Rock Places

Stony is a scenic stop on most Denali transit buses (except for Toklat-bound buses, which turn around before Stony) and on some Denali tour buses. It is the first base-to-summit view of North America's tallest peak, and is an iconic view for visitors to Denali. 

The striking rock cliffs of the Ledges are a primary feature of Virginia Kendall Park, developed in the 1930s. Use this trailhead to access a 1.8-mile trail that circles the Ledges, a rentable shelter, a giant grassy playfield, and many wooded picnic sites.

Access two of the interconnected trails in Virginia Kendall Park from the Pine Grove Trailhead. The 1.8-mile Ledges Trail circles around a sandstone outcrop with towering cliffs. The 2.2-mile Pine Grove Trail wanders through areas with planted pine trees and along the edge of wooded ravines. Both trails are relatively flat with uneven surfaces.

Explore the power and beauty of the 60-foot Brandywine Falls from this location. Extend your visit by walking the 1.4-mile Brandywine Gorge Loop or 1.5-mile Stanford Trail. The trailhead also provides access to Summit Metro Parks’ Bike & Hike Trail.

The wrought-iron Station Road Bridge was built over the Cuyahoga River in 1881. It provided vehicle access to the Cuyahoga Valley Line at Brecksville Station. This train station and its bridge were a vital link between Cuyahoga and Summit counties, improving travel between Cleveland and Akron. Today, the bridge serves hikers, horseback riders, and cyclists. Two exhibit panels interpret the Pinery Narrows bridges and the Cuyahoga River.

The Susquehanna Museum of Havre de Grace (aka the Lock House Museum) is the museum of the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal located in Havre de Grace, MD at the mouth of the Susquehanna River. the museum preserves and explores the significance of the canal through historical exhibits, guided tours, and scenic trails.

The Ledges Overlook provides an expansive view of the Cuyahoga Valley. From here, visitors can appreciate how the park protects a large tract of natural open space between the cities of Akron and Cleveland. The scenery is stunning in any season.

The Ledges create a high point in the valley uplands. Learn the basics of their geology at the Ritchie Ledges wayside. It describes how periodically fast-moving streams flowed through a steamy swamp about 315-320 million years ago. The streams brought sand and pebbles that formed the Sharon Sandstone and Conglomerate rock that we see today.

These stairs blend well into the Ledges rock. The National Park Service has long credited the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) as their builder. The CCC famously used local resources in ways that fit in the landscape. New evidence suggests stairs existed prior to the CCC. The Plain Dealer published an article about the Ledges in 1906 with a photo of very similar stairs. Mr. Thompson owned a nearby farm. Future research might answer whether he built the original stairs.