Brandywine Falls — 60ft Cascade in Ohio

Brandywine Falls is a 60-foot cascade waterfall in Summit County, Ohio, reached by an easy walk over 1.5 miles.

Brandywine Falls is a 60-foot cascading waterfall in Cuyahoga Valley National Park between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio — Ohio's only national park and one of the urban-adjacent national parks in the Midwest. The 1.5-mile boardwalk trail loop from the Brandywine Falls trailhead provides the iconic upper and lower viewing platforms; the falls are most photographed in winter when ice formations build along the cascade. The surrounding Cuyahoga Valley is a recovered industrial corridor — the Cuyahoga River was famously polluted enough to catch fire in 1969, sparking the modern environmental movement.

What to expect

Drive into Cuyahoga Valley National Park (between Cleveland and Akron). Park at the Brandywine Falls trailhead. The 1.5-mile boardwalk loop is easy — wooden boardwalks and stairs descend to the upper falls platform and continue to the lower viewing area. The trail is well-maintained and family-friendly. Best in winter for ice formations or in spring after rain for full flow. Pair with the Towpath Trail, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, or Stan Hywet Hall in Akron.