Sandwiched between Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park proves you don’t need to travel out west to find waterfalls, wetlands, and wild beauty. This 33,000-acre stretch of forest and farmland along the winding Cuyahoga River is Ohio’s only national park — and it’s packed with history, from Civilian Conservation Corps lodges to a river that once famously caught fire. Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, riding a vintage train, or spotting a beaver-built wetland, here are 25 facts that make Cuyahoga Valley one of the Midwest’s best-kept secrets.

1) Cuyahoga Valley is Ohio’s only national park — one of just a handful in the entire Midwest.

2) The park spans nearly 33,000 acres, stretching along the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron.

3) “Cuyahoga” is a Native American word meaning “crooked river,” a fitting name for its winding path.

4) The park started out as Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area in 1974.

5) It wasn’t officially redesignated a national park until October 11, 2000.

6) Cuyahoga Valley is the only national park in the U.S. that started life as a national recreation area.

7) The Cuyahoga River notoriously caught fire in 1952 and 1969, helping spark the modern environmental movement.

8) That fiery history directly contributed to the passage of the Clean Water Act and the creation of the EPA.

9) Despite its size, the park’s geology is surprisingly calm — no dinosaur fossils have ever been found here or anywhere in Ohio.

10) Massive glaciers scraped across the valley during the last Ice Age, shaping much of today’s terrain.

11) The park is home to over 100 waterfalls, big and small.

12) The showstopper is Brandywine Falls, a 60-foot cascade and one of the most photographed spots in the park.

13) Cuyahoga Valley boasts more than 125 miles of hiking trails.

14) The beloved Ledges Trail is a 1.8-mile loop through dramatic, moss-covered sandstone rock formations.

15) History buffs can ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, which runs right through the heart of the park.

16) The park protects a stretch of the historic Ohio & Erie Canal, once a vital trade route for early settlers.

17) The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail runs over 100 miles total, with about 20 miles inside the park.

18) Beaver Marsh, one of the park’s most popular wildlife-watching spots, was actually created by industrious beavers.

19) Nearly 1,000 plant species and 943 documented species call the park home.

20) Birdwatchers flock here too — about 250 species of birds have been spotted in the park.

21) Wildlife sightings include white-tailed deer, coyotes, otters, and even bobcats.

22) In 1929, businessman Hayward Kendall donated 430 acres that became the seed of today’s park, naming it after his mother.

24) During the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built many of the park’s historic structures, including Happy Days Lodge.

24) Cuyahoga Valley welcomes nearly 2.9 million visitors a year, making it one of the most-visited parks in the country.

25) There’s no entrance fee to explore Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

From fiery rivers turned clean again to waterfalls hiding just off the trail, Cuyahoga Valley proves that Ohio has its own slice of wild, scenic adventure. Pack your hiking boots, hop the scenic railroad, and let this Midwestern gem surprise you — Brandywine Falls is calling.

Address: 6947 Riverview Road, Peninsula, OH 44264
Website: https://www.nps.gov/cuva/index.htm
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZvmw3_u9H8