What to Do in Cuyahoga Valley National Park with Kids

Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio is an awesome place to visit with kids! There are so many kid-friendly trails and lots of educational activities, too.

We visited Cuyahoga Valley on our Midwest national parks road trip including New River Gorge in West Virginia (technically not the midwest, but within driving distance), and Indiana Dunes.

I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect on our trip to Cuyahoga Valley National Park! I had never really heard of it, even though I grew up nearby in Southeastern Wisconsin. Our area of the country is not usually known for exciting landscapes, so I wondered if we would be bored or unimpressed.

Just the opposite, in fact! Cuyahoga National Park really blew me away with how beautiful the trails and geography were, including waterfalls and sandstone ledges.

We spent 2 days exploring the park, and I think we could have used one more day to fit everything in! I definitely would love to return and combine our visit with a trip to nearby Cleveland.

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What to Know Before You Visit Cuyahoga Valley - The Only National Park in Ohio

Cuyahoga Valley National park is FREE to visit! There is no entrance fee to the park.
The best time to visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park is early fall or late spring for moderate weather and fewer crowds. We visited in summer (late June) and had a blast, though we got very warm on some of the hikes. I didn’t think the crowds were too terrible, either.
The Visitor Center at Cuyahoga Valley is Boston Mill Visitor Center, which is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s located at:
6947 Riverview Road
Peninsula, OH 44264
If you’re visiting in summer, bring sunscreen, hats, waterproof hiking sandals, lots of water, lots of snacks that won’t melt in the sun (apple slices, non-chocolatey granola bars, trail mix, fruit pouches, crackers, etc) and/or a good cooler.

Where to Stay at Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Cuyahoga Valley Lodges

Inn at Brandywine Falls: We walked past this quaint inn during our Brandywine Gorge Hike, and it looked like such a beautiful spot to stay on your trip to CVNP. Built in 1848, the Inn at Brandywine Falls is on the National Register of Historic Places, but is restored with modern amenities without losing its original appearance. Families with young children should stay in The Loft, a carriage barn suite, or The Granary, as those are the only rooms where children under 6 are allowed.
Stanford House: This is a historic farmhouse located in the small town of Boston, Ohio just steps from the Towpath Trail and a short hike from Brandywine Falls. There are nine bedrooms for rent in the house with 2 community restrooms and a self-serve kitchen. Check here for reservations and rates.

Hotels Near Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Cuyahoga National Park is a somewhat urban park located near Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, with several smaller towns in between, which means there are many hotel and house rental options to choose from.

We stayed at the Springhill Suites in Independence, Ohio, which ended up working out perfectly for our group. We stayed with my mom, my sister, and my 4 kids, so we booked a 2 queen bed suite that also had a pullout couch in the living room.

Check the map below to find nearby hotel options for your stay at Cuyahoga Valley NP.

Booking.com

Planning Your Visit to Cuyahoga Valley National Park with Little Kids

Where is Cuyahoga Valley National Park?

Cuyahoga is located in Ohio between Cleveland and Akron, and it lies along the Cuyahoga River.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is

5 hours and 45 minutes from Chicago
7 and a half hours from Milwaukee
3 hours from Detroit
4 hours and 45 minutes from Indianapolis
and just under 2 hours from Pittsburgh.

We visited Cuyahoga Valley National Park on a Midwest National Park road trip starting in Wisconsin and hitting Indiana Dunes National Park, Cuyahoga, and New River Gorge NP in West Virgina.

Click here to see all of the National Parks our family has visited and loved!

How many days do you need in Cuyahoga Valley National Park?

You need 2-3 days to visit Cuyahoga Valley NP. We spent 2 days there, and felt like we could have used 1 extra day to try a few more hikes or bike the Tow Path.

If you have less than a day at the park, I would suggest visiting Brandywine Falls and hiking the Ledges Trail.
If you have 2 full days at the park, you should bike the tow path, hike Ledges Trail, see some waterfalls, and stop at the Canal Exploration Center.
If you have 3 full days at the park, you should you should bike the tow path, hike Ledges Trail, see some waterfalls, and stop at the Canal Exploration Center, AND ride the Cuyahoga Valley Train.

Or just pick and choose what works for your family from the list below!

Things to Do at Cuyahoga Valley National Park

What should you not miss in Cuyahoga? Tons! There are so many things to do in the park that it was hard for us to narrow down what we wanted to do on our visit.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is known for being the only National Park in Ohio. It’s also brimming with history, like the Ohio & Erie Canals, the Wilson Feed Mill, and the Everett Covered Bridge.

Read on to find out exactly what to do in Cuyahoga Valley with little kids!

Stop at the Boston Mill Visitor Center for a Junior Ranger Booklet

Be sure to start your trip at Boston Mill Visitor Center where you can chat with park rangers to get a better idea of which hikes are suitable for your family. The visitor center is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is located at:

6947 Riverview Road
Peninsula, OH 44264

It is here that you can pick up a Junior Ranger booklet or Junior Ranger, Jr. Activity Card for younger kids. These are activity based programs where kids can explore, learn about, and protect the national park.

While at the Boston Mill Visitor Center, be sure to check out the schedules of ranger-led events for kids!

Ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway is a tourist excursion railway, and the only train that runs through a National Park. Its goal is to provide educational, recreational, and heritage railroad experiences while also providing a form of transportation to and within Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

We purchased the Coach All Day Pass for the National Park Scenic Excursion.

We had high expectations going in, and in our opinion it ended up being a little boring. You can technically get on and off at the different stops, but very few of the hikes are close to the stops. I think when we booked it, we were thinking we could use it as a “hop-on, hop-off” means of transportation to get to some of the hiking trails we wanted to do.

That is not at all what the railway is for, so I think that was user error on our part.

The train ride is 3 hours long, the AC was freezing, and to be honest the views were subpar. I think we were not well prepared for this, and we didn’t have a ton of time at the park so we were a little impatient to get going. Those are probably the main reasons we didn’t necessarily care for this experience, but I think if we had brought sweatshirts and more things for the kids to do we would have enjoyed it more.

The conductor provided some educational commentary, but it was hard to pay attention while we were trying to occupy 4 little kids.

If you have 2 full days or 3 days to explore, plan a morning to get on and off the train and explore the stops. For example, one of the stations is the Canal Exploration Center, and another is the Boston Mill Visitor Center. This would be a great way to start your visit to the park and get an idea for the history and layout of CVNP.

I also think a better use of the train would be renting bikes and taking your bikes on the train, getting off at one of the stops, and biking back on the towpath to where you parked your car.

I hope this helps as you plan whether or not to add the Cuyahoga Valley National Park train to your itinerary!

Bike the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail

This would have been an awesome activity for us if my kids were a little older during our visit. You can rent bikes at the Century Cycles store in Peninsula. Here are some tips for bringing your bike aboard the train!

The Towpath is the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal where mules towed canal boats, goods, and passengers.

It runs through the heart of Cuyahoga National Park and is 20 miles long. You can walk or bike this trail, and connects to the Canal Exploration Center several hiking trailheads.

Walk to Brandywine Falls

Brandywine Falls is one of the iconic spots in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It is pretty easy to get to from the Brandywine Falls Parking lot via a boardwalk, but there are lots of stairs to get to the lower lookout, so be aware that the lower lookout it is not handicap or stroller accessible.

The boardwalk takes you along moss-covered sandstone walls until you come to face the waterfall head on. It’s a great view, and usually pretty crowded, so you may have to wait your turn to get a picture in front of the falls.

There are 2 other waterfall options within Cuyahoga Valley National Park:

Blue Hen Falls (which is currently closed until November 2021)
Buttermilk Falls

Hike the Brandywine Gorge Trail

Brandywine Gorge Trail Loop is a 1.5 mile hike. Once you finish viewing Brandywine Falls, you have the option of going back to the parking lot or continuing to the Brandywine Gorge Trail. At first it will look like you’re walking along a road, but once you pass the Inn at Brandywine Falls, you’ll know you’re headed in the right direction.

The walk is wooded and peaceful, and will lead you down to a creek, or vernal pool that temporarily fills with water. We were visiting in early summer and the pools were shallow enough for the kids to wade in and see the bottom.

This was easily the kids’ favorite part of the entire trip.

We stopped for a while and let them skip rocks and play in the pools, and they did not want to leave. If you go in summer, have the kids wear waterproof hiking sandals do they can wade in!

The second half of the hike was uphill, which was a little more challenging but still doable with young kids.

All in all, this trail was easy and fun, and a lot of it took place in the shade which was nice for a hot summer day.

Buy Souvenirs at Trail Mix Boston

Located at 1550 Boston Mills Rd W., in Peninsula, Trail Mix Boston is a store with Cuyahoga Valley National Park merchandise that is just steps from the Towpath trail!

We loved perusing the apparel, books, games, snacks, and toys after hiking in the heat. There were so many unique items to choose from, so if you’re looking to commemorate your time at the park with a souvenir, this is the spot to stop!

My kids also loved the butterfly mural painted on the side wall so we definitely stopped for a few photos.

Hike the Ledges Trail

DO NOT MISS the Ledges Trail. It’s a 2.2 mile loop trail. We had heard this was amazing but we were a little nervous that there would be steep drop offs the whole time.

There’s only one spot with a drop off at the beginning and it’s super easy to keep little one away from the edge. Once you go down the stairs you’re at the bottom of the ledges and there are plenty of big rocks to climb and crevasses to explore.

This was EASILY my favorite thing to do in the park. The ledges were so fun for kids to explore and they made for a great backdrop in my photos!

The trail was a little long and challenging for the kids, but with some encouragement and bribery they finished it just fine. I would highly recommend this trail to families with young children.

Visit the Canal Exploration Center

The Canal Exploration Center is a place where you can learn about the era between 1825 and 1876 and the people who lived and worked along the canals. The rivers were used as highways to bring goods to people living in the heartland, and the Ohio and Erie Canals made that possible by connecting the Ohio River to Lake Erie. You can also discover how canal locks work right outside the Exploration Center.

The Canal Exploration Center is located at 7104 Canal Road, Valley View, Ohio 44125, and is also one of the stops along the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway. It’s also located right by the Towpath Trail, so you can make it a stop along the way if you’re biking or walking this area of the park.