• Image of bluebells in the spring

    Cuyahoga Valley

    National Park Ohio

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  • Canal Visitor Center Closure

    Canal Visitor Center will be closed for construction, starting Monday, May 6, 2013. It will reopen with new exhibits in early 2014.

  • Riverview Road Closure

    Riverview Rd from the Cuyahoga Falls line north to the Peninsula line will be re-paved, beginning the week of April 22. Expect delays. Flaggers will direct traffic. Work is expected to be completed by Memorial Day weekend.

  • Towpath Trail Closure

    NPS has closed the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail from Hillside Road to Stone Road in Valley View. A section of the trail is not passable due to hazardous conditions caused by erosion. Towpath is expected to be open by Memorial Day, May 27.

  • Bald Eagle Closure in Effect

    RR tracks, and 30 foot right of way on either side, are closed to all foot traffic from the Rt. 82 Bridge at Station Rd, north to the RR tracks at. The Cuyahoga R. downstream of the Brecksville Dam to the Fitzwater Rd Bridge is closed to water activities.

Scenic Train Ride

Taking a ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

A train is an exciting experience for a young rider.

NPS/TED TOTH

Experience the adventure, romance, and nostalgia of a vintage train ride through the heart of Cuyhoga Valley National Park.

Train Excursions
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) operates regular excursions and special excursions from Rockside Station in Independence to Akron Northside Station, and from Canton Lincoln Highway Station to Akron Northside Station.

Tickets for all of the excursions can be purchased on-line at www.CVSR.com. Prices vary by season.

Bike Aboard!
Bike the Trail, Ride the Rail!
Bike the Towpath Trail in one direction, then hop on the train for a relaxing ride back to your car-or do it in reverse! The train can be flagged down at boarding stations by waving both arms. Please arrive 10 minutes prior to the train's scheduled arrival. Pay your fare when you board. One way for bicyclists: $3 per person ages 3 and up with bike. One way for runners and hikers: $8 per person ages 3 and up. No guaranteed seats. Bike Aboard! service begins April 7, 2012 and is offered during regular excursions. Visit www.CVSR.com for schedules.

 
CVSR logo

History of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
The history of trains in the Cuyahoga Valley stretches back more than 100 years. In 1880, the Valley Railway began operations, transporting coal to Cleveland, Akron, and Canton from the Tuscarawas River Valley and providing passenger service along the way. It became another way to escape the pressures of urban industrial life, and leisure excursions were supplemented by the Guide Book for the Tourist and Traveler over the Valley Railway!

After a decade of operation, the Valley Railway became part of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. In the 20th century, competition from automobiles, trucks, and buses caused the decline of both freight and passenger service. Interest in the line was renewed in 1972 as a scenic excursion route and the Cuyahoga Valley Preservation and Scenic Railway Association was born. Originally known as the Cuyahoga Valley Line, the scenic railroad now operates as Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is a private sector, volunteer supported, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization operating in partnership with Cuyahoga Valley National Park and dedicated to the preservation of passenger rail transportation in Cuyahoga Valley and the historic Ohio & Erie Canalway.

Did You Know?

Drawing of a mule driver on the Ohio & Erie Canal.

A young James A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States, worked briefly as a mule boy on the Ohio & Erie Canal, an important cultural resource within Cuyahoga Valley National Park.