Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Lake Clark National Park & Preserve offer a stunning contrast in landscapes and activities. While Cuyahoga Valley boasts rolling hills, scenic waterfalls, and a historic railway, Lake Clark in Alaska is a wild frontier with glaciers, active volcanoes, and abundant wildlife. Both parks provide opportunities for outdoor adventures, but with a completely different feel. Cuyahoga Valley is like a peaceful oasis in the heart of Ohio, while Lake Clark is an untamed wilderness waiting to be explored. Whether you’re in the mood for a leisurely hike or a heart-pumping kayaking trip, both of these parks are sure to leave you in awe. So, get ready to experience the beauty of nature like never before, as we take you on a journey through two of America’s most remarkable parks!
Hiking Trails in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Lake Clark National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Lake Clark National Park & Preserve are two stunning parks to explore on foot. In Cuyahoga Valley, there is a wide range of trails, from easy walks to strenuous hikes. One popular and relatively easy trail is the Ledges Trail, a 1.5-mile hike with rock formations and valley vistas. For a more challenging experience, the Buckeye Trail is a 20-mile trek through the park’s backcountry, showcasing diverse landscapes like beech-maple forests, wetlands, and hills. Meanwhile, Lake Clark National Park & Preserve boasts over 200 miles of trails and is sought after for its remote wilderness and abundant wildlife, making it a great location for backpacking and wilderness camping. The Telaquana Trail, a 6-mile hike through subalpine meadows, is one of the park’s easiest hikes, offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers. For those seeking a tougher challenge, the Rainbow Trail is a 22-mile hike through the backcountry, featuring glaciers, alpine tundra, and the park’s famous rainbow-colored mountains.
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 Lake Clark National Park & Preserve
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harding Ice Field Trail | 15610.598 | 1161.8976 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Exit Glacier Trail | 2896.812 | 81.9912 | Easy | out and back | 4.7 |
Wildlife in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Lake Clark National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio and Lake Clark National Park & Preserve in Alaska offer different wildlife experiences. Cuyahoga is known for white-tailed deer, beavers, muskrats, river otters, coyotes, over 200 bird species, and 50 species of reptiles/amphibians. Lake Clark is known for Alaskan brown bears, moose, caribou, wolves, common loon, trumpeter swan, bald eagle, fish like salmon and Arctic char, and plants like fireweed and cotton grass.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Lake Clark National Park & Preserve. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Lake Clark 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 | 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 | Northern Pintail |
| Northern Pintail | American Wigeon |
| American Wigeon | Green-Winged Teal |
| Green-Winged Teal | American Pipit |
Mammals
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Lake Clark 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 | Snowshoe Hare |
| Red Fox | Northern River Otter |
| Long-Tailed Weasel | Masked Shrew |
| House Mouse | Water Shrew |
| Mink | Red Squirrel |
| Gray Fox | Montane Shrew |
| Badger | Lynx |
| Masked Shrew | Wolverine |
| Red Squirrel | American Marten |
| White-Tailed Deer | Brown Bear |
| Virginia Opossum | Meadow Vole |
| Meadow Vole | Moose |
| Red Bat | Least Weasel |
| White-Footed Mouse | Pygmy Shrew |
| Norway Rat | Meadow Jumping Mouse |
Amphibians
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Lake Clark National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | Wood Frog |
| Eastern Tiger Salamander | |
| Bullfrog | |
| Wood Frog |
Reptiles
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Lake Clark National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Racer | |
| Ring-Necked Snake | |
| Common Garter Snake | |
| Eastern Milk Snake | |
| Eastern Fence Lizard |
Insects
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Lake Clark National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulfur | |
| Painted Lady | |
| Monarch Butterfly | |
| American Painted Lady | |
| European Cabbage White | |
| Buckeye |
Fish
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Lake Clark National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Northern Largemouth Bass | Steelhead |
| 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 Lake Clark National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley NP boasts rolling hills, river valleys, scenic waterfalls (Brandywine Falls), and the historic Ohio & Erie Canal. Enjoy hiking, biking, and canal boat rides. Ledges Overlook offers panoramic views.
Lake Clark NP features glaciers, volcanoes, alpine lakes (Chinitna Bay for bear viewing), Tanalian Falls (300 ft cascade), rugged peaks (Mount Redoubt for backcountry hiking & mountaineering).
Things To-Do and Activities in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Lake Clark National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio offers a mix of recreational & cultural activities, like hiking, biking, scenic train rides, and visiting cultural sites like the Canal Exploration Center or Boston Store Visitor Center. Lake Clark in Alaska is a destination for outdoor adventure, such as fishing, bear viewing, kayaking, rafting, and exploring scenic beauty like glaciers, mountains, and wildlife. Both parks offer unique experiences, but Cuyahoga Valley focuses on cultural activities, while Lake Clark emphasizes wilderness adventures.
Best Time to Visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Lake Clark National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley NP in Ohio experiences humid continental weather with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Best time to visit: spring/fall (May-June/ Sept-Oct) for mild weather & park’s peak foliage/waterfalls. Lake Clark NP in Alaska has subarctic weather with long, cold winters and short, cool summers. Best time to visit: summer (June-Sept) for mild weather, reduced snow, and wildlife/fishing opportunities. The unique experiences of each park are enhanced by considering the weather in visit planning.
Family Friendliness of Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Lake Clark National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers a range of activities for families, including hikes, train rides and educational programs. Lake Clark National Park & Preserve is also a good option for families, with fishing, boating and bear viewing opportunities. The choice of park depends on children’s ages and interests. Cuyahoga may be better for younger kids and education-focused activities, while Lake Clark may suit older kids and families who enjoy outdoor adventures like fishing and boating.