Today, we visit our first National Park during this trip. This one is very different from other National Parks we have visited, because it is set in an urban environment. It feels weird to be driving through residential neighborhoods to go from one trailhead to another.
We started off at the visitor center, where we listened to a ranger talk about the history of the area, and specifically the Cuyahoga river. The park is set along the river, between Cleveland and Akron, and in the early 1900s, the river had been used as a dump for pollutants by industrial plants located along the river. The river was so polluted, that there have been several fires on the river, the last one being in 1969 when a decision was made to clean things up.
Our first trail was a relatively easy one to Brandywine falls
Our second one was to an area called the Ledges. Two pleasant trails, and enough to get our legs back into travel-hiking shape.
Claudette’s Two Cents:
We’re at our second stop on this trip.
This park turned out to be surprisingly fun and easy (well, ish) to hike through. It’s more like a walk than a hike. With the country experiencing scorching heat waves, we were a bit worried we’d be struggling. Fortunately, all the trails were shaded, which made things feel relatively cooler. The trail to Brandywine Falls has lots of boardwalks, making the trek easy. Once we reached the falls, we sat down to enjoy our snack and made sure to stay hydrated. It was the perfect spot for a picnic, if you ask me.
The Ledges is all about fascinating rock formations and, you guessed it, ledges. Again, we found a great rock to sit on and finished off the rest of our snacks—nuts, dried raisins and cranberries, oranges, and a few energy bars. Let’s just say I’ve learned from experience: no matter how short we think the outing will be, I’m always bringing water and snacks.