“Get ready to explore two vastly different national parks in the US – Cuyahoga Valley and Wrangell-St. Elias. One is a peaceful haven with rolling hills, sparkling waterways and charming bridges, while the other is an untamed wilderness of glaciers, towering peaks and pristine landscapes. Both offer a unique blend of scenic beauty and outdoor adventures, but what sets them apart is the diverse range of experiences they offer. Whether you’re a hiker, photographer, nature enthusiast or simply seeking a serene escape, these parks are sure to captivate and entice you.”
Hiking Trails in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve offer a range of hiking experiences for visitors. Cuyahoga has easy hikes such as the Ledges Trail which follows a cliff-lined path and the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, a level, crushed stone trail along the canal. The Ledges Trail offers views of the valley, while the Towpath Trail offers a glimpse of the park’s history and wildlife. On the other hand, the park’s most challenging hike is the strenuous, 7-mile round trip hike to the top of Brandywine Falls.
Wrangell – St Elias, located in Alaska, is a vast wilderness with a variety of trails ranging from easy nature walks to challenging backpacking trips. The park’s easiest hike is the Root Glacier Trail, a 1.5-mile round trip hike to the face of a glacier. The trail provides stunning views of the glacier and the surrounding mountains. The most challenging hike in the park is the multi-day, backcountry trek to Mount St. Elias, one of the tallest peaks in the United States. With its rugged terrain and remote location, this hike is only recommended for experienced hikers. Hiking to Mount St. Elias, offers breathtaking views of the Alaskan wilderness, but requires a high level of physical fitness, backcountry experience, and proper planning.
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 Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rankin Ridge Interpretive Trail | 1609.34 | 72.8472 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Wind Cave Canyon Trail | 6115.492 | 64.9224 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Lookout Point Trail and Centennial Trail Loop | 8368.568 | 156.972 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
| Cold Brook Canyon Trail | 4506.152 | 60.96 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| East Bison Flats Trail | 16254.334 | 445.9224 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Boland Ridge Trail | 7724.832 | 248.7168 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Centennial Trail: Highway 87 to Highlander Rd | 13035.654 | 286.8168 | Moderate | point to point | 4.5 |
| Elk Mountain Interpretive Trail | 4023.35 | 99.9744 | Easy | out and back | 3.5 |
| Prairie Vista Loop | 1609.34 | 31.6992 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Highland Creek Trail to Centennial Trail Loop | 21887.024 | 443.7888 | Hard | loop | 4.6 |
Wildlife in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) in Ohio offers a diverse range of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, river otters, beavers, and coyotes. Birdwatchers may see over 200 species, including pileated woodpecker, bald eagle, scarlet tanager. CVNP’s forest also boasts wildflowers, ferns, shrubs such as trillium, jack-in-the-pulpit, wild ginger.
Wrangell-St Elias National Park & Preserve in Alaska is renowned for its large populations of grizzly bears and caribou, and its diverse birdlife, such as bald eagle, peregrine falcon and rock sandpiper. The park’s remote wilderness houses wildflowers, shrubs, and trees like fireweed, alder, spruce.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Wrangell – St Elias 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 | European Starling |
| Northern Pintail | Northern Pintail |
| American Wigeon | American Wigeon |
| Green-Winged Teal | Green-Winged Teal |
Mammals
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Wrangell – St Elias 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 | Puma |
| Raccoon | Mink |
| Silver-Haired Bat | Mule Deer |
| Hoary Bat | Wolf |
| Red Fox | Short-Tailed Weasel |
| Long-Tailed Weasel | Snowshoe Hare |
| House Mouse | Land Otter |
| Mink | Common Shrew |
| Gray Fox | Water Shrew |
| Badger | Red Squirrel |
| Masked Shrew | Montane Shrew |
| Red Squirrel | Long-Tailed Vole |
| White-Tailed Deer | Lynx |
| Virginia Opossum | Wolverine |
| Meadow Vole | American Marten |
| Red Bat | Northern Flying Squirrel |
| White-Footed Mouse | Grizzly Bear |
| Norway Rat | Meadow Vole |
Amphibians
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | Wood Frog |
| Eastern Tiger Salamander | |
| Bullfrog | |
| Wood Frog |
Reptiles
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Racer | |
| Ring-Necked Snake | |
| Common Garter Snake | |
| Eastern Milk Snake | |
| Eastern Fence Lizard |
Insects
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulfur | Silvery Blue |
| Painted Lady | Clouded Sulphur |
| Monarch Butterfly | |
| American Painted Lady | |
| European Cabbage White | |
| Buckeye |
Fish
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Wrangell – St Elias 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 |
| Cutthroat Trout | |
| Arctic Grayling |
Beautiful Landscapes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley NP: Brandywine Falls (60ft waterfall), Ledges Overlook (cliff with scenic views), Beaver Marsh (wetlands with diverse wildlife).
Wrangell-St. Elias NP & Preserve: Root Glacier (largest glacier in park), Wrangell Mountains (volcanic mountain range), Nabesna Road (scenic drive with mountain views), Kennicott Glacier (14-mile long glacier).
Things To-Do and Activities in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, in Ohio, is popular for hiking, biking, scenic train rides, fishing, kayaking and bird watching. Wrangell-St. Elias, in Alaska, is a wilderness park with glaciers, mountains, backpacking, mountaineering, helicopter tours, fishing, rafting, and exploring historic Kennicott mining town. Both offer opportunities to enjoy nature and unique landscapes.
Best Time to Visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley NP in Ohio features a humid continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing, with snow and ice a possibility. Summer temperatures are warm and humid, with occasional thunderstorms. The best time to visit is during the spring when temperatures are mild and the park’s waterfalls and wildflowers are in full bloom.
Wrangell-St. Elias NP in Alaska has a subarctic climate with long, cold winters and short, cool summers. Winter temperatures can fall below -20°F and heavy snowfall is common. Summer temperatures are cool, with occasional rain and snow. The best time to visit is in the summer when mild weather allows access to the park’s glaciers and wildlife.
Family Friendliness of Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is more family-friendly than Wrangell – St. Elias National Park & Preserve. CVNP has many kid-friendly activities such as hiking trails, educational programs, scenic train rides and picnic areas. Wrangell – St. Elias is more remote and rugged, with limited facilities and accessibility, making it better for experienced outdoor enthusiasts. CVNP is more convenient and accessible for families while Wrangell – St. Elias offers a more rugged experience.