Step into a world of natural beauty and wonder, where you can discover the serene beauty of Cuyahoga Valley National Park or venture into the wilds of Katmai National Park & Preserve. These two parks offer vastly different landscapes and experiences, with Cuyahoga Valley providing a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, and Katmai offering a rugged frontier filled with glaciers, bears, and active volcanic peaks. Whether you’re seeking a peaceful hike or an adrenaline-fueled adventure, these two parks are sure to leave you in awe and inspire a deep appreciation for the great outdoors.
Hiking Trails in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Katmai National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) and Katmai National Park & Preserve offer a diverse range of hiking experiences. CVNP is known for its easy hikes such as the Ledges Trail, which features rock formations and scenic views, and the Buckeye Trail, a 2.5-mile stroll through wetlands. For more challenging hikes, CVNP offers the Brandywine Falls Trail and the Everett Covered Bridge Trail, both of which feature steep climbs through rugged terrain. At Katmai, the easiest hike is the Brooks River Trail, a 1.5-mile flat hike to Brooks Falls where you can observe bears fishing. The strenuous hikes include the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, a hike through a volcanic landscape, and the Valley of the Wild River, a remote 14-mile journey through challenging terrain.
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 Katmai National Park & Preserve
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooks Falls | 4667.086 | 63.7032 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Dumpling Mountain | 4828.02 | 225.8568 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
Wildlife in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Katmai National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio offers a diverse wildlife experience with deciduous forests and wetlands attracting a mix of animals like white-tailed deer, beavers, river otters, and black bears. Over 300 bird species have been recorded, such as Eastern Bluebird, Wood Duck, and Great Blue Heron. The park also showcases a variety of wildflowers, ferns, and other plants.
Katmai National Park & Preserve in Alaska is famous for its brown bear population, with over 2,200 found in the park. Other wildlife, including moose, caribou, wolves, and river otters can also be spotted. The park boasts a rich birdlife, including bald eagles, puffins, and sandhill cranes. Its diverse ecosystems, such as glaciers, valleys, and forests, support a range of vegetation including shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Katmai National Park & Preserve. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Katmai National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| 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 | Northern Flicker |
| Northern Flicker | Merlin |
| Merlin | Barn Swallow |
| Barn Swallow | Savannah Sparrow |
| Savannah Sparrow | Hermit Thrush |
| Great Blue Heron | American Kestrel |
| Hermit Thrush | Bald Eagle |
| American Kestrel | Song Sparrow |
| Bald Eagle | European Starling |
| Song Sparrow | Northern Pintail |
| European Starling | American Wigeon |
| Northern Pintail | Green-Winged Teal |
| American Wigeon | American Pipit |
| Green-Winged Teal | Swainson’s Thrush |
Mammals
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Katmai National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| American Beaver | American Beaver |
| Muskrat | Muskrat |
| Big Brown Bat | Little Brown Bat |
| Bobcat | Black Bear |
| Striped Skunk | Porcupine |
| Little Brown Bat | Red Fox |
| Deer Mouse | Mink |
| Raccoon | Gray Wolf |
| Silver-Haired Bat | Short-Tailed Weasel |
| Hoary Bat | Varying Hare |
| Red Fox | Northern River Otter |
| Long-Tailed Weasel | Masked Shrew |
| House Mouse | Red Squirrel |
| Mink | Montane Shrew |
| Gray Fox | Lynx |
| Badger | Wolverine |
| Masked Shrew | American Marten |
| Red Squirrel | Grizzly Bear |
| White-Tailed Deer | Meadow Vole |
| Virginia Opossum | Moose |
| Meadow Vole | Least Weasel |
| Red Bat | Pygmy Shrew |
| White-Footed Mouse | Meadow Jumping Mouse |
| Norway Rat | Northern Bog Lemming |
Amphibians
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Katmai National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | Wood Frog |
| Eastern Tiger Salamander | |
| Bullfrog | |
| Wood Frog |
Reptiles
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Katmai National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Racer | |
| Ring-Necked Snake | |
| Common Garter Snake | |
| Eastern Milk Snake | |
| Eastern Fence Lizard |
Insects
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Katmai National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulfur | |
| Painted Lady | |
| Monarch Butterfly | |
| American Painted Lady | |
| European Cabbage White | |
| Buckeye |
Fish
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Katmai National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Northern Largemouth Bass | Redband Trout |
| Green Sunfish | Longnose Sucker |
| Northern Bluegill Sunfish | Lake Trout |
| Northern Fathead Minnow | Northern Pike |
| Golden Shiner | Burbot |
| European Carp | Silver Salmon |
| Northern Pike | King Salmon |
| Eastern Burbot | Slimy Sculpin |
| Central Mottled Sculpin | Threespine Stickleback |
| Graceful Catfish | Sockeye Salmon |
| Black Crappie | Pink Salmon |
| Creek Chub | Chum Salmon |
| Goldfish | Dolly Varden |
| Arctic Grayling |
Beautiful Landscapes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Katmai National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley NP boasts rolling hills, scenic waterfalls & diverse landscape. Brandywine Falls (65ft) is one of Ohio’s most popular. The park has a scenic railway, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, offering great views.
Katmai NP is known for its brown bears, the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes (volcanic valley with steam vents, fumaroles), Brooks River (sockeye salmon runs & bear viewing), and Novarupta (a massive volcanic eruption which created the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes & now a large crater).
Things To-Do and Activities in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Katmai National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio offers scenic drives, fishing, birdwatching, and trails like the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath. Katmai National Park & Preserve in Alaska is famous for its brown bears, who come to Brooks River to feed on salmon. Visitors love to observe the bears, fish, kayak, and hike trails like Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes to view volcanic landscape. Both parks offer scenic views and outdoor activities, with Katmai’s draw being the unique opportunity to see brown bears in their habitat.
Best Time to Visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Katmai National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley NP in Ohio has four seasons with hot summers and cold winters. Mild temps and wildflowers in spring, and colorful foliage in fall make spring and fall the best time to visit. Katmai NP&P in Alaska has a subarctic climate with cool summers and harsh winters. Summer avg mid-50s, winter can drop below freezing. Best time to visit is summer to see brown bears fishing and enjoy milder weather for activities.
Family Friendliness of Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Katmai National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley NP offers family-friendly activities like Junior Ranger Program and bike trails, while Katmai NP is known for bear viewing but has limited activities for families. If traveling with kids, Cuyahoga Valley NP is the better choice due to its more extensive family activities.