Cuyahoga Valley Ledges Trail Hiking Guide
The Ledges Trail circles a plateau of Sharon sandstone and conglomerate in the Virginia Kendall area of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, passing beneath cliffs and up stone staircases on trails first laid out by Civilian Conservation Corps crews during the Depression. Hemlocks and ferns cling to the walls, and a short detour leads to the Ledges Overlook, which faces west over the valley. It is the park's signature short hike and gets busy accordingly.
Distance: 1.8 or 2.2 Miles
Park figures differ depending on what is counted. The Ledges Trailhead page gives 1.8 miles for the loop itself, reached by a connector behind the bulletin board; the park's hiking table lists 2.2 miles and an elevation change of 80 feet. Mapping apps put the full walk at about 2.4 miles with roughly 215 feet of climbing, which reflects the stairs and short rises around the rock. Either way it is a one- to two-hour outing.
Around the Rock
The trail system here is a tangle of connectors, and the park warns that it is complex, so check the map on the bulletin board by the gate and watch the signs. The path is rocky and unpaved, with steps where it climbs between the base of the cliffs and the plateau top. Rock climbing on the formations is not allowed. Ice Box Cave, a narrow crevice on the loop, is closed to protect bats from white-nose syndrome.
Ledges Overlook
The overlook is a bare shelf of sandstone and conglomerate looking west across the Cuyahoga Valley, and the park calls it a favorite spot for sunsets. You can reach it from the trail or walk straight there from the parking lot across the big grassy playfield. If you come for sunset, note that the Ledges parking lots close at dusk, so plan to be heading back to the car as the light fades.
Parking and Other Starts
The Ledges Trailhead lot is at 701 Truxell Road (the road becomes Kendall Park Road), with the Ledges Shelter and a big playfield beside it. When it is full, the Pine Grove lot by the Octagon Shelter, the Happy Days Lodge lot via the Haskell Run Trail, and the Kendall Lake Trailhead all connect in. From Kendall Lake the round trip is at least 3 miles. There is no entrance fee anywhere in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Winter on the Ledges
The loop stays open year-round, and snow on the hemlocks and ice on the cliff faces make it one of the better winter walks near Cleveland. The park specifically cautions about icy or snow-covered sections, and the stone stairs and rocky ground under the cliffs are where people slip. Microspikes help on packed snow. In spring the same ground turns muddy, so expect to clean your boots after.
Hiking tips for Cuyahoga Valley Ledges Trail
- Grab a look at the map by the trailhead gate; the connector trails make it easy to cut the loop short by accident.
- Stay out of Ice Box Cave; it is closed to protect the bat population.
- For sunset at the overlook, remember the lots close at dusk.
- Use the Pine Grove or Happy Days Lodge lots if the Ledges lot is full on a weekend.
- Wear boots with grip in winter; the stone stairs ice over.
Nearby trails to explore
- Salt Run Trail
- Brandywine Gorge Trail
- Blue Hen Falls
Hike this trail with TrailMates
The Ledges is the hike most people take on their first visit to Cuyahoga Valley, and it holds up on the tenth. Use TrailMates to find Cleveland hikers heading to the Ledges. Download the TrailMates app to connect.