Hike This (Not That) takes you on an adventure to experience both the well-known trail and the hike you probably haven’t heard of. We share how to get to both, what to expect, and why we would choose to hike each trail. Maybe you’ll want to visit both or maybe one of these hikes will seem more appealing; but you’ll leave with an appreciation for all that awaits you out on the trail.
This is a tale of two hikes. The first is a trail that includes on its route the most visited site in the Buckeye State’s only national park, which happens to lie within the state’s most populous metropolitan area. The second is a state park trail in rural northern Ohio that’s located several miles from any major city. Both are worthwhile, but if you’re looking for a less-trafficked alternative to the often-crowded Brandywine Gorge Trail in Cleveland’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the Hog Hollow, Lyons Falls, and Green Trail Loop in Mohican State Park is an excellent choice.
- Distance: 1.4 miles, loop
- AllTrails Rating: Moderately challenging
- Suitable For: National park visitors who love waterfalls and nature; urbanites looking to escape from the city
- Best Time of Year to Hike: Late spring for best waterfall views; April to October for general hiking
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is Ohio’s only fully-designated national park, and it’s located on the southern edge of the Greater Cleveland metropolitan area—the state’s most populous. In 2024, the park saw more than 2.9 million visitors—more than Mammoth Cave, Indiana Dunes, New River Gorge, Shenandoah, or Gateway Arch National Parks. Among the most visited sites—if not the most visited—in this busy national park is Brandywine Falls.
The Brandywine Gorge Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park shares not only a trailhead with the path to unspeakably popular Brandywine Falls, but several…