Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Indiana Dunes National Park are two of America’s most contrasting parks. From the lush forests of Cuyahoga Valley to the dynamic sand dunes of Indiana Dunes, each park offers a unique adventure waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re seeking a serene stroll through nature or an action-packed day on the lakeshore, these parks have something for every type of outdoor enthusiast. So buckle up and get ready to immerse yourself in the beauty of two of America’s most diverse national parks.
Hiking Trails in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Indiana Dunes National Park
Cuyahoga Valley NP and Indiana Dunes NP both offer scenic hiking trails. CVNP trails range from easy river walks to difficult incline hikes. A popular easy trail is Ledges Trail, a 1.5-mile loop through a sandstone gorge with river views. The strenuous Buckeye Trail is a 14-mile hike through a variety of terrains. On the other hand, Indiana Dunes NP features easy beach walks and challenging hikes through dunes and along the beach. The Dunes Succession Trail is a 0.6-mile loop through various habitats, while the strenuous Mount Tom Trail is a 2.5-mile hike to the top of a large dune with panoramic views of Lake Michigan.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ledges Trail | 4184.284 | 46.9392 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Brandywine Gorge Trail | 2735.878 | 65.8368 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Stanford House to Brandywine Falls Trail | 6115.492 | 162.7632 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Blue Hen Falls Trail | 804.67 | 23.7744 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Salt Run Trail | 6759.228 | 123.7488 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Plateau Trail | 7081.096 | 96.9264 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Pine Grove Trail and Ledges Trail Loop from Kendall Lake | 6115.492 | 98.7552 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Buckeye Trail to Valley Bridle Trail Loop | 5471.756 | 119.7864 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Wetmore Bridle Trail | 7563.898 | 169.7736 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail: Brecksville Station | 7081.096 | 20.7264 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Indiana Dunes National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowles Bog Trail | 6920.162 | 64.9224 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Little Calumet River Trail Loop | 6276.426 | 50.9016 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
| West Beach Loop with Scallop Dunes and Long Lake Trail | 5471.756 | 78.9432 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
| Dune Succession and West Beach Walk | 4345.218 | 43.8912 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| West Beach Loop | 1770.274 | 28.956 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Miller Woods Trail | 6115.492 | 40.8432 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Dune Ridge Trail | 1448.406 | 26.8224 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
| Tolleston Dunes | 5149.888 | 52.7304 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
| Beach Trail to Waverly Beach | 1609.34 | 5.7912 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Indiana’s Lake Michigan Shoreline Scenic Drive | 35083.612 | 84.7344 | Moderate | point to point | 3.5 |
Wildlife in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Indiana Dunes National Park
Cuyahoga Valley NP (Ohio) and Indiana Dunes NP (Indiana) offer diverse wildlife experiences. Cuyahoga features diverse forests and wetlands, with common sightings of white-tailed deer, beaver, otter, and muskrat. It’s also a haven for bird species such as great blue herons, wood ducks, and the endangered Indiana bat. Meanwhile, Indiana Dunes is located on Lake Michigan’s southern shore and showcases sand dunes, forests, wetlands, and prairies. Visitors may spot coyotes, foxes, and the endangered eastern massasauga rattlesnake. The park’s a popular birdwatching destination, too, with species like the piping plover, common tern, and the bald eagle. Indiana Dunes also showcases diverse plant life, incl. the federally endangered Pitcher’s thistle and the state-endangered beach layia.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Indiana Dunes National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Indiana Dunes National Park |
|---|---|
| Peregrine Falcon | Peregrine Falcon |
| Northern Harrier | Northern Harrier |
| Sharp-Shinned Hawk | Sharp-Shinned Hawk |
| Osprey | Osprey |
| Tree Swallow | Tree Swallow |
| Mallard | Mallard |
| Canada Goose | Canada Goose |
| Lincoln’s Sparrow | Lincoln’s Sparrow |
| Ruby-Crowned Kinglet | Ruby-Crowned Kinglet |
| American Robin | American Robin |
| Great Horned Owl | Great Horned Owl |
| Red-Tailed Hawk | Red-Tailed Hawk |
| Northern Flicker | Northern Flicker |
| Merlin | Merlin |
| Barn Swallow | Barn Swallow |
| Savannah Sparrow | Savannah Sparrow |
| Great Blue Heron | Great Blue Heron |
| Hermit Thrush | Hermit Thrush |
| American Kestrel | American Kestrel |
| Bald Eagle | Bald Eagle |
| Song Sparrow | Song Sparrow |
| European Starling | European Starling |
| Northern Pintail | Northern Pintail |
| American Wigeon | American Wigeon |
| Green-Winged Teal | Green-Winged Teal |
Mammals
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Indiana Dunes National Park |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| American Beaver | American Beaver |
| Muskrat | Muskrat |
| Big Brown Bat | Big Brown Bat |
| Bobcat | Bobcat |
| Striped Skunk | Striped Skunk |
| Little Brown Bat | Little Brown Bat |
| Deer Mouse | Deer Mouse |
| Raccoon | Raccoon |
| Silver-Haired Bat | Black Bear |
| Hoary Bat | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Red Fox | Hoary Bat |
| Long-Tailed Weasel | Red Fox |
| House Mouse | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| Mink | House Mouse |
| Gray Fox | Mink |
| Badger | Gray Fox |
| Masked Shrew | North American River Otter |
| Red Squirrel | Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat |
| White-Tailed Deer | White-Tailed Deer |
| Virginia Opossum | Virginia Opossum |
| Meadow Vole | Eastern Red Bat |
| Red Bat | White-Footed Mouse |
| White-Footed Mouse | Norway Rat |
| Norway Rat | Eastern Cottontail |
Amphibians
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Indiana Dunes National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | Bullfrog |
| Eastern Tiger Salamander | |
| Bullfrog | |
| Wood Frog |
Reptiles
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Indiana Dunes National Park |
|---|---|
| Racer | |
| Ring-Necked Snake | |
| Common Garter Snake | |
| Eastern Milk Snake | |
| Eastern Fence Lizard |
Insects
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Indiana Dunes National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulfur | |
| Painted Lady | |
| Monarch Butterfly | |
| American Painted Lady | |
| European Cabbage White | |
| Buckeye |
Fish
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Indiana Dunes National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Largemouth Bass | Largemouth Bass |
| Green Sunfish | Green Sunfish |
| Northern Bluegill Sunfish | Bluegill |
| Northern Fathead Minnow | Fathead Minnow |
| Golden Shiner | Golden Shiner |
| European Carp | European Carp |
| Northern Pike | Yellow Bullhead |
| Eastern Burbot | Graceful Catfish |
| Central Mottled Sculpin | Black Crappie |
| Graceful Catfish | Black Bullhead |
| Black Crappie | Mosquitofish |
| Creek Chub | Creek Chub |
| Goldfish | Brown Bullhead |
| Goldfish | |
| Smallmouth Bass |
Beautiful Landscapes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Indiana Dunes National Park
Cuyahoga Valley NP is famous for rolling hills, scenic river, waterfalls, and scenic views. Landmarks incl. Brandywine Falls, Ledges Trail, Cuyahoga River.
Indiana Dunes NP, on Lake Michigan’s southern shore, boasts natural beauty incl. sandy beaches, towering sand dunes, diverse ecosystems and wildlife. Scenic overlooks incl. Mount Tom Overlook offering panoramic views.
Things To-Do and Activities in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Indiana Dunes National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio and Indiana Dunes National Park in Indiana offer different outdoor experiences to visitors. At Cuyahoga Valley, activities include scenic railway rides, fishing, boating, visiting historic sites/museums, birdwatching, and wildlife viewing. Indiana Dunes, on the other hand, is a destination for water activities such as swimming, sunbathing, beachcombing, biking, camping and nature photography, especially of its unique natural formations like sand dunes and wetlands.
Best Time to Visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Indiana Dunes National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio) and Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana) differ in seasonal weather affecting their visitor experiences. CVNP has moderate temperature with hot summers (mid-70s-low-80s) & cold winters (mid-20s-low-30s). IDNP has humid continental climate with hot, humid summers (mid-80s-90s) & cold winters (mid-20s-low-30s) with highest rainfall in summer. Best time to visit CVNP is spring/fall for its lush greenery, waterfalls, & mild temperatures. Best time to visit IDNP is spring/fall for comfortable temperature, accessible diverse ecosystems & scenic beaches.
Family Friendliness of Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Indiana Dunes National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio and Indiana Dunes National Park in Indiana both offer families plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities, but they vary in their specific offerings. Cuyahoga Valley has scenic trains and hikes, while Indiana Dunes boasts sandy beaches and dune formations. Both parks have educational programs and campsites, however, Indiana Dunes has more extensive beach activities such as swimming, fishing and boating. If traveling with children, Indiana Dunes may be a better choice for its variety of water activities and sandy beaches.