Cuyahoga National Park

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is an American national park that preserves and reclaims the rural landscape along the Cuyahoga River between Akron and Cleveland in Northeast Ohio. The 32,572-acre is administered by the National Park Service, but within its boundaries are areas independently managed as county parks or as public or private businesses. This place was originally designated as a National Recreation Area in 1974, then redesignated as a national park 26 years later in 2000, and remains the only national park that originated as a national recreation area.

Although the regional parks safeguarded certain places, by the 1960s local citizens feared that urban sprawl would overwhelm the Cuyahoga Valley's natural beauty. The park offers outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers a wide range of activities to enjoy, including golf, horseback riding, hiking, biking, canoeing, and kayaking. If you are visiting with children they can join the Junior Ranger program to make the most of their visit. If you are not up to all the energetic park activities you can still enjoy the beauty of the Cuyahoga Valley by taking a scenic train journey on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Cyclists who would like to take on the Ohio and Erie Towpath trail can cycle one way and rest their legs on a return train journey.

Location: Summit County & Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States

Website: https://www.nps.gov/cuva/index.htm
Distance from Michigan: 375 miles
Travel time: 5 hours 40 minutes
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