Visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park

The Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Northeastern Ohio is unlike most other national parks- no admission fees to pay, no permits or passes are required, and no seasonal crowds or closures. It's more like a gigantic 33,000-acre city park neighboring the twisty Cuyahoga River ("Ka-ih-ogh-ha" is an American Indian word for crooked). There are plenty of reasons to visit the park at any time of year-hiking to beautiful Brandywine Falls, biking, horseback riding, picnicking, golfing, fishing, sledding, and snowshoeing to name a few. And if you're a history buff, two special attractions-the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and the Ohio & Erie Canalway-are real highlights.

In the beginning of the 19th century, canals connected the East Coast to the Midwest and facilitated commerce and trading between the states. It was the Ohio & Erie Canal that specifically helped Ohio farmers and towns to prosper by transporting their crops and trade goods to markets faster and farther away than traditional wagon routes. A large part of this 110-mile long Canalway runs through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and alongside the canal is a gravel towpath. Once trod by mules pulling the canal boats, the scenic Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail is enjoyed today by runners, walkers, and bicyclists.

In addition to mules, canal boats also required the help of a series of "locks" to navigate changes in elevation. Manually operated locks raised or lowered the water level in a particular area as needed. You can see a demonstration of how locks work by visiting the park's Canal Visitor Center. During the summer, costumed park rangers explain the history and importance of the early canal and lock systems and visitors can even pitch in and help push the heavy wooden beams to control the flow of water.

A short distance from the Visitor Center is the beautiful brick Frazee farmhouse. Built in 1826, it's amazing that most of the original windowpanes are still intact. In fact, the glass would have been brought by canal boat since such fragile luxuries would not have traveled well over rutted wagon roads. Original hardware, household implements, and other reminders of the past are on display inside the house. Unexpectedly tucked in the middle of a major metropolitan area, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is truly a great find and a delightful link to Ohio's history!