The Ledges Trail

The Ledges Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park takes hikers into a unique ecosystem that is full of rich vegetation, pine trees, and beautiful rock formations. The 1.8 mile loop-trail is the perfect place to see the beauty that Cuyahoga Valley has to offer.  

The Ledges seen on the trail have been forming over the course of 410 million years. The bedrock was formed by multiple layers of sand and quartz pebbles that were deposited by ancient water sources, like streams and rivers.  The trail is full of fascinating geology and rich history, which makes the trial feel like you are walking back in time.

The start of the trail is a leisurely stroll through the woods. The woods quickly become thicker and more dense as the thin trees dissipate and are replaced by large, thick pine trees. The woods open up and the trail leads to the edge of the ledges, which have stairs carved into the rock that allow you to descend to the bottom of the plateau. The trail then follows along the bottom edge of the ledges.  Along the way you will find Ice Box Cave, which is a small cave that has formed in the rock (Ice Box Cave is currently closed to prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome to bats). The end of the hike has a large, panoramic view of the entire valley and is considered one of the best overlooks in the entire Cuyahoga Valley.  On any visit to Cuyahoga National Park, the Ledges is certainly a hike worth doing.