Cuyahoga Valley National Park

15610 Vaughn Road
Brecksville, OH 44141

By Phone:
Canal Visitor Center
Visitor Information (216) 524-1497
Visitor Information (800) 445-9667

WELCOME to Cuyahoga Valley

Along the "Crooked River"

Though a short distance from the urban environments of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park seems worlds away. The winding Cuyahoga—the "crooked river" as named by American Indians—gives way to deep forests, rolling hills, and open farmlands. The park is a refuge for flora and fauna, gives a sense of times past, and provides recreation and solitude for Ohio's residents and visitors.

A trip to Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers a diverse array of activities. Whether you prefer attending ranger-guided programs or exploring the park on your own, you can find something to your liking.

Take a hike, ride the scenic railroad, explore the visitor centers, attend a concert, or bike the Towpath Trail. Whatever your preferences, the links above will guide you to additional information.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers visitors many ways to enjoy the park. Whether you enjoy the parks many hiking trails on your own, bring your family for a picnic along the shores of a pond, or attend a ranger led program, CVNP can provide the ideal spot.

Scenic Train Ride

The history of trains in the Cuyahoga Valley stretches back more than 100 years. In 1880, the Valley Railway began operations, transporting coal to Cleveland, Akron, and Canton from the Tuscarawas River Valley and providing passenger service along the way. It became another way to escape the pressures of urban industrial life, and leisure excursions were supplemented by the Guide Book for the Tourist and Traveler over the Valley Railway!

After a decade of operation, the Valley Railway became part of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. In the 20th century, competition from automobiles, trucks, and buses caused the decline of both freight and passenger service. Interest in the line was renewed in 1972 as a scenic excursion route and the Cuyahoga Valley Preservation and Scenic Railway Association was born. Originally known as the Cuyahoga Valley Line, the scenic railroad now operates as Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR).

The CVSR is a private sector, volunteer supported, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization operating in partnership with Cuyahoga Valley National Park and dedicated to the preservation of passenger rail transportation in Cuyahoga Valley and the historic Ohio & Erie Canalway.

CVSR operates 12 months of the year, offering alternative transportation in CVNP, as well as the popular Bike Aboard! service allowing cyclists to bike the Towpath Trail in one direction and ride the train in the other. 

Park rangers are onboard the regularly scheduled excursions to the Canal Visitor Center, the Canal-era Village of Peninsula, Akron, and Canton. They provide interesting narration of the cultural and natural history of the Cuyahoga River valley. 

CVSR also presents special events throughout the year including: “Grape Escape” wine-tasting trains, A Day Out With Thomas™, The Little Engine That Could™, and The Polar Express™. For more information, call CVSR at (800) 468-4070.

Did You Know?
During the Great Depression, the "boys of Company 567" of the Civilian Conservation Corps helped shape the landscape that would later become Cuyahoga Valley National Park by constructing buildings, playfields, and a lake, as well as planting over 100 acres of trees.