Cuyahoga Valley National Park/Brecksville Reservation
Backpack Route
BackpackOhio.com status: Last hiked in May, 2023, a new Trail Guide download is now available.
County: Cuyahoga
Nearest town: Cleveland
Length: Multiple options totaling 11, 13.4, 17.5 or 19.9 miles. By utilizing other trails within Brecksville Reservation, additional loops can be configured as well.
Difficulty: The trail is overall moderate to walk but varies depending upon the park. The route is generally rolling with a few steep sections in Brecksville Reservation. There is one climb near 300 feet. The surface varies from dirt to mown grass. In Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) the trail is wide, flat and surfaced mostly in gravel with some asphalt. Total elevation change on the CVNP section is approximately 30 feet as it follows the abandoned Ohio & Erie Canal. There is excellent signage throughout.
Permit/Fees: Camping is permitted only at the Ottawa Overlook Backcountry Sites in Brecksville Reservation and a $5 permit is required. Reservations are made through https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/ at least two days in advance. The sites are available year-round. There is no camping available within CVNP.
Contact Information: Cleveland Metroparks contact number/email is (216) 635-3200 generalinfo@clevelandmetroparks.com. To contact CVNP, call the Boston Mill Visitor Center at (440) 717-3890 or email the park at cuva_info@nps.gov.
Location: Vehicles may be left overnight at either the Brecksville Nature Center (N41° 19.066′ W81° 36.934′) or the Plateau Picnic Area (N41° 18.902′ W81° 35.963′). Both are located on Chippewa Creek Drive. From I-77, take Exit 149 and go east on OH-82 for approximately 1 ½ miles to right on Chippewa Creek Drive.
Trail Facilities: Restrooms are located at the Visitor Center. A Portalet was located at the Plateau Picnic Area. A latrine and seasonal water are located less than ¼ mile from the Backcountry Campsites. Each backpacking site has space for 2 small tents while site #3 utilizes a wooden platform. There is a central “kitchen” area and food storage pole. Multiple restrooms are located along the route within CVNP.
Water: Potable water is available seasonally at multiple locations within both parks. Water is available year-round at the Boston Mill Visitor Center, the Boston Store and the Brecksville Visitor Center. The trail crosses a few creeks and the Cuyahoga River. Always filter/purify water taken from a natural source.
Maps: CVNP, Brecksville
Internet: CVNP, Brecksville
Local Information:
The Route is located between Cleveland and Akron near and along the Cuyahoga River. Brecksville Reservation, operated by Cleveland Metroparks, is over 3,000 acres and CVNP totals approximately 33,000 acres. The path travels through busy sections of Brecksville reservation, but also through quiet, mature forests and steep creek valleys. The Towpath Trail section within CVNP (Ohio’s only National Park) is wide, flat and open. In either park there were numerous wildlife sightings such as deer, rabbit and squirrel along with frogs and turtles making use of the old canal.
The hike varies in Brecksville Reservation from Oak-Hickory Forests on the ridgetops down through multiple creek gorges. Several steep climbs rise around 150 feet in elevation, though one is close to 300. The section on the Towpath Trail remains close to dead flat as it follows the route of the Ohio & Erie Canal within the Cuyahoga River valley.
The canal itself was constructed during the 1820s & 30s, providing a transportation corridor from Lake Erie to Portsmouth, on the Ohio River. In 1880, the Valley Railway began operation in the Cuyahoga Valley providing faster transportation of goods and passengers. The flood of 1913 damaged the canal to the point where it was never completely repaired for use, but remnants of the waterway and locks still remain along the Towpath Trail. Railroad tracks also remain and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad ran vintage passenger car tours through CVNP. As of this writing however, erosion issues have restricted the tour route to a stretch south of the hiking loop. So, closing the loop by train rather than walking the Towpath Trail is not an option at this point. There are some short side trips off this route that are well worth the extra effort. Deer Lick Cave, just off the route in Brecksville Reservation, is a rock overhang with exposed sandstone that is imbedded with salt from an ancient seabed. The spot was named for the deer that visited the area to supplement their salt intake by licking the rock.
Blue Hen Falls, within CVNP, is a pretty, spring fed 15 foot drop less than 2/10 of a mile off the main trail.
The full route also leads right through the town of Boston, alongside the Cuyahoga River. The Visitor Center is worth a stop, as well as the Boston Store if you’re thirsty or perhaps longing for some ice cream to help power your hike.
The Hike
There are two locations within Brecksville Reservation where overnight parking is permitted. While your campsite needs to be reserved at least two days in advance, deciding which trailhead to start from can be done once you’ve arrived. (You do need to call the Ranger dispatch to alert them of where you are parked.) Starting at the Brecksville Nature Center does add nearly 2 ½ miles to the overall hike by traveling out and back near Chippewa Creek. The route travels through a popular section of the park heading towards the Plateau Picnic Area. Other trails/loop options exist in the park, but this route spends the most mileage on the Buckeye Trail. The second Trailhead option with overnight parking is Plateau Picnic Area. Near the entrance of the area, the My Mountain Trail climbs steeply out of the Chippewa Creek valley to quickly join the Buckeye Trail (blue blazes) and the counterclockwise loop…..
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