly walk along the street before turning and walking along the other side of the river. Like so many hikes through Cuyahoga Valley National Park, you’ll be walking through the woods. This trail is nice and while there is 230 feet of elevation gain, it never feels strenuous or tough. Follow the signs and work your way back to the parking lot.

Trail Stats: 1.64 miles, 230 feet of elevation gain. Allow 45 to 60 minutes.

Brandywine Falls at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Brandywine Falls

3:30 – Tinker Gorge Overlook

These last three items are technically not part of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, but they are so close and the NPS includes them on their informational packets of things to do in the area, so I’m including them on my itinerary. The first stop is a view of Tinker’s Gorge Overlook (listed as Bedford Scenic Overlook on Google Maps). I almost drove past this but stopped very last second and I’m so glad I did.

The stop here is quick because it’s just an overlook, but you’ll get a sweeping view of the trees and the gorge below. In fall, when the leaves are changing, this is stunning. But I’d imagine it’s still a nice view even in summer.

3:45 – Bridal Veil Falls

Just up the road from the viewpoint for Tinker Gorge is Bridal Veil Falls. This is a small waterfall that can be reached with a short walk from the parking lot.

Admittedly, this was my least favorite waterfall of the day. It was the least powerful and therefore it wasn’t impressive. However, I visited in mid October and the water flow was low. I’ve seen other photos of the falls that looks a whole lot more impressive than what I saw.

Trail Stats: 0.4 miles, 50 feet of elevation change. Allow 15 to 30 minutes.

Bridal Veil Falls at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Bridal Veil Falls

4:15 – Tinker Creek Falls

The last stop of the day is another waterfall. Tinker Creek Falls makes a great last stop of the day. From the parking lot, take a short stroll to reach the viewpoint for the falls. They are a much better way to end your day than Bridal Veil Falls.

Trail Stats: 0.5 miles, 50 feet of elevation change. Allow 15 to 30 minutes

Can You Reverse This Itinerary?

Absolutely! I started this itinerary at Beaver Marsh because that’s how I did my trip. I don’t think it makes that much of a difference if you start at Tinker Creek Falls instead. The goal is just to continue to work in a logical geographic order. In the original itinerary, you’ll start in the south and gradually work your way north throughout the day. In a reversed itinerary, you’ll start from the northern most spot and work your way south.

With More Time

For most people, I think one day in Cuyahoga Valley National Park is enough. However, if you have more time, or are looking for other ideas, there’s still more to do at this park. Here are a few more ideas.

Stop by farm. There are several farms located throughout Cuyahoga Valley and several offer something for visitors. Learn about the farm and do some shopping.

Visit a farmer’s market. It really depends when you visit, but if you time your visit right, there is a farmer’s market nearby Everett Covered Bridge where you’ll find loads of goodies.

Take the scenic train. A train line runs through the length of Cuyahoga Valley National Park and as you’re hiking you’ll often hear it, and sometimes see it. For some people, this can be a great option for seeing the park. I debated about doing the train, but after one full day of hiking, I realized so much of the scenery I’d pass on the train are things I had already seen before. So, I skipped the train and opted for something different.

Everett Covered Bridge at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Everett Covered Bridge

Entrance Fees

There is no entrance fee for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Your visit here is free.

Managing the Crowds at Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Before I went to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, if you would have told me I’d be writing a section of how to manage crowds at the park, I’d have called you crazy. But during my visit, it was very busy and I feel this section is necessary.

Now, it’s important to note that I visited on a Saturday. Additionally it was a Saturday in fall with nice weather. The leaves were changing, the weather was ideal for hiking, and the park’s close proximity to Cleveland and its suburbs meant a lot of people were out enjoying the day.

If you’re visiting on a similar day, don’t be surprised to find full parking lots. Beaver Marsh was full and I had to return. The Visitor Center and Blue Hen Falls was full but I somehow timed it and entered the lot just as someone else was leaving, so I got a spot. At Brandywine Falls, a sign was up stating that the lot was full and we needed to come back after 5:00 pm (I still entered and managed to get a spot from someone who was leaving). If you don’t find a spot, move on and circle back if needed. It’s annoying but there isn’t much else to do.

If you’re concerned about crowds during your visit, consider reordering parts of your day. The busiest lots for me were Beaver Marsh (the lot is tiny), Brandywine Falls (small, but fills up fast), and the Visitor Center and Blue Hen Falls (fills up fast). At every other location, I had no problems finding a spot. So, start with those busy lots and grab a spot when you can.

Where to Stay at Cuyahoga Valley National Park

There are so many different options for hotels near Cuyahoga Valley. You’re only a half hour drive from Cleveland, which has loads of hotels. Personally, I stayed in Strongsville, Ohio because it had a hotel that I have status at and provided a decent location at a great price.

Because of Cuyahoga Valley’s location, there are so many smaller towns offering hotels that you will have no problem finding a hotel that works for you.

Tinker Gorge Overlook at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Tinker Gorge Overlook

When to Visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Cuyahoga Valley can be visited all year round. In summer, prepare for heat, humidity, and mosquitoes. While I haven’t visited Cuyahoga Valley in the summer, I’ve numerous trips to nearby Sandusky, Ohio and Cedar Point and let me tell you, it gets so hot and sticky.

Winters are the opposite end of the spectrum and you can prepare for cold and even snow.
Spring and fall offer a balance between not being too hot, but still warm enough that you can be comfortable hiking.

I visited in mid October and even though it was busy, this is what I’d recommend. Why? Because you have the fall colors and I think it makes this park just a little bit better. As I’ve mentioned already, Cuyahoga Valley doesn’t have the insanely epic views that you’ll find at so many other national parks, so it can be easy to get disappointed. That said, hiking the fall colors was absolutely beautiful and definitely made the park better.

And in case you think I’m overselling it, I live in the Midwest and the hikes and views in Cuyahoga Valley reminded me so much of other places in the Midwest. They are nice for the Midwest but otherwise just ok. Do yourself a favor and visit this area when it’s at its most beautiful.

Final Thoughts

Cuyahoga Valley has numerous waterfalls and plenty of nice hikes. With just one day, you can cover a lot of ground and see most of the highlights of this national park.

Continue Your Adventure

More in Ohio: I combined my trip to Cuyahoga Valley with a DIY lighthouse tour of Lake Erie.

More in the Midwest: Head west to continue your visit in the Midwest. Visit Indiana Dunes National Park or head to Chicago where you’ll find plenty of things to do, including plenty of activities on the Chicago River. Just north of Illinois is Wisconsin with Devils Lake State Park.

US National Parks: Start planning your national park vacation with my US National Park Travel Guide. You’ll find information about each park, photos, itineraries, and everything you need to start planning your trip.

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