It may be much less famous than many other U.S. national parks, but that doesn’t mean Cuyahoga Valley isn’t worth visiting. In fact, this underrated park in northern Ohio has its fair share of highlights to experience, especially in the fall.
From man-made features like historic farms, a covered bridge and a scenic railroad to natural attractions such as wildlife, waterfalls and amazing fall foliage, there’s plenty to see and do in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
What to Do in Cuyahoga Valley National Park in the Fall
While popular year-round, this particular park becomes a real tourist magnet in autumn. Through the month of October, its lowland and upland broadleaf forests are illuminated by spectacular fall colors.
A natural oasis between the cities of Cleveland and Akron in northern Ohio, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is absolutely stunning in autumn, attracting thousands of leaf-peepers from far and wide.
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7 Ways to Enjoy Fall Colors in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
The national park’s accessibility—there are interstates and highways all around, railroad stations within and airports near the park—combined with several easy activities makes it a fall favorite. It’s one of my personal favorite national parks for fall colors.
If you’re planning to visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park in the fall, don’t miss the following classic autumn activities in this surprisingly diverse park.
From hiking and biking to photography, wildlife viewing and riding a historic train, there’s enough to do in Cuyahoga Valley National Park in the fall to make it a destination for a two-day autumn getaway.
Hike to Brandywine Falls
When the sun rises after a nightly rain shower in fall, Brandywine Falls is one of the park’s most photogenic locations. Sunrays reflected in rain drops and the waterfall thundering over the cliff, this is a great place to enjoy the fall scenery in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
You can get to the Bandywine Falls viewing platform via a boardwalk, which has numerous steps and stairs. I would also recommend making this a loop hike via the 1.4-mile Brandywine Gorge Loop Trail.
This moderate trail takes you through one of the most visited areas in Cuyahoga Valley, a hilly wooded area on the banks of the river.
Watch Wildlife at Beaver Marsh
Visitors walking the boardwalk across Beaver Marsh today might be surprised to learn that this used to be the location of a car repair shop. Before the National Park Service acquired it, wrecked cars and old rusty parts littered the area.
Around that same time, beavers found their way back to the Cuyahoga Valley. They chose this area to build a dam system, which flooded the lower parts and created a completely new habitat, now known as Beaver Marsh.
Nowadays, this is the best place to see wildlife in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Beavers are an obvious highlight, but patient visitors might also see muskrats, otters, northern water snakes, painted and snapping turtles, frogs, bats (in the evening) and more than fifty bird species.
During the fall in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, you can see beavers stocking up their winter food supply, especially willow and aspen branches, in front of their lodge.
Migratory waterfowl such as wood ducks stop here throughout the season.
Snap a Photo of the Scenic Everett Covered Bridge
In the 1800’s, the Everett Covered Bridge was one of more than 2,000 covered bridges in Ohio. Now, however, it’s the only surviving covered bridge in all of Summit County. It’s a reminder of the 19th-century heyday of this region, a historic structure in the village of Everett.
This photogenic bridge crosses Furnace Creek and is surrounded by deciduous trees. In autumn, this provides a gorgeous fall scene, especially in late-afternoon.
You can get there on a short walk—don’t forget to read the information panels, which talk about how this unlike national park in northern Ohio came into existence.
Explore The Ledges
A beautiful area of moss-covered cliffs, The Ledges is a great place for a Cuyahoga Valley National Park fall hike. Located in the park’s southeastern corner, there are several trails to choose from.
My personal favorite is the Ledges Trail, a 2.2-mile hike through a collection of stunning rock formations.
Thanks to bright moss, dark rocks and occasional morning mist, it’s one of the park’s most atmospheric trails.
See Pretty Blue Hen Falls
Although it’s not a massive thundering waterfall like Brandywine Falls, 15-foot Blue Hen Falls is still extremely scenic. In fact, if you’re looking for the most picturesque Cuyahoga Valley National Park fall scene, this is a strong contender.
Set in a dense broadleaf and surrounded by scattered rocks and moss-covered boulders, Blue Hen Falls is as pretty a waterfall as any. You can get there via 1.5-mile trail from the Boston Visitor Center.
Additionally, this waterfall is also much less crowded than its bigger brother—Brandywine—allowing you to soak up the fall foliage in peace. That’s always a bonus, for sure.
Bike the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail
One of the absolute top things to do in Cuyahoga Valley National Park in the fall is biking the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.
This wonderful multi-use trail follows the historic trajectory of the Ohio & Erie Canal, built in the first half of the 19th century as a transportation link between the Ohio River and Lake Erie.
Open to hikers and bikers alike, the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail runs the entire length of Cuyahoga Valley National Park—it is actually much longer than that—and offers a great way to enjoy the park’s fall colors. You can rent bicycles in the historic town of Peninsula in the heart of the park.
Take a Ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
Few things characterize Cuyahoga Valley National Park quite like the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. This unique train journey takes you through the beautiful landscapes of the park.
Paralleling the Cuyahoga River, the railroad weaves through the valley, offering visitors to opportunity to leisurely enjoy the fall colors. Wildlife sightings—beavers, deer, eagles and otters—aren’t uncommon.
Being able to explore a national park by train is exceptional, so if there’s one must-do activity in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, this is it.
Check out the CVSR website for more information and tickets.
Tip: You can also rent a bicycle, bike the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in one direction, and take the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad back to where you started—the ultimate Cuyahoga Valley experience!
When Is the Best Time for Fall Foliage in Cuyahoga Valley National Park?
The peak fall foliage in Cuyahoga Valley National Park is usually in the third week of October. Seasonal fluctuations in weather can, however, influence this.
In general, though, if you visit Cuyahoga Valley in October, your chances of being able to see beautiful fall colors are excellent.
In early-October, sugar and red maples are typically the first trees to change color and show off their bright reds and oranges. They are soon followed by the brownish-red leaves of pin and white oaks, as well as the yellows of big tooth aspens and white ash.
By mid-October, the entire park is usually cloaked in a brilliant display of fall foliage. But even in late-October, you can still enjoy beautiful autumn scenery, especially among the oaks at The Ledges.