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Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Boston Mill Visitor Center, 6947 Riverview Rd, Peninsula, OH 44264 · Peninsula, OH

Why you should go…

Just 30 minutes from downtown, Cuyahoga Valley National Park protects 33,000 acres along the winding Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron, and admission is free. The headliner is Brandywine Falls, a 65-foot cascade viewed from a boardwalk, but the park also packs in the Ledges' mossy sandstone cliffs, beaver marsh boardwalks, and the flat, bikeable Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Start at Boston Mill Visitor Center for maps, exhibits, and ranger advice before you pick a trailhead.

  • #national park
  • #waterfall
  • #hiking
  • #biking
  • #nature

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Cuyahoga Falls

    Free

    Ohio city along the Cuyahoga River known for its namesake falls, riverside parks and access to Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

    9.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Tours
    Family favorite

    Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

    $25–$50

    Ride vintage coaches through Cuyahoga Valley National Park, river views, beaver marshes, and a bikes-aboard option on the Towpath.

    9.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Shopping
    Family Favorite

    Sir Troy's Toy Kingdom

    Free

    Independently owned Ohio toy superstore stocking LEGO, Playmobil, Breyer and more, plus an in-store candy shop.

    11 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Date Night

    Cleveland Botanical Garden

    Under $25

    Ten acres of themed gardens plus a glasshouse with a Costa Rican rainforest and free-flying butterflies.

    17 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Edgewater Park

    Free

    Cleveland's favorite beach: sand, skyline views, and Lake Erie sunsets just minutes west of downtown.

    18 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve

    Free

    A reclaimed dredge-spoil peninsula on Lake Erie, now a quiet birding and hiking spot minutes from downtown Cleveland.

    20 mi awayMore like this