Trails will be temporarily closed between Red Lock Trailhead and Brandywine Creek from Monday, March 3, to Friday, May 2, 2025 for installation of a new Brandywine Creek culvert. No detour is available.
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All Aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad! The National Park Scenic excursion is a unique way to experience all the natural wonder Cuyahoga Valley National Park has to offer. Sit back and relax as the train weaves through the Cuyahoga Valley and races along with the rushing Cuyahoga River. The route provides passengers the opportunity to possibly spot eagles, deer, beavers, and herons in their natural habitat.
Visit Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad's website for tickets and detailed trip planning information. Rockside and Akron Northside are the primary stations. Schedules vary seasonally. Passengers can choose from a variety of seating options including coach, table top, and executive class. Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad also offers group rates, private charters, and special events.
Shuttle Using CVSR Explorer
During certain seasons, you can bike or hike the Towpath Trail or paddle the river in one direction, and ride the train back to where you started. Visit the CVSR website for more information about this program.
The Explorer program season is typically June 1 to October 31. The train can be flagged down at boarding stations by waving both arms over your head. Get to the station 10 minutes before departure time. You can catch the train at the following stations:
Station
Address
Distance
*Rockside
7900 Old Rockside Rd, Independence 44131
1.75 miles to Canal Exploration Center
Canal Exploration Center
7104 Canal Road, Valley View 44125
4.5 miles to Brecksville
*Brecksville
9141 Riverview Road, Brecksville 44141
4.25 miles to Boston Mill
*Boston Mill
6947 Riverview Road, Peninsula, the intersection of Boston Mills and Riverview Roads, 44264
2.5 miles to Peninsula
*Peninsula Depot
1630 Mill Street, Peninsula 44264
4 miles to Indigo Lake
Indigo Lake
4300 Riverview Road, Peninsula 44264
3 miles to Botzum
Botzum
2928 Riverview Road, Akron 44067
6.5 miles to Akron Northside
Akron Northside
27 Ridge Street, Akron 44236
Akron Northside is the last station on the southbound route
*Stations with an asterisk are near river access sites.
Know your destination before you get on the train; bikes are arranged by stops. Use the CVSR's Train Tracker App to keep track of the train.
The history of trains in the Cuyahoga Valley stretches back more than 100 years. In 1880, the Valley Railway began operations, transporting coal to Cleveland, Akron, and Canton from the Tuscarawas River Valley. It also provided passenger service. For people living in the industrial cities, leisure excursions into the countryside provided relief from the pressures, pollution, and crowding of urban life.
After a decade of operation, the Valley Railway became part of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. In the 1900s, competition from automobiles, trucks, and buses caused the decline of both freight and passenger service. Interest in the line was renewed in 1972 as a scenic excursion route. The Cuyahoga Valley Preservation and Scenic Railway Association was born. Originally known as the Cuyahoga Valley Line, the scenic railroad now operates as Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
Since the 1830s rail travel has shaped the sights, sounds, and experiences of the nation. In 1880 Valley Railway Company brought railroading to the Cuyahoga Valley, forever changing the area and those who called it home. Memories continue to be built everyday as passengers climb aboard Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad to experience historic rail travel through Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
By the 1850s, as the nation's borders expanded and the population exploded, railroads began to replace canals and riverboats as the way of moving people and goods more efficiently. The railway evolved into a part of everyday life for residents throughout Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley. The Cuyahoga Valley Railway served as the primary source of rail transportation for the Valley from 1871 to 1915, eventually replaced by alternative methods of shipping and passenger transportation.
Passengers in the Cleveland area can catch the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad at Rockside Station. This also provides overflow parking for visitors accessing the Towpath Trail and the Cuyahoga River Water Trail at Lock 39 Trailhead. The station has ample parking and is a primary starting point for train excursions and events.
Brecksville Station is a flag stop for Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. It is located at Station Road Bridge Trailhead, which offers ample parking. Passengers can get on and off the train as part of combination trail-train adventure. The train provides a one-way shuttle service for bicyclists, runners, hikers, and paddlers using the Towpath, Buckeye, or Cuyahoga River Water trails.
Boston Mill Station is a Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad flag stop. Passengers can get off the train to visit Boston Mill Visitor Center, the pedestrian friendly village of Boston, and nearby trails. Bicyclists, runners, hikers, and paddlers can access the train’s one-way shuttle service to create a trail-train adventure.
The Peninsula Depot is an original station from the historic Valley Railway. Today it serves as a ticketing office and boarding location for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad passengers can get on and off the train at Indigo Lake Station. Connector trails lead west to Hale Farm & Village and east to the Towpath Trail. The railroad coordinates a shuttle ride to Hale Farm & Village with select train excursions. Nearby parking is limited.
Passengers using Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s shuttle service for bicyclists, runners, and hikers can get on and off the train at Botzum Station. This station is located near the southern edge of Cuyahoga Valley National Park adjacent to the Towpath Trail. Botzum Trailhead offers ample parking nearby.
Passengers in the Akron area can catch Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad at Akron Northside Station. The station has ample parking and is a primary starting point for train excursions and events into the national park. The station is on a bus line and within walking distance of shopping, dining, and the Towpath Trail.
