Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

Perkins and Riding Run Trail Loops

So, most weekends, Herb, Sherman, and I will head out to the Cleveland MetroParks to hike one of the hundreds of trails. With 18 reservations, 24,000 acres, more than 300 miles of trails, eight lakefront parks, five nature centers, a nationally acclaimed zoo, and eight golf courses, the MetroParks are a haven of adventure year-round and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park sits smack-dab in the middle of it all.

Situated between Cleveland and Akron, the Cuyahoga Valley is a relatively young park. In the 1920s, metropolitan park districts established park units in the valley. After World War II, suburban growth was approaching the edge of the Cuyahoga Valley, and citizens became advocators for the park. In 1974, Ohio Congressman John F Seiberling introduced legislation that was passed and signed by President Ford to create the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP).

The CVNP is rich with culture and legacies around every corner. Remains of the Ohio & Erie Canal dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries offer a glimpse into the history of how the country was transformed. Today, the park has something for everyone with hiking, golfing, train rides, kayaking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and so much more. Herb, Sherman, and I have totally enjoyed exploring the parks and sharing with family and friends.

“We will never see the land as our ancestors did. But we can understand what made it beautiful and why they lived and died to preserve it. And in preserving it for future generations, we will preserve something of ourselves… There is no more worthwhile cause.” ~John F Seiberling