CLEVELAND, Ohio -- You don’t have to own a kayak or a canoe to enjoy the 88-mile Cuyahoga River Water Trail. You may find yourself in the market for one, however, with all the diverse paddling experiences available.
The Cuyahoga appeals to all paddling skill levels. The first 25 miles of the water trail in Geauga and Portage counties are designated as an Ohio Scenic River with slow-moving water suitable for beginners. The Class V rapids in Cuyahoga Falls, on the other hand, are only for experienced whitewater kayakers.
The scenery varies from quiet wilderness to industrial valley with the drone of steel mills.
Many of the river miles are bordered by park land. Nearly 20 miles flow through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and there’s a beautiful stretch through Summit Metro Parks properties in Merriman Valley.
In case you’re wondering, a continuous, 88-mile paddle of the entire river is not possible due to several no paddle zones: Lake Rockwell and the Gorge Dam.
With the plethora of options to explore the Cuyahoga, we’ve picked 5 dependable trips and included kayak rental options for each.
Note: There are no sponsorships with any of the kayak rental businesses mentioned.
Three safety tips
- Wear a life jacket
- Don’t paddle alone
- Find out what hazards may exist along your route
Don’t forget to bring
- More water than you think you’ll need
- Cell phone
- Sun protection, hat
Now, for the trip recommendations:
1. Eldon Russell Park to Crooked River Adventures
Mileage: 3
Skill level: Beginner
Estimated time: At least 1 hour
Highlights: It is very scenic. The river here is wide and unique from other sections. In some areas, it feels more like paddling on a pond than a river. You can even paddle through the trees in some swampy areas when the water level is higher. Animal sightings are common, such as eagles, beavers and Blue Herons.
Where to put in: Eldon Russell Park, 16315 Rapids Road, Troy Twp, 44021
Where to take out: Crooked River Adventures, 13468 Main Market Road, Burton, 44021
If you own a kayak / canoe: Crooked River Adventures charges $10 to use its river take out. You can park a car at the lot while paddling. For $18, they will transport you and your kayak up to Eldon Russell. The river is slow enough that you could also put in at Crooked River Adventures, paddle upstream and then come back.
If you do not want to pay the fee to use their take out, you will need to continue paddling as far as White Oaks in Mantua, which is nearly 8 miles further downstream.
To rent a kayak: Crooked River Adventures has kayak, canoe and stand-up paddleboard rentals for around $36 per person. This includes transportation to Eldon Russell Park via shuttle.
Nearby food / drink: The restaurant at Crooked River Adventures has ribs, walleye, pulled pork, burgers, sandwiches, pizza and appetizers. They also have a bar.
2. Buchert Park to Red Fox
Mileage: 6
Skill level: Intermediate
Estimated time: At least 2 hours
Highlights: There’s a lot of natural beauty and several nature preserves along the route. There’s not much traffic on the river and Mantua is a cool small town worth a visit. Look for big dragonflies like dragonhunters and royal river cruisers.
Where to put in: Buchert Memorial Park, East High St., Mantua, 44255
Where to take out: Red Fox Boat Access, Portage Park District, 9263 Price Road, Ravenna, 44266
If you own a kayak / canoe: Buchert and Red Fox are open to the public. If you’d like transportation, A Short Adventure Kayak Rentals will shuttle you between Buchert and Red Fox for $12. Their location is about 1,000 feet northeast of Red Fox using Price Road.
To rent a kayak: A Short Adventure Kayak Rentals offers kayaks for $25. They will shuttle you to Buchert Memorial Park and pick you up at Red Fox.
Nearby food / drink: Restaurants in Mantua include Jake’s Eats, Village Tavern, Main Street Sub Shop, Italiano’s Pizzaria and Mama Light’s Eats. Ice cream is at The Chilling Station.
Hazard: During high water levels, there are two low bridges over the river that will be impassible. The first is Route 44 at river mile 69.3. The second is an unmarked bridge 900 feet downstream of it. Consider checking the Hiram Rapids water level gage to make sure it is not above 4 feet. Portage Park District recommends scouting the river at Route 44 to make sure there is enough clearance for paddling. The unmarked bridge is on private property and is lower than the Route 44 bridge.
Caution: Exiting the river at Red Fox should be done swiftly. On the day of my paddle, a large group of kayakers reached Red Fox at the same time, blocking those behind them. Those who weren’t on shore began to be pushed downriver by the current. The narrowing of the river leads to stronger currents at Red Fox.
3. Brust Park to Water Works Park
Mileage: 2
Skill level: Beginner
Estimated time: About an hour
Highlights: Mostly undeveloped land on the riverbanks offers a wooded escape. In the summer, you will be surrounded by green.
Where to put in: Brust Park, Summit Metro Parks, 128 South Main St., Munroe Falls, 44262
Where to take out: Water Works Park, 2025 Munroe Falls Ave., Cuyahoga Falls, 44221
If you own a kayak / canoe: Brust Park and Water Works Park are open to the public.
To rent a kayak: Burning River Adventures rents kayaks on this section of the river. Brust Park to Water Works Park is their short trip, with prices starting at $20 for a single kayak. They will allow you to take their rental kayaks to any section of the river.
Food / drink: Downtown Cuyahoga Falls is about a mile west of Water Works Park and has a variety of spots.
4. Lock 29 (Peninsula) to Lock 39 (Valley View)
Mileage: 16
Skill level: Intermediate
Estimated time: At least 5 hours for the entire route
Highlights: One of the best ways to experience the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is to see it from the river. The forest is beautiful. Some parts of the river feature rocky cliffs above. There are multiple take out locations to make this trip shorter. Best of all, you can ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad with your kayak so you won’t have to worry about transportation between put in and take out.
Where to put in: Lock 29 Trailhead, 1648 Mill St., Peninsula, 44264
Where to take out: Lock 39 Trailhead, 8000 Rockside Road, Valley View, 44125
Options for a shorter trip: You can put in or take out at the following locations between Peninsula and Rockside:
Boston Store Trailhead, Peninsula, 1550 Boston Mills Road, Peninsula, 44262. River mile 26.6. Train access.
Red Lock Trailhead, Sagamore Hills, 1175 Highland Road, Sagamore Hills, 44067. River mile 24.1.
Station Road Bridge, Brecksville, 9141 Riverview Road, Brecksville, 44141. River mile 21. Train access.
If you own a kayak: All the trailheads mentioned allow for free public access and have free parking. Consider parking at your take out location and using the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad to transport you and your boat to your put in location. Then enjoy your paddle back to where you parked. Canoes and SUP boards are not permitted on the train.
To rent a kayak: While there are no kayak rentals within the national park at this time, River Cruiser Kayaking is a mobile kayak rental service that allows you to pick up a kayak and bring it into the national park yourself. 440-539-6611.
Kayak-aboard the train: The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad has a Kayak-Aboard option which is awesome for people wanting to explore the park by kayak. There are four park locations with river access and a train station. Make sure to come a little early for your train time. It’s easier to do the train ride first, then kayak the river back to where you started.
Nearby food / drink: Peninsula’s food options include Winking Lizard, Fischer’s and the Trail Mix Park Store. Valley View’s food options include the restaurants at Thornburg Station right next to Lock 39. Independence has a number of restaurants on Rockside Road west of Lock 39.
Hazard: There are metal pylons ahead of the Lock 39 Trailhead that can create log jams on the river in certain conditions. Take out your kayak on the right side of the river if needed. Park Ranger Ryan Ainger warns that storms can drastically increase river flow and cause logs to snag, sometimes even blocking navigation entirely. He recommends checking with the rangers or the Cuyahoga Valley National Park website before paddling.
Note: The Brecksville Dam has been removed and you can paddle unobstructed past the Station Road Bridge Trailhead with no need to portage.
5. Lock 39 to Merwin’s Wharf
Mileage: 12
Skill level: Advanced (Unlike the national park trip, this route has no official takeouts along the way. There is also an active shipping channel that requires caution.)
Estimated time: At least 4 hours
Highlights: Much of this riverfront is surprisingly undeveloped considering the population of the surrounding cities. On my trip, the river was calm but there were some nice spots where the current sped up. Large railroad and highway bridges soar above you. There’s a transition from forest to factory as you pass Harvard Avenue and beyond. Expect gritty. The sounds of birds chirping will be replaced by the drone of active steel mills. Navigating the industrial valley is an adventure of its own.
Where to put in: Lock 39 Trailhead, 8000 Rockside Road, Valley View, 44125
Where to take out: Merwin’s Wharf, Cleveland Metroparks, 1785 Merwin Ave., Ohio 44113
If you own a kayak / canoe: Lock 39 Trailhead and Merwin’s Wharf are open to the public with free parking.
To rent a kayak: River Cruiser Kayaking is a mobile kayak rental service that allows you to pick up a kayak and bring it to Lock 39 for this trip. 440-539-6611.
Nearby food / drink: Merwin’s Wharf is a full-service restaurant with a bar and patio seating and is located next to the river.
Hazard: The section of this route from river mile 6 to Merwin’s Wharf is used as a shipping channel. There can be large freighters and other vessels on the water. See this map for passing zones and danger zones. Freighters cannot see you and do not leave much room when maneuvering bends. Stay close to the shore. If the vessel kicks up waves, point the nose of your kayak into them to avoid capsizing. A helpful app/website for tracking vessels in real time is Marine Traffic. A safety video by water trail partners shares details about avoiding harm from freighters and large vessels.
What’s the most important safety tip from water trail partners?
For anyone paddling the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, especially the shipping channel in the first six river miles, this video by water trail partners explains the dangers freighters and other large vessels pose to human-powered craft. This information could save your life.
“Know your limits and skill level relative to the area you plan to paddle, and wear your PFD (personal flotation device),” says Andrea Metzler, Public Engagement Manager for Portage Park District.
Share The River, a nonprofit dedicated to Cleveland’s waterfront, maintains a list of key safety insights for paddlers to know before they go on the river. Share The River’s founder, Jim Ridge, says his most important safety tip is to “always wear a life-jacket. Doing that one thing gives a paddler a much larger margin of error should something unexpected arise.”
Ryan Ainger, a park ranger with Cuyahoga Valley National Park, says, “The biggest safety tips for our visitors, in short, are to always check conditions before going on the water. Before getting on the water, scout as much of your trip by land (as you can), ask rangers for navigational advice, and check updates on the CVNP or the water trail website. And, of course, always wear your life jacket!”
Future development
A much-anticipated new river house and kayak launch is in the works at the Valley View area of Summit Metro Parks’ Cascade Valley. Canoeing and kayak access points are expected as early as Spring 2022.
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