Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a long, narrow strip of protected land following the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron — the only national park in Ohio and one of the most urban in the national park system, with several million people living within an hour's drive.
The valley's landscape is a mix of forest, wetlands, and farmland, with the river at its centre. The Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail runs 20 miles through the park and is the most popular route for cycling and hiking; it follows the path of the 19th-century canal that once linked the Great Lakes to the Ohio River. The trail passes through the village of Peninsula, a good stopping point for lunch.
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad runs excursion trains through the park from May to December, offering a relaxed way to see the valley. In winter, the park has cross-country ski trails.
Wildlife is plentiful: bald eagles, great blue herons, and white-tailed deer are commonly seen along the river.