Trail notes
- Sledding is available at Kendall Hills on Quick Road in Peninsula when there is snow, with parking at Pine Hollow, Crow Foot Gully and Little Meadow.
- Pets are prohibited at Kendall Hills during sledding activities, the National Park Service says.
- Ice thickness is not monitored for ice fishing in the park; the park says ice fishing is at your own risk.
Winter in Cleveland, Ohio, can feel long, and the cheapest cure is to get outside in it. Cuyahoga Valley National Park stays open every day of the year, its entry is free, and a good snowfall turns its hills and trails into a winter playground. You do not need a lift ticket or special gear for most of it: a sled, warm boots and a thermos will do.
Before you go: check the lots
The park’s winter page advises checking its current conditions page before a visit to see which parking lots are likely to be plowed. Winter hours at Boston Mill Visitor Center can also be shorter than the core 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule. And remember the dusk closures: Kendall Hills, the Ledges, Brandywine Falls and a few other areas close from dusk until morning.
Sledding at Kendall Hills
The park’s sledding area is Kendall Hills on Quick Road in Peninsula, about one mile east of Akron Peninsula Road. Park at the Pine Hollow, Crow Foot Gully or Little Meadow lots. Some slopes are closed to sledding to keep sleds off the cross-country ski trails, so watch for posted areas. Pets are not allowed at Kendall Hills during sledding.
The park lists a handful of sledding safety rules that are worth reading with kids before the first run:
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Steer clear of wooded areas to avoid hitting a tree.
- Avoid snow-covered bumps, ruts, branches and icy patches.
- If someone has built a ramp, report it to a ranger or volunteer; ramps can cause serious accidents.
- Walk back up away from people sledding down.
- If you get too cold, warm up at the campfire or return to your car.
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing
When there is enough snow, the park suggests specific trails. Snowshoers and hikers should yield to skiers and stay out of ski tracks.
| Trail | Length | Good for | Notes from the park |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ledges Field | Open field | Skiing | Large, flat field next to Ledges Shelter; excellent for beginners |
| Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail | 19.7 miles | Skiing | Easy, many access points; Hunt House to Peninsula is especially scenic |
| Oak Hill Trail | 1.4 miles | Skiing, snowshoeing | Easy-to-moderate loop past a pond |
| Tree Farm Trail | 2.75 miles | Skiing, snowshoeing | Easy-to-moderate; fields, rolling hills and conifer stands |
| Cross Country Trail | 2.5 miles | Skiing, snowshoeing | Intermediate to difficult, several steep hills |
| Pine Grove Trail | 3.5 miles | Snowshoeing | Moderately strenuous, some drainage steps |
| Plateau Trail | 4.6-mile loop | Skiing, snowshoeing | Moderately strenuous, two steep hills |
| Boston Run Trail | 3.5 miles | Skiing, snowshoeing | Advanced intermediate, steep terrain |
The park also mentions the Bike & Hike Trail along its eastern border, maintained by Summit Metro Parks, as straight and flat for skiing, with a favorite section running north from State Route 303.
Tip: If you are new to snowshoeing, start on Ledges Field or the Towpath. Flat ground lets you get used to the stride before trying hills.
The Ledges in ice
Over 125 miles of the park’s trails stay open for winter hiking. The park singles out the Ledges Trail as among the most scenic in winter because of the dramatic icicles that can form on the sandstone cliffs. It also asks visitors not to climb on the rocks and to stay back from the bluff edges. Footing on packed snow and ice can be treacherous, so traction devices that slip over boots make a real difference.
Brandywine Falls is another winter favorite when it freezes, though the boardwalk may close in icy conditions. More on the falls is in Brandywine Falls and Other Waterfalls Near Cleveland.
Winter hiking safety
The park’s own winter checklist is short and sensible: use caution where ice and packed snow make footing hazardous, check trail maps before heading into unfamiliar areas, and tell family or friends where you are going and when you expect to be back. Daylight is short in December and January, and several areas close at dusk, so start early.
- Dress in layers you can take off as you warm up on hills.
- Carry water even when it is cold; fountains are often shut off for the season.
- Bring a phone, but do not count on a strong signal in the valley.
- Ask at Boston Mill Visitor Center about borrowing hiking poles, which the park lends first come, first served.
Ice fishing: proceed with caution
The park’s lakes and ponds hold largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill, and some anglers fish through the ice. The park is clear that ice thickness is not monitored, thin spots can make ice unstable, and ice fishing is at your own risk. Fishing follows federal and state regulations, and the park encourages catch and release.
If you want downhill skiing
Downhill skiing and snow tubing are available at privately run ski areas inside the park’s boundaries, with equipment rental and lessons. Those cost money; everything else on this page is free. For a summer return trip, the same Towpath you skied is covered in A Towpath Trail Weekend: Biking and Walking the Old Canal Route.