Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Mammoth Cave National Park offer two distinct experiences for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. While Cuyahoga Valley boasts rolling hills, lush greenery and scenic waterfalls, Mammoth Cave takes visitors on a journey into the depths of the earth to explore its labyrinthine cave system. Whether you’re a hiker, a nature lover or an underground adventurer, these two parks have something for everyone. Join us as we explore and compare these two contrasting, yet equally captivating, national parks.
Hiking Trails in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Mammoth Cave National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Mammoth Cave National Park offer contrasting hiking options. CVNP has over 125 miles of trails, from easy walks to challenging hikes, including Ledges, Buckeye, and Towpath trails, known for scenic views. Mammoth Cave, on the other hand, has fewer trails but offers unique underground hikes, like Frozen Niagara tour, that showcase stunning rock formations. The park also offers rugged and scenic surface hikes such as River Styx Spring Trail and Big Hollow Trail. Both parks provide demanding hikes for experienced hikers, with CVNP’s strenuous Blue Hen Falls and The Loop trails, and Mammoth Cave’s physically demanding Wild Cave Tour, which takes you through undiscovered parts of the cave system and requires crawling and climbing.
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 Mammoth Cave National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green River Bluffs Trail | 7242.03 | 169.7736 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Cedar Sink Trail | 2896.812 | 70.7136 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Mammoth Cave National Park Scenic Drive | 17541.806 | 173.736 | Easy | point to point | 4.5 |
| Sinkhole Trail | 3862.416 | 108.8136 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Echo River Spring and Sinkhole Loop | 4988.954 | 122.8344 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Echo River and River Styx Springs Trail | 5471.756 | 129.8448 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Sal Hollow and Buffalo Creek Loop Trail | 8690.436 | 100.8888 | Easy | loop | 3.5 |
| Dixon Cave Trail Loop | 2414.01 | 83.82 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| First Creek Lake Trail | 5793.624 | 158.8008 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
| McCoy Hollow Trail | 19794.882 | 434.9496 | Hard | out and back | 4 |
Wildlife in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Mammoth Cave National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is known for its diverse wildlife and bird species, including beavers, deer, coyotes, and a variety of migratory and resident birds like pileated woodpeckers, indigo buntings. Amphibians, reptiles, and fish also call the park home, with its deciduous forest and wetlands providing habitat for many plant species like wildflowers, ferns, and shrubs.
Mammoth Cave National Park, on the other hand, is dominated by unique karst landscapes with sinkholes and caves, providing habitat for bats, salamanders, and cave fish. White-tailed deer, river otters, and birds like the wood duck and prothonotary warbler can also be found in the park’s woodland and river habitats. The park’s diverse plant life, including wildflowers, shrubs, and trees, can be seen in the river valleys and on surrounding hillsides.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Mammoth Cave National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Mammoth Cave 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 | Mammoth Cave 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 | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Hoary Bat | Hoary Bat |
| Red Fox | Red Fox |
| Long-Tailed Weasel | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| House Mouse | House Mouse |
| Mink | Mink |
| Gray Fox | Gray Fox |
| Badger | Western Long-Eared Bat |
| Masked Shrew | River Otter |
| Red Squirrel | Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat |
| White-Tailed Deer | White-Tailed Deer |
| Virginia Opossum | Virginia Opossum |
| Meadow Vole | Meadow Vole |
| Red Bat | Eastern Red Bat |
| White-Footed Mouse | White-Footed Mouse |
| Norway Rat | Norway Rat |
Amphibians
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Mammoth Cave National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | Eastern Tiger Salamander |
| Eastern Tiger Salamander | Bullfrog |
| Bullfrog | Wood Frog |
| Wood Frog |
Reptiles
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Mammoth Cave National Park |
|---|---|
| Racer | Black Racer |
| Ring-Necked Snake | Ringneck Snake |
| Common Garter Snake | Eastern Garter Snake |
| Eastern Milk Snake | Eastern Fence Lizard |
| Eastern Fence Lizard |
Insects
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Mammoth Cave National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulfur | Orange Sulphur |
| Painted Lady | Commom Wood Nymph |
| Monarch Butterfly | |
| American Painted Lady | |
| European Cabbage White | |
| Buckeye |
Fish
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Mammoth Cave National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Largemouth Bass | Rainbow Trout |
| Green Sunfish | Largemouth Bass |
| Northern Bluegill Sunfish | Green Sunfish |
| Northern Fathead Minnow | Bluegill |
| Golden Shiner | Golden Shiner |
| European Carp | Common Carp |
| Northern Pike | Yellow Bullhead |
| Eastern Burbot | Channel Catfish |
| Central Mottled Sculpin | Black Crappie |
| Graceful Catfish | Black Bullhead |
| Black Crappie | Mosquitofish |
| Creek Chub | Creek Chub |
| Goldfish | Goldfish |
| Smallmouth Bass |
Beautiful Landscapes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Mammoth Cave National Park
Cuyahoga Valley NP is famous for scenic railway, Cuyahoga River, Brandywine Falls, diverse wildlife & habitats.
Mammoth Cave NP is famous for its longest known cave system, scenic rivers, rolling hills, sinkholes, and diverse wildlife & forests.
Things To-Do and Activities in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Mammoth Cave National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers scenic beauty with outdoor activities like hiking, biking and scenic train rides, as well as historic sites and cultural attractions. In contrast, Mammoth Cave National Park focuses on underground adventure with tours of its famous caves, spelunking, and wild caving. Both parks offer camping, fishing, and boating, but Mammoth Cave also offers ranger-led activities like cave talks and night walks. Cuyahoga Valley is a peaceful escape from city life, while Mammoth Cave offers a unique geological experience.
Best Time to Visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Mammoth Cave National Park
Cuyahoga Valley NP (Ohio) has humid continental weather with cold winters and hot summers. It has average summer highs of mid-70s (°F) and winter lows of low 30s. Winter can bring snow, while summer is the wettest time with occasional thunderstorms. The best time to visit is spring/fall with mild temperatures and vibrant vegetation.
Mammoth Cave NP (Kentucky) has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. It has average summer highs of mid-80s (°F) and winter lows of low 50s. The park is relatively dry, with most rain falling in spring and early summer. Summer is best for outdoor activities like hiking, while cave tours are available year-round.
Family Friendliness of Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Mammoth Cave National Park
Cuyahoga Valley NP is a better option for families, as it offers a wider range of recreational activities, including hiking, biking, scenic railway tour, and picnicking. Mammoth Cave NP, while offering cave exploration, may not be suitable for young children. CVNP is more family-friendly due to its variety of outdoor activities.