The festivities, which the park continues throughout 2025, are a great way to celebrate this local treasure.

When people think about national parks, they usually imagine huge mountain ranges or giant, breathtaking canyons. Cuyahoga Valley doesn’t have those, but what it does have is something better for us: it’s incredibly close. “Known as Northeast Ohio’s backyard,” Cuyahoga Valley National Park sits just minutes from WJ’s campus and has over 33,000 acres of forests, rivers, waterfalls, and trails to explore.

“For me, walking there is very calming,” said senior Christian Medina. “The views are amazing. It is truly a great place to calm your mind.”

The park has all kinds of places to check out. There are rocky cliffs, grassy fields, and smooth trails. The Ledges Trail, which is closest to Walsh, gets its name from the huge rock walls that line the path. It’s one of over 125 miles of hiking trails in the park, and there’s something for everyone.

According to Ranger Ella Church, “We have over 150 miles of hiking trails in the park. We aren’t a huge park but we have a lot of opportunities to have fun!” She recommends the Ledges Trail as her personal favorite, praising the “really neat rock formations.”

Cuyahoga Valley was first made a national recreation area in 1974, when people wanted to protect the natural beauty of the area. For years, it was kind of a hidden spot where locals went to hike, bike, and enjoy nature. Then, in 2000, it officially became a national park, one of the few close to a big city. Today, it’s the only national park in Ohio and gets more than 2 million visitors each year.

“I saw one of the most beautiful sunsets [at the park], I think it was called the Ledges, where we were. I was there with some friends at the end of a kind of tough day and just left feeling grateful. Being out in nature was just what I needed, and that purple-orange sunset was the best girly-girl one ever,” recalls junior Gina Cerrito.

In addition to the views, there are many forms of wildlife in the park. You might see deer, coyotes, beavers, turtles, frogs, and even some endangered bats. Rangers try hard to protect all the animals. For example, they block off areas where bats live and put up signs so people don’t disturb them.

“I love hiking in the national park,” said senior Lucia Chase. “It is very overlooked in the overall network of national parks. This is partly a good thing, because it does not attract many tourists and has a very reserved atmosphere. It feels like something special for those who live near.”

Junior Rayna Rippey visits the park along with the whole cross-country team for long runs in the fall. “We meet up over by Szalay’s in the valley for longer runs of 8-10 miles on the Towpath Trail in the park. I really love running there because it’s in nature, and the trail is a nice straight path for us. Running along, I love the fresh air and occasional loud sound of the gun sounds they use to scare the birds out of the corn fields. One time, I even saw a deer and got pretty close before it ran away. We usually see frogs, snakes, and other small wildlife when we run. It’s such a great park!”

If you’re not into long hikes, don’t worry. “Even if you don’t like hiking, we have trails that are under a mile long,” said Ranger Church. “You can’t necessarily see all the cool things from the road or from the visitor center. It’s a good idea to get out there and do some walking.”

The park also has more to do than just hiking. You can bike the 20-mile Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, go fishing, ride a scenic train, or join the Junior Ranger program. “The best suggestion I have is to be a Junior Ranger,” said Church. “It’s a great way for kids to learn all about the park, and you also get a cool Junior Ranger badge.”

One of the coolest things in the park is the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. You can hop on a train and ride through the woods and along the river. Around the holidays, they turn it into the Polar Express Train Ride, part of the “North Pole Adventure.” The 90-minute trip includes hot chocolate, Christmas music, elves, and even a visit from Santa.

Junior Morgan Gale fondly recalled her childhood memories of riding the Polar Express. “I just remember wearing my pajamas on that cold night and boarding the warm train with my ticket in hand. Just like the movie, the conductor punched the ticket, and then we had some hot chocolate and enjoyed the excitement of the ride. I remember stopping somewhere and seeing elves out the window, and then Santa came walking down the aisle to see us!”

With so many ways to explore and have fun, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is the perfect spot to chill out, hang with friends, physically challenge yourself, or just take a break from everything.

Ranger Church puts it best: “It’s great to get out in the park and experience what there is to see.”