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Cascade Valley Metro Park

Cascade Valley

Metro Park

Photo: Cascade Valley, seen from the Overlook Deck

Park Areas

Valley View Area

Address 1212 Cuyahoga St.
Akron, OH 44313

Hours Daily: 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Trail Icon Trail Name Miles Class Rating Description
Celebration Trail Celebration Trail 1.6 C 1 Visit this temporary “watch us grow” trail as the Valley View Area takes shape. On this hike, you’ll observe the newly renovated historic barn, witness a restored section of the Cuyahoga River and enjoy the breathtaking vistas Valley View offers. Stroll the path and watch as site work continues!

Chuckery Area

Address 837 Cuyahoga St.
Akron, OH 44313

Hours Daily: 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Check for closures related to the Free the Falls project.

Trail Icon Trail Name Miles Class Rating Description
Chuckery Trail Chuckery Trail 2.4 C 3 This challenging loop trail gives hikers a glimpse of the Signal Tree before passing the Cuyahoga River, crossing the parkway and heading uphill.

Overlook Area

Address 354 Sackett Ave.
Akron, OH 44313

Hours Daily: 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Trail Icon Trail Name Miles Class Rating Description
Overlook Trail Overlook Trail 0.5 B, C 1 The flat, easy Overlook Trail provides spectacular views of the Cuyahoga River and the oxbow found 125 feet below the Overlook Deck. This trail is ADA accessible.

Oxbow Area

Address 1061 Cuyahoga St.
Akron, OH 44313

Hours Daily: 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Trail Icon Trail Name Miles Class Rating Description
Oxbow Trail Oxbow Trail 1.2 C 2 The moderate Oxbow Trail provides views of the Cuyahoga River. With a steep uphill climb,  you can connect to the Overlook Trail. Please note: the paddling access point here is for expert paddlers ONLY.

Schumacher Valley Area

Address 1690 Cuyahoga St.
Akron, OH 44313

Hours Daily: 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Trail Icon Trail Name Miles Class Rating Description
Schumacher Valley Schumacher Trail 1.2 C 3 The hilly Schumacher Trail provides a closer look at some of Summit County's most pristine scenery.
Valley Link Valley Link Trail 2.8 C 2 The Valley Link Trail connects to Sand Run Metro Park and the Towpath Trail. The out-and-back distance is a total of 5.6 miles.

Highbridge Trail

Address 1270 Front St.
Akron, OH 44310

Hours Daily: 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Trail Icon Trail Name Miles Class Rating Description
Highbridge Trail Highbridge Trail 3.2 C 2 Highbridge Trail offers a moderately challenging hike on the other side of the Cuyahoga River from the Glens and Gorge trails. It connects to Cascade Valley Metro park and is 3.2 miles round-trip.

Classes: A = Multipurpose  |  B = Accessible*  |  C = Basic  |  D = Primitive**  |  E = Bridle

Ratings: 1 = Easy  |  2 = Moderate  |  3 = Difficult

* Flat, easy trail or section with asphalt or crushed limestone surface.

See our  Spree For All page for more information about accessible trails.

** Rugged and challenging with uneven surfaces and steep, narrow routes

Park Maps

Cascade Valley

History & Wildlife

In 1833, hydraulic engineer and entrepreneur Eliakim Crosby built the Cascade Race, a channel that powered the mills and businesses along the Ohio & Erie Canal. The Cascade Race helped transform Akron into a boomtown. Years later, Crosby built the failed Chuckery Race. Traces of it can still be seen today.

Today, fish here are prey for belted kingfishers and great blue herons. Beautiful white trillium grows in the floodplain woods each spring beside wild ginger and several types of violets. Summer and fall wildflowers also flourish, illuminating the landscape.

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Several rare and unique natural features can be found within the Chuckery Area. South of the entrance drive, near the intersection of the Chuckery Trail, is a meadow that harbors many unusual plants and several species of showy wildflowers. Just up the hill from the meadow is a prairie, where wild lupines bloom about mid-May. Other rare species can be found individually throughout the park, including butternut trees – a species surviving despite the butternut canker disease threatening their range.

Named for Sherman and Mary Schumacher, who donated 171 acres to Summit Metro Parks in 1968, Schumacher Valley remains one of the most rugged areas within the city of Akron.

Located in the valley's pre-glacial bedrock canyon are steep-cut ravines indicative of the Cuyahoga River's tributary streams. A canopy of oak, American beech, sassafras and black cherry trees provides cover for smaller shrubs. There are herbs and wildflowers, including spring beauty, Jack-in-the-pulpit, rue anemone and jewelweed.

Photo Gallery

Activities
  • Cross-country Skiing
  • Fishing
  • Soccer
Amenities
  • Pet-friendly
  • Picnic Tables
  • Restroom
Activities
  • Take a hike or enjoy the view
Amenities
  • Pet-friendly
  • Picnic Tables
  • Restroom
Activities
  • Baseball/Softball
  • Fishing
  • Sledding
Amenities
  • Picnic Tables
  • Restroom
  • Shelter
Activities
  • Take a hike or enjoy the view
Amenities
  • Pet-friendly
  • Picnic Tables
Activities
  • Take a hike or enjoy the view
Amenities
  • Pet-friendly