Hiking

Over 125 miles of hiking trails are available for your hiking pleasure in CVNP. These trails range from nearly level to challenging, and pass through various habitats including woodlands, wetlands, and old fields. Some trails require you to cross streams with stepping stones or log bridges, while others, including the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, are nearly level and are accessible to all visitors. A portion of Ohio's Buckeye Trail also passes through the park.

Descriptions of some easy family hikes are provided here.

For our recommended hikes click here.

Looking for trail maps? Trail maps showing the park's hiking trails are available at visitor centers or by clicking the maps webpage link here.

Several books, leaflets, and maps, including the Trail Guide Handbook: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 3rd Edition, contain helpful information about hiking in the park. This book is published by the Cuyahoga Valley Trails Council and is available at all CVNP visitor centers.

 

Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail >>

	Length (miles)	Time (hours)	Elevation Change (feet)	Trail Surface	Wheelchair Accessible	Trailhead Location(s)
Towpath Trail	19.5	Hiking 10 Biking 2.75	135	firm flat, crushed limestone	yes	There are 10 trailheads providing parking and access to the Towpath Trail.

Buckeye Trail North >>

	Length (miles)	Hiking Time (hours)	Elevation Change (Feet)	Trail Surface	Wheelchair Accessible	Trailhead Location(s)
Egbert Picnic Area to Alexander Road	6.1	3.5	90	hilly and rocky	no	On Gorge Parkway 4/10 of a mile northwest of Egbert Road in Bedford Reservation (Cleveland Metroparks).
Alexander Road to Frazee House	1.5	.75	200	hilly and rocky	no	On Alexander Road 2/10 of a mile west of Dunham Road in Walton Hills, OH.
Frazee House to Station Road Bridge	2.5	1.25	8	firm flat, crushed limestone	yes	On Canal road 3.5 miles south of Rockside Road in Valley View, OH.
Station Road Bridge to Jaite	7	3.5	200	hilly and rocky	no	Off of Riverview Rd. .2 miles south of Chippewa Rd. (82) in Brecksville, OH.
Jaite to Boston	5.6	3	250	hilly and rocky	no	Red Lock Trailhead is located on Highland Road 1/2 mile east of Riverview. (Vaughn Road becomes Highland Road)

Buckeye Trail South >>

	Length (miles)	Hiking Time (hours)	Elevation Change (feet)	Trail Surface	Wheelchair Accessible	Trailhead Location(s)
Boston to Pine Lane	4	2	240	hilly and rocky	no	On Boston Mills Road 2/10 of a mile east of Riverview Road in Boston, OH.
Pine Lane to Everett Covered Bridge	4.1	2	150	hilly and rocky near Pine Lane, firm flat the rest of the trail	no	On State Route 303, 1/2 mile east of Akron-Peninsula Road in Peninsula, OH.
Everett Covered Bridge to Botzum Trailhead/Train Station (via Towpath and Buckeye Trails)	3	2	160	hilly and rocky on northern part of trail, firm flat the rest of the trail	no	On Everett Road 1/2 mile west of Riverview Road near Everett Village, OH.

Valley Trail North >>

	Length (miles)	Time (hours)	Elevation Change (feet)	Trail Surface	Wheelchair Accessible	Trailhead location
Frazee House to Station Road Bridge	3	Hiking:1.25 Riding: 1	8	firm flat, crushed limestone	yes	On Canal road 3.5 miles south of Rockside Road in Valley View, OH.

Valley Trail South>>

	Length (miles)	Time (hours)	Elevation Change (feet)	Trail Surface	Wheelchair Accessible	Trailhead Location
Brecksville Reservation to Boston	6.9	Riding: 2.5	400	hilly, dirt	no	On Cleveland Metro Parkway .5 mile S.E. of Valley Parkway in Brecksville, OH.
Boston Trailhead to Wetmore Trailhead	9.25	Riding: 3.5	400	hilly, dirt	no	On Boston Mills Road 2/10 of a mile east of Riverview Road in Boston, OH. Valley Bridle Trail south of SR 303, across from golf course, is collapsed by the river and closed.
Wetmore Trailhead to Everett Covered Bridge	2.75	Hiking: 1.5 Riding: 1 hour	40	rolling hills, dirt	no	On Wetmore Road .6 miles east of Akron Peninsula Road in Cuyahoga Falls, OH. Wetmore Trailhead Parking lot is primarily for horse trailers. More parking for hikers is available at Pine Hollow, 5465 Quick Road.

Old Carriage Trail >>

	Length (miles)	Time (hours)	Elevation Change (feet)	Trail Surface	Accessible	Trailhead Location
Old Carriage Trail	5.25	Hiking: 2.5 Skiing: 1.5	180	hilly, rocky	no	Red Lock Trailhead is located on Highland Road 1/2 mile east of Riverview. (Vaughn Road becomes Highland Road.)

Brandywine Falls Area Trails >>

	Length (miles)	Hiking Time (hours)	Elevation Change (feet)	Trail Surface	Wheelchair Accessible	Trailhead Location(s)
Stanford Trail	1.5	1	190	hilly, rocky	no	On Stanford Road 1/2 mile north of Boston mills Road in Boston, OH.
Brandywine Gorge Trail loop	1.4	1	190	hilly, rocky	Wheelchair accessible to the first boardwalk overlook.- A spur off the main boardwalk has numerous steps.	On Brandywine Road 1.7 miles north of Hines Hill Road.

Ledges Area Trails >>

	Distance (miles)	Hiking Time (hours)	Elevation Change (feet)	Trail Surface	Wheelchair Accessible	Trailhead Location(s)
Ledges Trail	2.2	1.5	80	rocky, some steps	no	On Kendall Park Road 1 mile west of Akron Cleveland Road or 2.2 miles east of Akron Peninsula (Truxell Road turns into Kendall Park Road.) Boston Heights, OH
Pine Grove Trail	2.2	1.25	105	flat, dirt	no	On Kendall Park Road 1.3 miles west of Akron Cleveland Road or 2 miles east of Akron Peninsula (Truxell Road turns into Kendall Park Road.) in Boston Heights, OH
Forest Point Trail	.5	.5	Minimal	flat, dirt	no	(see above)
Haskell Run Trail	.5	.5	70	a big hill, rocky	no	At Happy Days Lodge on State Route 303, 2 miles east of Peninsula and 1/2 mile west of State Route 8 in Boston Heights, OH.
Boston Run Trail	3.4	Hiking: 2 Skiing: 1.5	80	hilly, rocky	no	(see above)

Kendall Lake Area Trails >>

	Length (miles)	Hiking Time (hours)	Elevation Change (feet)	Trail Surface	Wheelchair Accessible	Trailhead Location(s)
Cross Country Trail	2.5	Hiking: 1.5 Skiing: 1	160	rolling hills, dirt	no	On Kendall Park Road 1.6 miles west of Akron Cleveland Road and 1.5 miles east of Akron Peninsula roads (Truxell Road turns into Kendall Park Road.) In Boston Heights, OH.
Lake Trail	1	.75	Minimal	flat, dirt (some stairs)	no	(see above)
Salt Run Trail	3.25	2	160	rocky, hilly	no	(see above)

Tree Farm Trail >>

	Length (miles)	Time (hours)	Elevation Change (feet)	Trail Surface	Wheelchair Accessible	Trailhead Location
Tree Farm Trail	2.75	Hiking: 1.5 Skiing: .75	80	Flat, dirt	no	On Major Road .7 miles west of Riverview Road in Peninsula, OH.

Oak Hill and Plateau Trails >>

	Length (miles)	Time (hours)	Elevation Change (feet)	Trail Surface	Wheelchair Accessible	Trailhead Location
Oak Hill Trail	1.5	Hiking: .75 Skiing: .50	50	dirt, flat	no	On Oak Hill Road .9 miles south of Major Road in Peninsula, OH.
Plateau Trail	4.5	Hiking: 3 Skiing: 2	200	dirt, flat (one big hill)	no	(see above)

Wetmore Area Trails >>

	Distance (miles)	Time (hours)	Elevation Change (feet)	Trail Surface	Wheelchair Accessible	Trailhead Location
Wetmore Trail	4.5	Hiking: 2.5 Riding: 1.5 hours	250 feet	rolling hills, dirt	no	On Wetmore Road .6 miles east of Akron Peninsula Road in Cuyahoga Falls, OH Wetmore Trailhead Parking lot is primarily for horse trailers. More parking for hikers is available at Pine Hollow, 5465 Quick Road.
Langes Run Trail	3.5	Hiking: 2.5 Riding: 1.5	190	rolling hills, dirt	no	(see above)
Butler's Trail	.6	Hiking: .33 Riding: .33	150	rolling hills, dirt	no	(see above)
Tabletop Trail	.75	Hiking: .5 Riding: .33	100	rolling hills, dirt	no	(see above)

Everett Area Trails >>

	Distance (miles)	Time (hours)	Elevation Change (feet)	Trail Surface	Wheelchair Accessible	Trailhead Location
Riding Run Loop	4.6	Hiking: 2.5 Riding: 1.5	260	hilly, dirt	no	On Everett Road 1/2 mile west of Riverview Road near Everett Village, OH.
Perkins Loop	2.7	Hiking: 2 Riding: 1.5	260	hilly, dirt	no	(see above)
Furnace Run Loop	2	Hiking: 1	360	hilly, dirt	no	(see above)

 

For more trails located within CVNP visit:
Bedford Reservation (Cleveland Metroparks)
Brecksville Reservation (Cleveland Metroparks)
Brushwood Area (Summit Metro Parks)
Deep Lock Quarry (Summit Metroparks)