Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a National Park in Ohio. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 18 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Cuyahoga Valley
We matched 18 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Cuyahoga Valley. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (5)
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointWaterfalls (7)
Waterfall
Waterfall
Waterfall
WaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallLakes (1)
Caves (1)
Ghost Towns (1)
Covered Bridges (2)
Botanical Gardens (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Cuyahoga Valley the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 72° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:50 AM | 8:33 AM | 4:40 PM | 5:22 PM | 242° | 9h 32m |
| February | 7:22 AM | 8:01 AM | 5:22 PM | 6:01 PM | 254° | 10h 38m |
| March | 7:39 AM | 8:16 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:33 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:48 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:06 PM | 284° | 13h 19m |
| May | 6:09 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:38 PM | 297° | 14h 30m |
| June | 5:54 AM | 6:35 AM | 8:20 PM | 9:02 PM | 303° | 15h 08m |
| July | 6:07 AM | 6:48 AM | 8:18 PM | 8:59 PM | 300° | 14h 52m |
| August | 6:36 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:27 PM | 290° | 13h 51m |
| September | 7:07 AM | 7:44 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:37 PM | 275° | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:38 AM | 8:16 AM | 6:09 PM | 6:47 PM | 259° | 11h 08m |
| November | 7:15 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:27 PM | 5:08 PM | 246° | 9h 53m |
| December | 7:46 AM | 8:30 AM | 4:15 PM | 4:59 PM | 239° | 9h 13m |
Computed for the park's reference point (41.2609, -81.5712); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Cuyahoga Valley, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 6 (bright suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:43 AM – 5:43 AM | 0.0 | 10° |
| March | 4:55 AM – 6:05 AM | 1.2 | 17° |
| April | 2:55 AM – 5:05 AM | 2.2 | 19° |
| May | 12:52 AM – 4:12 AM | 3.3 | 20° |
| June | 11:10 PM – 3:40 AM | 4.5 | 20° |
| July | 11:00 PM – 2:20 AM | 3.3 | 20° |
| August | 10:11 PM – 12:11 AM | 2.0 | 19° |
| September | 9:11 PM – 10:11 PM | 1.0 | 16° |
| October | 8:18 PM – 8:18 PM | 0.0 | 10° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
6 Estimated Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos.
Weather & best time to visit
Spring's rain and warming temperatures bring new leaves on trees, blooming wildflowers, and visitors anxious to get out on the trail. Summer temperatures range from 49 to 95 degrees F and can be humid. Dressing in layers is advisable. Fall temperatures can range from low 70s during the day to freezing during the night. Fall foliage often peaks in mid-October. Winter weather conditions can rapidly change due to the lake effect snow from Lake Erie. Temperatures vary from mid-30s to below zero.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 58% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (84%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
The park is easily accessible by car from all directions. A good place to start your visit is at Boston Mill Visitor Center: 6947 Riverview Road, Peninsula, 44264. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Akron-Canton Regional Airport offer many daily flights to the area. Car rentals are available at both airports. Bus stations are located in downtown Cleveland and Akron. Some local bus routes including RTA's 19A, 54, 77, and 90 routes stop near the park. There is an Amtrak station in downtown Cleveland.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Craft Demonstrations
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Live Music
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Hands-On
- Citizen Science
- Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Living History
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Stand Up Paddleboarding
- Junior Ranger Program
- Skiing
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Snow Play
- Snowshoeing
Nearby parks
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