Fall is fast approaching, bringing cooler temperatures and changing leaves.
If you’re looking to get out and enjoy the brisk temperatures and fall colors, Condé Nast Traveler has some suggestions. In the publication’s list of the 26 best fall hiking trails in the U.S., one from Ohio made the cut. It’s just another accolade for the park, which has been named one of the best places in the nation to see fall foliage, is the most dog-friendly park in the U.S. and is a pretty good place to ride a bicycle.
Here’s what Condé Nast Traveler has to say about the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Northeast Ohio.
Conde Nast Traveler ranks Cuyahoga Valley National Park among the best places in the U.S. for a fall hike
Ohio’s only national park is also the only location from the Midwest to make Condé Nast Traveler’s list. Here’s what the publication had to say about it:
“Stretched along the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is an easy day trip full of sights. You’ll see a winding river, lush forests, rolling hills, and open farmlands. Hike ‘The Ledges’—a rock outcropping with unobstructed views across the valley—as it’s only a two-mile loop, and sunset promises some seriously impressive photos.”
Cuyahoga Valley National Park ranks among destinations like Aspen, Colorado; Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Zion National Park in Utah on the Condé Nast list.
CVNP covers 33,000 acres, has 125 miles of trails
The CVNP covers 33,000 acres, per the US Geological Survey. And since much of that is forested, there are a lot of leaves to see in the fall.
The park also offers more than 125 miles of hiking trails, from easier flat trails to challenging hilly ones. The trails pass through various habitats, including woodlands, wetlands, and old fields. Some require you to cross streams with stepping stones or log bridges. Others, including the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, are nearly level and are accessible to all visitors. A portion of the statewide Buckeye Trail also passes through the park.
CVNP named one of the most beautiful national parks, one of the best places to see fall foliage
In its guide to fall foliage for 2024, the Farmer’s Almanac ranks the park No. 13 on its list of the best places to see fall foliage in the United States. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park ranks among the Black Hills of South Dakota, the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina, as well as the Adirondack and Catskill mountains in New York.
Also in 2024, the publication Travel Lens named the park one of the most beautiful in the nation. The ranking was based on thousands of Google reviews and the number of words like “beautiful,” “stunning,” “gorgeous” and “breathtaking” used to describe them.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio park has some of the best fall hiking in the US, travel pub says. Here’s where, why
Reporting by Chad Murphy, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
