10 Best Cuyahoga Valley National Park Waterfalls
Nestled between Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park beckons with glacial gorges, winding forests, and cascading waterfalls.
From the iconic 65-foot plunge of Brandywine Falls to Blue Hen Falls' secluded charm, each waterfall unveils a unique personality.
The park's 100 waterfalls offer a refreshing escape. Whether you seek the invigorating mist of a powerful fall or the gentle melody of a hidden gem, lace up your boots, breathe in the crisp air, and let the cascading waters guide you into the park's wild beauty.
What are the Best Cuyahoga Valley Waterfalls to Visit?
Brandywine Falls
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Brandywine Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in the state of Ohio. At 65 feet tall, it’s also the tallest waterfall in the state.
You can find the falls on Brandywine Road, northeast of the Boston Mill Visitor Center.
After you’ve enjoyed the falls, you can explore the 1.5-mile Brandywine Gorge Trail, which loops through the gorge, over the creek, and right back to the parking lot.
Shredder Falls
Shredder Falls can be accessed along the Brandywine Gorge Trail. Beginning at the parking lot, follow the trail clockwise for half a mile until you cross the footbridge.
Then, after another thousand feet or so, you should see a trail leading off to the right which will take you to Shredder Falls.
It’s a long, shallow cascading fall that supposedly got its name from Boy Scouts who would slide down the falls, “shredding” their pants along the way.
Sliding down the falls is forbidden today, but take all the pictures you want!
Great Falls of Tinkers Creek
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While not technically inside the National Park, the Great Falls of Tinkers Creek lies mere minutes outside the park boundary.
The Great Falls has the highest volume of water of any waterfall in the state, especially after a good rain!
The falls are located inside Viaduct Park, near the northeast corner of the National Park.
You can also explore the remains of an old hydroelectric power plant near the falls, or, if you’re feeling adventurous and you don’t mind getting wet, you can walk the creek through the 510-foot tunnel called The Arch.
Bridal Veil Falls
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Brandywine Falls is tall, the Great Falls of Tinkers Creek is loud, and the Bridal Veil Falls is peaceful.
You can enjoy the gentle cascading falls from a boardwalk and bridge, just a short walk from the parking lot on Gorge Parkway, near the Shawnee Hills Golf Course.
Lower Deerlick Creek Falls
Image from Flickr by Tim Evanson
Just a quarter-mile downstream from Bridal Veil Falls, you can find the 12-foot Lower Deerlick Creek Falls.
Follow the Buckeye Trail to the right after the bridge to find the falls. From there, you can follow the creek to see several more waterfalls.
Blue Hen Falls
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The hike to Blue Hen Falls is a three-mile round trip from the Boston Mill Visitor Center Parking Lot.
The trail can get plenty muddy after rain, but that’s also a great time to see the falls. Blue Hen is 15 feet tall, and beautiful year-round, but especially when frozen in the winter.
Buttermilk Falls
Image from Flickr by Vince Reinhart
If you don’t mind extending your Blue Hen Falls Hike, you could follow the creek downstream another half-mile to find the 30-foot Buttermilk Falls. Some say these are the most picturesque falls in the park.
There’s no official trail to Buttermilk Falls, but it’s so popular that locals have forged a trail of their own for you to follow.
Mudcatcher Falls
Mudcatcher Falls is actually a man-made waterfall, part of the old Ohio and Erie Canal.
People regularly dredged mud and sediment from the canal, and they built a Mudcatcher on the Gaulley Run Creek to prevent sediment from entering the canal.
After they abandoned the canals, the mudcatcher filled up, and now it presents a seasonal waterfall for visitors to enjoy.
You can find it on the Towpath Trail, less than half a mile north of the Station Road Bridge.
Twin Sister Falls
This is one of the more difficult waterfalls on this list to reach, but well worth the effort. To reach the Twin Sisters, you’ll first hike to Mudcatcher Falls.
Then, cross the canal on foot, climb up the bank, and follow Gaulley Run for about half a mile until you reach the narrow twin falls that drop 60 feet over a wall of shale.
Like Mudcatcher, these falls are only active seasonally or after a rainstorm. And it’s one of the only areas in the park where trillium wildflowers grow, so watch where you step.
Linda Falls
Yet another ephemeral fall, or a waterfall that only appears after it rains, the 20-foot Linda Falls can be found along the Buckeye Trail.
Park at the Alexander Road Trailhead for the Sagamore Creek Trail Loop and the Summit Metro Parks Bike and Hike Trail.
Follow the paved Bike and Hike Trail until you reach signs for Buckeye Trail and Linda Falls on the right.
You’ll find the falls about ¾ of a mile down the trail, which loops around the falls, so you can see it from both sides.
Final Thoughts
Blue Hen Falls/ Shutterstock Image
Cuyahoga Valley National Park's many waterfalls offer a fascinating journey through nature's wonders, from the tall beauty of Brandywine Falls to the calm charm of Bridal Veil Falls.
Exploring these hidden gems promises an adventure filled with stunning sights and peaceful moments amidst Ohio's wild beauty.
And for some extra fun and guidance, why not bring along Shaka Guide's audio tour? With its amazing stories and easy directions, it's sure to make your waterfall adventures even more enjoyable!
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Ready to take the tour? Check out Shaka Guide's Cuyahoga Valley National Park Tour!
We hope that we’ve given you all the information you need to make the most of your day. Your vacation is extremely important to us so if you have any questions feel free to reach out at aloha@shakaguide.com.
For more detailed information to help you plan, check out our Cuyahoga Valley National Park Itinerary and Know Before You Go article.
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