“Escape from the city life and immerse yourself in the wilderness, but where do you go? Two of America’s hidden gems, Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Isle Royale National Park, offer a unique outdoor experience brimming with scenic beauty, diverse wildlife, and adventure. While the former boasts rolling hills, scenic waterfalls, and historic railway, the latter lures visitors to its remote rugged wilderness with stunning lake vistas, diverse forests and a chance to spot wolves and moose. Whether you’re a hiker, camper, or simply a nature lover, these two national parks offer a chance to explore, discover, and connect with the great outdoors. So, pack your bags and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey, but the question remains, which park will you choose? ”
Hiking Trails in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Isle Royale National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Isle Royale National Park offer diverse hiking experiences. Cuyahoga Valley is known for its scenic trails and waterfalls, including the 1.5-mile Brandywine Falls trail and the challenging 6-mile Ledges Trail. Isle Royale, located on a remote island in Lake Superior, offers a true wilderness experience with rugged hikes, including the 13-mile Minong Ridge Trail and 4-mile Greenstone Ridge Trail. Isle Royale also offers the 2-mile Rock Harbor Lighthouse Trail, a relatively easy hike. Both parks provide unique hiking opportunities, but hikers should be prepared for varying levels of difficulty depending on the chosen trail.
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 Isle Royale National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenstone Ridge Trail: Windigo to Tobin Harbor | 63568.93 | 1216.7616 | Hard | point to point | 4 |
| Rainbow Cove Trail | 2253.076 | 21.9456 | Easy | out and back | 5 |
| Malone Bay to Hatchett Lake | 37658.556 | 664.7688 | Moderate | out and back | 0 |
| Ishpeming Trail to Ishpeming Point | 23496.364 | 339.852 | Moderate | out and back | 0 |
Wildlife in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Isle Royale National Park
Cuyahoga Valley NP in Ohio features wildlife such as white-tailed deer, beavers, river otters, muskrats & coyotes. It boasts over 300 bird species including hooded warbler, cerulean warbler, & Louisiana waterthrush. Park also has a diverse range of plants like wildflowers, ferns & tallest stand of eastern hardwoods. Isle Royale NP in Michigan is known for its moose population & the co-existence of moose & wolves, which is rare in the US. The park also has common loon & bald eagle among its bird species & a unique plant community of boreal forest, wildflowers & lichens.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Isle Royale National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Isle Royale 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 | Isle Royale National Park |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| American Beaver | American Beaver |
| Muskrat | Muskrat |
| Big Brown Bat | Big Brown Bat |
| Bobcat | Striped Skunk |
| Striped Skunk | Little Brown Bat |
| Little Brown Bat | Deer Mouse |
| Deer Mouse | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Raccoon | Hoary Bat |
| Silver-Haired Bat | Red Fox |
| Hoary Bat | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| Red Fox | Mink |
| Long-Tailed Weasel | Gray Wolf |
| House Mouse | Short-Tailed Weasel |
| Mink | Snowshoe Hare |
| Gray Fox | North American River Otter |
| Badger | Canada Lynx |
| Masked Shrew | Marten |
| Red Squirrel | Moose |
| White-Tailed Deer | Red Bat |
| Virginia Opossum | Norway Rat |
| Meadow Vole | Southern Red-Backed Vole |
| Red Bat | Northern Long-Eared Bat |
| White-Footed Mouse | |
| Norway Rat |
Amphibians
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Isle Royale National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | Northern Leopard Frog |
| Eastern Tiger Salamander | Wood Frog |
| Bullfrog | |
| Wood Frog |
Reptiles
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Isle Royale National Park |
|---|---|
| Racer | |
| Ring-Necked Snake | |
| Common Garter Snake | |
| Eastern Milk Snake | |
| Eastern Fence Lizard |
Insects
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Isle Royale National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulfur | |
| Painted Lady | |
| Monarch Butterfly | |
| American Painted Lady | |
| European Cabbage White | |
| Buckeye |
Fish
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Isle Royale National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Largemouth Bass | Redband Trout |
| Green Sunfish | Coaster Brook Trout |
| Northern Bluegill Sunfish | Brown Trout |
| Northern Fathead Minnow | Longnose Sucker |
| Golden Shiner | Harvey Lake Fathead Minnow |
| European Carp | Golden Shiner |
| Northern Pike | Lake Trout |
| Eastern Burbot | Northern Pike |
| Central Mottled Sculpin | Ellpout |
| Graceful Catfish | Coho Salmon |
| Black Crappie | Chinook Salmon |
| Creek Chub | Mottled Sculpin |
| Goldfish | Slimy Sculpin |
| Longnose Dace | |
| Black Crappie | |
| Pink Salmon | |
| Creek Chub |
Beautiful Landscapes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Isle Royale National Park
Cuyahoga Valley NP features rolling hills, lush forests & winding rivers. Notable landscapes include Ledges Overlook with valley views, 65ft Brandywine Falls, and Beaver Marsh wetland with diverse wildlife.
Isle Royale NP boasts rugged beauty on a Lake Superior island. The 40-mile Greenstone Ridge trail offers views of lake & forests, Tobin Harbor is home to waterfowl, & Rock Harbor Lighthouse offers lake & island views.
Things To-Do and Activities in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Isle Royale National Park
Cuyahoga Valley NP is a popular destination for outdoor recreation, offering activities such as biking, fishing, kayaking, and bird watching. Isle Royale NP, located in Lake Superior, is known for backpacking, camping, fishing, and scientific research on the relationship between wolves and moose. Cuyahoga is easily accessible with developed facilities while Isle Royale offers a rugged wilderness experience.
Best Time to Visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Isle Royale National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio experiences warm summers (mid-70s to low-80s) & cool winters (20s to low-30s) with moderate rainfall throughout the year and highest in spring/summer. Isle Royale National Park in Michigan has a subarctic climate with cool summers (mid-50s to low-60s) & cold winters (below freezing) with moderate to heavy snowfall in winter & light to moderate rainfall in summer. Best time to visit Cuyahoga Valley is spring/fall (mild temperatures, lush vegetation) & Isle Royale is summer (warmer, accessible by boat). Winter visits to Isle Royale only recommended for experienced backcountry travelers.
Family Friendliness of Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Isle Royale National Park
Cuyahoga Valley is a better choice for families due to its accessibility and variety of activities like picnicking, hiking, and ranger programs. Isle Royale is more rugged with limited amenities and access, making it less suitable for families with young children.