Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Mesa Verde National Park are two gems of the national park system, each offering its own unique blend of natural beauty and cultural significance. In Ohio, the lush forests and rolling hills of Cuyahoga Valley provide a peaceful escape from the city, while the red rock cliffs and ancient Puebloan dwellings of Mesa Verde in Colorado transport visitors back in time. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or a glimpse into the past, these two parks have something for every kind of traveler. So pack your bags and get ready to explore the contrasts and similarities of Cuyahoga Valley and Mesa Verde, two of the most captivating national parks in the country!
Hiking Trails in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Mesa Verde National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Mesa Verde National Park are two distinct parks with diverse hiking trails. Cuyahoga Valley is located in Ohio, and encompasses 33k acres of rolling hills and forests. Mesa Verde is in Colorado, known for its cliff dwellings and mesa top ruins.
At Cuyahoga, Ledges Trail is the easiest, a 1.5-mile loop that features sandstone cliffs and scenic vistas. The Buckeye Trail is the hardest, a strenuous 12-mile hike with steep climbs and rocky terrain.
At Mesa Verde, Petroglyph Point Trail is the simplest, a 1.2-mile round trip to a cliff featuring ancient Native American rock art. The Wetherill Mesa Loop is the most challenging, a 7.5-mile hike through steep climbs and rocky terrain with breathtaking views of mesas and valleys.
Both parks offer a range of hikes from easy to challenging, appealing to hikers of varying skill levels.
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 Mesa Verde National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petroglyph Point Trail | 4184.284 | 131.9784 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Cliff Palace Loop Trail | 643.736 | 25.908 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Balcony House Loop Trail | 643.736 | 27.7368 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Mesa Verde Point Lookout Trail | 3379.614 | 161.8488 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Soda Canyon Overlook Trail | 1931.208 | 17.9832 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Mesa Verde National Park Scenic Drive | 24140.1 | 797.9664 | Easy | point to point | 4.5 |
| Long House Trail | 3379.614 | 86.868 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Step House Trail | 1287.472 | 46.9392 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Knife Edge Trail | 3218.68 | 46.9392 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Prater Ridge Trail | 11748.182 | 311.8104 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
Wildlife in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Mesa Verde National Park
Cuyahoga Valley NP in Ohio is home to diverse wildlife incl. white-tailed deer, coyotes, beavers, and river otters, as well as over 300 bird species incl. Baltimore Oriole, Prothonotary Warbler, and American Bald Eagle. Park also boasts native wildflowers and mature hardwood forests. Mesa Verde NP in Colorado features unique wildlife, incl. pronghorns, elk, black bears, and bird species like Peregrine Falcon, Canyon Wren, Wild Turkey. Park’s high elevation and diverse geography support pinon pine forests, sagebrush, and wildflowers.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Mesa Verde National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Mesa Verde 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 | Mesa Verde 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 | Porcupine |
| Red Fox | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Long-Tailed Weasel | Hoary Bat |
| House Mouse | Red Fox |
| Mink | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| Gray Fox | House Mouse |
| Badger | Mountain Lion |
| Masked Shrew | Mink |
| Red Squirrel | Mule Deer |
| White-Tailed Deer | Gray Fox |
| Virginia Opossum | Wolf |
| Meadow Vole | Long-Legged Myotis |
| Red Bat | Long-Eared Myotis |
| White-Footed Mouse | Badger |
| Norway Rat | Ermine |
Amphibians
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Mesa Verde National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | Northern Leopard Frog |
| Eastern Tiger Salamander | Tiger Salamander |
| Bullfrog | Woodhouse’s Toad |
| Wood Frog | Red-Spotted Toad |
| Plains Spadefoot |
Reptiles
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Mesa Verde National Park |
|---|---|
| Racer | Gopher Snake |
| Ring-Necked Snake | Western Terrestrial Garter Snake |
| Common Garter Snake | Racer |
| Eastern Milk Snake | Western Rattlesnake |
| Eastern Fence Lizard | Ring-Necked Snake |
| Sagebrush Lizard | |
| Hernandez’s Short-Horned Lizard | |
| Side-Blotched Lizard | |
| Nightsnake | |
| Milksnake | |
| Striped Whipsnake | |
| Tree Lizard | |
| Eastern Collared Lizard | |
| Eastern Fence Lizard | |
| Glossy Snake |
Insects
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Mesa Verde National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulfur | |
| Painted Lady | |
| Monarch Butterfly | |
| American Painted Lady | |
| European Cabbage White | |
| Buckeye |
Fish
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Mesa Verde National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Largemouth Bass | |
| Green Sunfish | |
| Northern Bluegill Sunfish | |
| Northern Fathead Minnow | |
| Golden Shiner | |
| European Carp | |
| Northern Pike | |
| Eastern Burbot | |
| Central Mottled Sculpin | |
| Graceful Catfish | |
| Black Crappie | |
| Creek Chub | |
| Goldfish |
Beautiful Landscapes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Mesa Verde National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a scenic area known for its rolling hills, steep river valleys, and waterfalls, including Brandywine Falls. Outdoor recreation opportunities include scenic drives, hiking, and picnicking.
Mesa Verde National Park boasts exceptional Native American archaeology, including Cliff Palace and Spruce Tree House cliff dwellings. The park’s stunning mesas, canyons, and scenic overlooks offer breathtaking views and opportunities for hiking, camping, and ranger-led tours.
Things To-Do and Activities in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Mesa Verde National Park
Cuyahoga Valley NP is known for scenic railway, river, and waterfalls, as well as hiking/biking trails (Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath) and cultural/historical sites (Stanford House, Canal Exploration Center). Mesa Verde NP in Colorado is famous for ancient Native American cliff dwellings, offering ranger-led tours (Cliff Palace, Balcony House). It also offers stunning views from hiking trails (Petroglyph Point, Spruce Tree House), popular camping/stargazing.
Best Time to Visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Mesa Verde National Park
Cuyahoga Valley NP in Ohio has a four-season climate, with hot summers (mid-70s to low-80s) & cold winters. Best to visit in spring for greenery or fall for foliage. Mesa Verde NP in CO has a high desert climate with hot summers (mid-80s), cold winters (below freezing) & fewer visitors in spring/fall.
Family Friendliness of Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Mesa Verde National Park
Cuyahoga Valley NP offers outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, picnicking, and scenic railway rides. Mesa Verde NP has cliff dwellings, cultural history, and educational programs. For families interested in history and archaeology, Mesa Verde is a better choice. Meanwhile, for outdoor recreation, Cuyahoga Valley is a better park to visit.