Brandywine Falls - Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Brandywine Falls is one of the iconic locations in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The 60-foot high segmented fan-type fall on Brandywine Creek flows year round. To reach the falls from the Boston Mill Visitor Center, you can either hike or drive. The hiking directions are to head east on Boston Mills Road for 600 feet then turn north on the Towpath Trail. After ½ mile turn east on the Stanford Trail and hike 1.4 miles to the Brandywine Gorge Trail junction. Turn right at the junction and hike the remaining ½ mile to the falls. This is a five-mile round-trip hike.

To access the falls by automobile from the visitor center, head north on Riverview Road for two miles, then turn right onto Vaughn Road for 1.8 miles as it changes names upon crossing the Cuyahoga River. Turn right onto Brandywine Road for 1.1 miles and turn into the parking area. The drive is about five miles one way and should take about 10 minutes. Paved parking is available for 90 passenger vehicles including four accessible spots. There is no RV or bus parking. Be aware that the parking area is also used as a trailhead for the very popular Metro Parks Bike and Hike Trail and is often full during the summer and on weekends and holidays any season.

Trailhead

Snow-covered boardwalk

More snow and ice

Over three dozen stairs down to the viewing platform

View from the boardwalk

Viewing platform with informational signage

View from the lower platform

Returning to the upper boardwalk, trees seem to grow out of solid rock

View from the upper boardwalk

Condition of the upper boardwalk

Ruins of the Champion Electric Company

View from near the Champion ruins

View downstream

There is no entrance fee at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

The park website is https://www.nps.gov/cuva/index.htm.