Brandywine Falls Guide: Cuyahoga Valley National Park
The Brandywine Falls Trail is a very easy, family-friendly hiking trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park near Cleveland, Ohio. The trail is less than a quarter of a mile to the falls, but you can make it a 1.5-mile long loop if you want to continue hiking the Brandywine Gorge Trail.
My wife and I were visiting Cuyahoga Valley National Park in early spring when we decided to check out Brandywine Falls. We arrive at the parking lot mid-morning on a Saturday. It was nearly full already, but it was large, so we were able to find a spot.
It was a cool, overcast day as we got out of the car. The leaves were just barely starting to bud on the trees. The hike to the falls is a boardwalk with some stairs down to the lower viewing platform. The upper viewing area is ADA-accessible.
- Trail Name: Brandywine Falls
- Trailhead Location: Brandywine Falls Parking Area
- Distance: 0.15 Miles Roundtrip
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Elevation Gain: Minimal
- Type: Out & Back
- Features: Waterfall
- Dogs: Yes – On Leash
Hiking to Brandywine Falls
It was a cool, overcast day as we exited the car. The leaves were barely starting to bud on the trees. The hike to the falls is a boardwalk with some stairs down to the lower viewing platform. The upper viewing area is ADA-accessible.
Brandywine Falls is about 60 feet tall and has inspired visitors for more than 150 years, long before it was protected as a National Park. We hiked down to the lower viewing platform, and to my surprise, given how busy the parking lot was, there were few people there. We spent about 10 minutes enjoying the view before returning to the boardwalk. This portion of the hike took us about 20 minutes.
After returning to the parking lot, we were not quite ready to get back in the car, so we decided to stroll down the Brandywine Gorge Trail for a bit. I’m unsure how far we went down before turning around, but it was very pretty. The woods were thick and dotted with nice views of Brandywine Gorge here and there. Both trails would be tremendous during fall foliage season!
Other things to do in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is very pet-friendly, which is only true for some national parks. Dogs are permitted on trails in Cuyahoga Valley but must be kept on leash.
The Audubon Society considers Cuyahoga Valley National Park an IBA or Important Bird Area.
The park offers incredible bird-watching opportunities and is home to more than 200 bird species.
I recommend biking part of the towpath and, if you have time, scheduling a scenic train ride through the park. Both are sure to please.
