Traveling With a Dog: Cuyahoga Valley National Park
I had never heard of Cuyahoga until I was researching places to go with my dog, Reese. After I found it, it seemed like it was all I heard about. Every time I mentioned to someone that I wanted to take Reese to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, their immediate response was that I had to take her, and it is absolutely wonderful there. From gorgeous scenery to peaceful hikes, all I heard were rave reviews, and everyone knew about and loved this place but me. So, right away, I got to planning so I could join the crowd.
Because Cuyahoga Valley National Park is right outside of Cleveland, it is convenient, easy to get to, and easy to navigate. Being only two to two and a half hours away from Pittsburgh, it was perfect for a weekend trip for Reese, my mom, and me. We left on a Saturday morning and came back on a Sunday evening, and to be honest, by the end of our busy and hiking-busy trip, we were ready to come home.
Since we only had two days in Cuyahoga, we booked our trip and made a full itinerary to ensure we didn’t miss anything. This itinerary can be rearranged for easy navigation and proximity, but ours was organized to make sure Reese didn’t get too tired on the trip and had as much success in her hiking endeavors as possible. Off we go!
Reese at Tru by Hilton Cleveland Midtown.
Where to Stay
If you know me or follow Reese on Instagram, you know we love Tru by Hilton. Every time we go to a new city, we always find the nearest Tru by Hilton to stay at. This was our first time at Tru by Hilton Cleveland Midtown, and it was phenomenal. It was one of the top three that we have ever stayed at. Since it is a chain, some people may be thinking, “Aren’t they all the same?” and that is where you are wrong.
Tru by Hilton Cleveland Midtown had fantastic service, every Tru by Hilton signature item, the breakfast was fully stocked, the beds were amazing, and even while it was in Cleveland, there was free parking. To get the most out of your stay, I recommend making a free Hilton Honors account and choosing the non-refundable option at checkout to save money. Dogs are $50 to $75 per stay (not per night), and if you have a service dog, they are free of charge.
If they are booked, this is Cleveland! There are so many hotels to choose from. If you are going the cabin/camping route, best of luck to you. I’ve personally never taken Reese camping since I am not sure how she would acclimate, but there are camping sites nearby, like Woodside Lake Park and Valley Overlook.
Where to Hike
During this trip, Reese hiked almost 12 miles! This is very easy to adjust if your dog is looking for something a little lighter, and there are many dog-friendly hikes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park if you are looking to go a little longer. To speak to what I know, I will only be writing about the hikes that we did, one of them being a little bit outside of the park, but very worth it.
Day 1
Reese and I at Beaver Marsh.
Beaver Marsh (2.1 miles - easy):
Beaver Marsh is connected to a longer trail for bikes and walkers, and it is very stunning. If you are looking for a casual walk with great scenery, you’ve found it here. We walked on Beaver Marsh for 2.1 miles, and it was a there-and-back walk rather than a loop. You have the possibility of seeing so much wildlife while you are there as well. We only saw toads, turtles, and birds, but you also may see otters, beavers, and many different types of birds, such as herons. This trail took us about an hour, and I recommend it to start your trip.
Waterfall on Brandywine Gorge Trail.
Brandywine Gorge Trail (1.77 miles - moderate):
This trail is ranked moderate, and while I do agree, I think it’s only a step up from easy. I would rank it somewhere in the middle, but it is not leaning towards hard, so if you’re looking for a small challenge, Brandywine Gorge Trail should be on your list. This is also where you will find one of the most amazing and picturesque waterfalls in the park. We went after a week of rain, so it was really flowing and extra pretty. There were a lot of people and you had to fight for parking, but it’s the most popular trail, so that is expected. You can also make this trail longer by adding on additional loops, but the 1.77 miles took us about an hour to complete and was the perfect length for an afternoon.
Reese on the Furnace Run trail.
Furnace Run (2.05 miles - moderate):
I was very excited about this hike, and it ended up being a nightmare, so learn from my mistakes and do this hike anyway! This hike starts with the historical bridge, and then you’re in the forest for the rest of it. I did not bring or put on any bug spray, and while it’s never helped me, I wish I had just to say that I tried. If you are going to go on this trail, absolutely cover yourself in bug spray, or you will be attacked. That being said, if there weren’t bugs all over me, this trail would have been fantastic, and I recommend it for those looking for something serene with low foot traffic and a lot of greenery. On the way down from the incline, there is a hill of steps, so if you aren’t good with steps, I would say skip this one.
Day 2
Reese and I at Viaduct Park.
Viaduct Park (1.0 mile - easy):
This was supposed to be shorter than a mile, but from going up and down to the water repeatedly, we bumped our distance up to a mile. It was originally supposed to be 0.6 miles, but I really recommend going down to the rocks if you are able to, so you can see the waterfalls closer up. While I say this, there are a lot of signs around about what not to do, so be respectful of the park rules as well. This was the only hike we did outside of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, but starting day two with waterfalls and an easier hike was a great way to begin. We spent about 35 minutes here, and it was very worth the stop.
Reese crossing a bridge on Pine Grove Trail.
Pine Grove Trail (2.36 miles - easy):
To me, this was a very similar trail to Furnace Run, but it was ranked easy instead of moderate. For those not looking to have a larger elevation gain on their hike but still want to walk through the forest, I would suggest this one instead. The greenery was gorgeous, there were fewer bugs (but they were definitely still there, so wear bug spray), and even while being a longer trail, it only took us 50 minutes to walk through. This trail is very kid-friendly and dog-friendly, with a massive parking lot for easy access. It is half a there-and-back trail and half a loop trail with small bridges and offers the opportunity to see and hear beautiful wildlife.
Reese in front of the lake on Kendall Lake Loop.
Kendall Lake Loop (1.82 miles - easy):
Out of all the trails that we went on, this was the one I was most surprised by. It combined the scenery of the forest with the peacefulness of the lake. While there were other people there, no one was being loud, and everyone was just enjoying the water and view. There were so many beautiful flowers, plants, and different environments along this hike, which gave a completely different experience than our other walks. They also have nice benches to sit on while you’re there, as well as clean bathrooms. This is a great trail to finish your trip on, and it only took 50 minutes.
Where to Go
One thing to note is that the Visitor Center at Cuyahoga Valley National Park is awesome. It has so many cute and different gifts, either for yourself or for someone else, and it is very well kept. There are interactive, informational areas for children, or adults, and the employees are very nice as well.
We went to the Boston Mill Visitor Center, where you can also get on the train, but dogs are not allowed on the train, so we drove everywhere. They have very clean bathrooms here, as well as big rocks and benches to sit on outside. This is also where the park sign is, if you would like to get a picture with it. The Visitor Center is surrounded by flowers and is also right next to a big bridge. To get to the other park store, you simply walk across the bridge, and you’re there.
The employee called this store the “Boston Store,” but on my Apple Maps, it is called “Trail Mix.” Here is where you will find even more National Park gifts, fresh ice cream, drinks, food, and B.A.R.K. Ranger tags! They were out when we went, but you can also go to their online store and order one from there.
As for food options around the park, there are plenty. Anything that you are in the mood for, you will be able to find around the park, due to it being by the city and in the middle of towns. When planning for your trip, food options are the one thing that I would say you don’t have to plan for or stress about at all. Everything is right there for you!
Full Itinerary
Everyone’s trips look different and can be adjusted to best fit their furry companion, but I hope this gave a base outline for a great trip by itself! For our full itinerary, including driving time, please see below. We hope to see you on our next trip!
Our full Cuyahoga Valley National Park itinerary.
