Cuyahoga National Park

Year Established: 2000
Annual Visitors: 2.58 Million
Size: 32,572 Acres
State: Ohio

Best Time to Visit Cuyahoga National Park

April to May, September-October

If you are planning to visit more national parks, check out our complete list of all US National Parks.

Best Experiences in Cuyahoga National Park

• Brandywine Falls
• The Ledges Hike
• Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

A Brief History

The refuge here was made to protect some recreational space that the government thought was important for cities like Cleveland and Akron. It is near a lot of people and is split in half by highways. Part of this land used to be an industrial dump through which the Cuyahoga River ran. This stretch of water was so dirty that it caught fire more than once.

After the area was named a Superfund site, it was cleaned up, its wetlands were fixed, and the land around it was reforested. Now, there are 125 miles of trails in Cuyahoga that people can use to ride bikes, walk, or ride horses.

Some people from cities come just to see Brandywine Falls, where water dances down sandstone shelves, or to see bald eagles flying overhead. Or they can go to the National First Ladies’ Library or the Hale Farm & Village, which has a place called Wheatfield that is a living history museum with moved historic buildings.

Cuyahoga RV Camping

If you are looking for nearby RV camping options for Cuyahoga National Park or in Ohio, consider checking out our other post:

• Best RV Parks in Ohio
• Best RV Resorts in Ohio

Visitor Information

Fees

There is no fee to enter this park.

Contacting Cuyahoga National Park

Phone Number

(440) 717-3890

Visitor Centers

Boston Mill Visitor Center

Boston Mill Visitor Center is where you should start your trip to Cuyahoga Valley National Park. You can get your questions answered, and find out the best places to explore in the park.

During the summer, if the weather is good, there will be more staff outside the visitor center to help plan trips.

Canal Exploration Visitor Center

In the historic Canal Exploration Center, you can learn about the Ohio & Erie Canal. This building was once a tavern, a general store, a home, and a park visitor center. Learn how the canal changed the country through in-depth, hands-on exhibits for both kids and adults.

Hunt House

Hunt House has nature exhibits that are good for kids, a place to rest along the Towpath Trail, and information about nearby places to visit.

Hunt House is open for part of the year.