Established in 2000, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, located about 200 miles from Miami County, is one of the newest national parks in the United States, and the only one in Ohio.
While most parks are known for their seclusion, Cuyahoga Valley is located in the middle of the Greater Cleveland and Akron area. However, this does nothing to take away from its natural charm.
The park is a mix of forests, rolling hills, and small villages, most of which sit on the banks of the meandering Cuyahoga River. It contains rugged hiking trails, relaxing campgrounds, some of the best cycling in Ohio, great museums and history, working farms (including Hale Farm & Village), two ski resorts, and a variety of unique restaurants, shops and bed and breakfasts.
The geology of the region helped carve out Brandywine Falls, which, at 65-feet-tall, is the highest waterfall in Ohio, and Mill Creek Falls, which drops 45-feet, not to mention the ancient rock formations at The Ledges. Hiking trails at each of these locations showcase the wild side of the park.
Another great - and flat - trail is the paved, 21-mile-long Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath, which, as its name indicates, follows the historic canal towpath, as well as the Cuyahoga River, and spans almost the entire length of the park.
Along the way, trail users can explore a variety of attractions, including canal relics and locks, farm markets, nature preserves, historical landmarks and much more. Drivers can use Riverview Road to travel the same route and visit the same attractions. However, there’s also a third option – traveling by train. For a fee, and from June through October only, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad offers rides through the park. Click HERE for details on the train rides and HERE to learn more about the park, camping and other information.
While there’s plenty to see and do at Cuyahoga Valley National Park, even more adventure can be had by taking the scenic way there.
The following road trip does not use any highways to reach the national park, and it largely follows Ohio Route 47 and Ohio Route 3, among other rural routes. It takes less than five hours to drive and passes a number of other great attractions, including Mohican State Park (known as the best place in Ohio to canoe), Zane Shawnee Caverns, Myeerah Nature Preserve, and numerous small and mid-size towns that have their own spread of shops, ma and pa restaurants and roadside attractions, including Bellefontaine, Mt. Vernon, Loudonville, and Wooster.
Other things you can see and experience on this trip include:

• The highest point in Ohio 

• Mohican Adventures Canoe Livery and Family Fun Center, plus cabins and campground

• The Haunted Hoorah 

• The Six Hundred Downtown (restaurant) 

• The oldest concrete street in America

• A nearby Amish community

• The A&E Camping Resort

• Delaware State Park

• Historic downtown Mt. Vernon, including colonial architecture 

• The Wolf Creek Gristl Mill

• The Holland Theatre

• The Big Four Bridge in Sidney

• The Marengo Flea Mark

• And more... Enjoy!