On our family’s year-long, full-time RV living adventure we made a fun stop at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. There’s lots to do with kids! Here’s our top ten recommended activities. 

1. Bike the Towtrail

This easy-access, multi-use path travels over 20 miles from Akron in the south to Cleveland in the north. Hard packed limestone and very little elevation gain makes it a perfect family-friendly trail. Plus it’s FULL of history.

The towtrail trail is the same path mules used to pull canal boats through the Ohio and Erie canals.

Biking along the towtrail was the highlight of our visit to Cuyahoga Valley National Park. With many easily accessible places to get on and off the trail, it’s a busy locals favorite for walking dogs, biking and walkers.

2. Visit the Boston Store Visitor Center

This is a great place to start your visit to Cuyahoga Valley National Park. With knowledgeable rangers and displays on the history and making of canal boats, the Boston Store Visitor center

Don’t get confused by the name. The Boston Store Visitor Center is located at 1550 Boston Hills Road, Peninsula, Ohio.

3. Hike to Brandywine waterfall

A moderate 2.4 mile hike leads you to a favorite local waterfall.

4. Ride the Scenic Cuyahoga Valley Railroad

This was SO MUCH FUN! The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic railroad runs from Cleveland in the north down to Akron in the south. It rides along a path of historic railroad track through all of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Views of the Cuyahoga river, ruins of the canal system and beautiful woodland forest surround the railroad.

I recommend riding bikes along the tow path as long as you can and flagging down the train at one of its station stops. For just $5 for a one way ride ($16 for a round trip ticket) you can load your bike and bike trailer and ride the scenic railroad back to your car. Check HERE for current train stops and schedules.

5. Look for Beavers at Beaver Marsh

An easy 0.25 mile walk along the tow path from the IRA trailhead leads you to a marshy area perfect for viewing wildlife. Little G, age 6, desperately wanted to see a beaver but unfortunately they weren’t out when we visited. Instead we saw blue heron, turtles, ducks, and dragonflies.

6. Become a Junior Ranger

We are big fans of the National Park Junior Ranger programs, not just because the kids learn about local wildlife, but because WE learn too. We were pleasantly surprised that in addition to earning a Junior Ranger badge, Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers a bonus patch to Junior Rangers who complete a bonus activity.

7. Stand in a Lock in the Ohio Canal

The Cuyahoga Valley National Park sits on land that once was a bustle of industrial activity – the Ohio Canal. Built in 1825, the Ohio canal was a series of locks that connected Akron to the Lake Erie and eventually to the harbors of New York and the eastern states.

This canal system allowed farmers in Ohio to sell their goods in larger markets and for about 15 years was a hotbed of activity.

Now the locks are dry. The stone walls are covered with moss and you can get up close and explore inside. My kids loved jumping inside the locks (it was one of the items in the Junior Ranger Bingo activity).

8. Learn About the History of the Ohio and Erie Canals

Before the age of railroads in the mid to late 1800s, canals were all the rage. Canals were essentially a river staircase that allowed goods to travel upstream. This early flow of goods from rural farm country to hungry city dwellers allowed economic development in the area on an unprecedented scale.

Canal boats were made to very specific dimensions – only 14 feet wide to fit in the canal locks. Each canal boat was pulled by a team of mules along the canal route from Akron, Ohio to Lake Erie.

The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is the perfect place to learn about this interesting time in history. We used our visit as a roadschooling stop.