Cuyahoga Valley

Winter Fun

People walking up a sledding hill on a sunny snowy day.
Enjoy sledding at Kendall Hills this winter.

NPS / Ted Toth

Cuyahoga Valley is a great place to visit during winter, whether or not there is snow. Our hiking trails remain open year round. Some animals are active in the winter months, so be sure to bring your camera. Beginning in late December, you can borrow snowshoes from Boston Mill Visitor Center when there is at least four inches of snow on the ground. Call ahead to find out if snowshoe rental is available. Check the calendar search tool below to see what's happening in the park.

Things To Do

 
Three people in winter coats and gloves smile as they ride down a snowy hill on a wooden toboggan.
Winter Sports in Cuyahoga Valley

Explore some of the ways to experience winter in the national park.

A yellow and red train comes around a bend through leafy green trees.
Scenic Train Ride

Discover the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, a unique way to travel through the park.

A band plays on stage at Happy Days Lodge.
Music & Arts

Experience music and art year-round in the valley!

A young girl in a pink coat standing on a path looks off to the right through a pair of binoculars
Junior Ranger, Jr. Online Activities

Explore nature inside and outside the home with these wildlife activities for children ages 3 - 6.

An illustration of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Junior Ranger badge in the shape of a shield
Junior Ranger Online Activities

Find fun Junior Ranger activities you can do at home or before visiting Cuyahoga Valley National Park, for children ages 7 - 12.

 
Four kids coloring at a table.

NPS/Erich Schnack

Ugly Sweater Challenge

Get the whole family involved and use our Ugly Sweater template to design your own #CVNPUglySweater. Make your sweater Cuyahoga Valley themed or just have fun with your design. Tag us if you post your artwork on social media.

 
Winter scene made of gingerbread and icing. Railroad tracks and a river run under two arches of a high road bridge, shown in the background. A yellow train station is left the tracks. To the right, a smaller silver truss bridge spans the river in the midd
Station Road Bridge as a gingerbread wonderland.

Conservancy for CVNP/Kelly McGreal

Great NPS Bake Off

Check out the gingerbread landscape created by Kelly McGreal of the Conservancy. This scene celebrates a milestone in the Cuyahoga River's recovery. In May 2022, scientists caught the first bigmouth buffalo ever recorded in Akron. This native fish is rare in Ohio. It can live more than a 100 years and reach nearly 80 pounds. This bigmouth buffalo was able to migrate upstream from Lake Erie to Akron because of the Brecksville Diversion Dam removal in 2020.

This dam used to divert water into the Ohio & Erie Canal near the historic Station Road Bridge, shown in sparkling silver. Once so polluted that it burned at least 13 times, the Cuyahoga River now supports diverse wildlife, including bald eagles and river otters. Explore the Station Road Bridge area in person or virtually.

You can take part in the #NPSBakeOff during December. Create your own park design or make your own gingerbread bigmouth buffalo using our gingerbread template. Post your decorated cookies or cake on social media and tag us.

 
A person holding a bigmouth buffalo fish. A person holding a bigmouth buffalo fish.

Left image
Bigmouth buffalo caught and released by scientists in the Cuyahoga River.
Credit: NPS/Ryan Trimbath

Right image
Gingerbread bigmouth buffalo created by Ranger Arrye.
Credit: NPS/Arrye Rosser

 
A red train depot decorated with garland and red bows.
Check out the holiday decorations in Peninsula and Boston.

NPS/Bob Trinnes

Visit the Villages of Boston and Peninsula

Get your holiday shopping done in the villages of Boston and Peninsula. Find the Conservancy stores and other local small businesses. Or take a stroll through the villages to look at some holiday decorations.
 

Event Calendar

Click on the day you are visiting to see what events are happening. Or filter the calendar using by event type or through the search bar. Days with events will have an orange dot.
 

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Last updated: December 3, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

15610 Vaughn Road
Brecksville, OH 44141

Phone:

440 717-3890

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