Brandywine Falls - Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Intro

Getting outside to explore wild places takes too long, right? There’s nothing around here to see, right? Cuyahoga Valley National Park and a hike to Brandywine Falls will change your point of view and inspire return visits. A 30-minute drive from Cleveland, a trip to the park can take you away from hectic city life to a tranquil, peaceful place in the woods. Water pouring over Brandywine Falls will strip away the distractions of work and constant smartphone notifications that demand your attention. The short hike from the parking lot provides a quick transition from office buildings and traffic jams to majestic old forests and the sound of Brandywine Creek pouring over a 65-ft tall waterfall. A wooden boardwalk leading to the Falls makes this an easy hike for everyone in the family.

Once Brandywine Falls captures your attention Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers more than 100 miles of trails to explore. That’s not all. The park offers paddling, biking and camping. One visit is certain to lead to more.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the trail to Brandywine Falls prove that experiencing wild places doesn’t require a huge time commitment.

What Makes It Great

The hike to Brandywine Falls can turn everyone into a naturalist. An easy twenty-minute walk in the woods fills your senses with an incredible variety of Mother Nature’s natural beauty. Using materials from the visitor’s center, you will be able to identify ancient rock formations and explain the difference between hemlock and red maple trees. Get down on your hands and knees to explore water-filled depressions in the rocks. Did you see the salamanders?

The trail traverses a wood boardwalk that’s wheelchair accessible. A set of separate stairs takes you to the side of the Brandywine Creek and a different view of the falls and pools below. Plan to visit Brandywine Falls every season and you will be rewarded with incredible examples of annual cycles. In the winter, the waterfalls freeze leaving an intricate curtain of ice. Springtime brings blooming flowers, new leaves and a sense of rebirth. In the fall, an incredible variety of colorful leaves with vie for your attention. Hey, look at that one!

Who is Going to Love It

Brandywine Falls is a wonderful place to introduce young children to a natural environment and wild places. In a short 1.5-mile hike kids can see a layer of sandstone rocks that are more than 350 million years old. That’s even older than grandpa. The water streaming over the 65-ft tall Brandywine Falls is mesmerizing no matter if it’s a dry season trickle or a thundering storm run-off surge. The boardwalk to the Falls is wheelchair accessible.

Directions, Parking, & Regulations

Located in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Brandywine Falls is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. No permits are required to enter and enjoy the park. Dogs are permitted but must be on a leash. The address is 8176 Brandywine Road in Sagamore Hills Township. There are no fees to visit Brandywine Falls.

Featured image provided by Courtesy of the National Park Service