Thunder over the Ledges: A Moody Trek in Cuyahoga Valley

This is part five of a travel series of our midwest road trip covering four states and two national parks.  We began our journey in Lake Geneva Wisconsin.  If you missed it, start HERE!

Our second day in the Cuyahoga Valley began with a stormy one.  We looked at the radar and it appeared the storm would be over by the time we hit the trail, but to our surprise, it started to thunder and pour right when we started hiking.  Thankfully, we were close enough to shelter and we were able to wait it out until the worst part of the storm was over, but we still ended up hiking in the rain for a little bit.  It actually ended up being kinda cool.  The skies thundered above us and the forest seemed as dark as night.  For a while, I was a little bit concerned as it was so dark I was afraid we'd get lost...and we did! But more on that later, for now let's talk about the historic Ledges Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park!

The Ledges Trail is the most popular attraction in the park.  It is a moderate 1.8 to 2.2 mile loop that winds past massive, moss-covered Sharon Sandstone and conglomerate rock formations and has narrow rock passages, and towering cliffs.  The terrain is rocky and uneven, so I recommend walking sticks.  The elevation change is -105 feet and it takes about 1.5 -2 hours to complete if you don't get lost 😆.

Now you're probably wondering how did we get lost if it is a loop?  I don't know, we're idiots I guess.  It always cracks me up how often my husband and I get lost when we're such experienced hikers.  I think I need to pay for the AllTrails app.  I see a lot of hikers use it when we are on trails and they always seem to know their way around.  But in my defense, there were a lot of network of trails and it seemed every sign said "Ledges Loop" so  maybe that's how we messed up.

But getting lost in the woods isn't always a bad thing, as we saw an area we might not have seen if we went the right away.  We ended up seeing a lot more cool rock formations going the wrong way.  We also hiked the most "boring" part of the trail  (if you could even call this part boring, I mean just look at this scenery) in the darkness and the rain, and by the time we reached the best part of Ledges it stopped raining and the sun came out!

Hiking the Ledges Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park takes you out of the ordinary Midwestern landscape and plunges you into a prehistoric, moss-covered world.  This trail is widely considered the crown jewel of Northeast Ohio hiking.  Surrounded by towering hemlock trees and massive rock walls, you will quickly forget that you are just a short drive from Cleveland and Akron.

Here is a short video where you can hear the thunder and rain that we experienced in the forest. 

Eventually we came across this map and realized that we hung a right at the start of the trail instead of a left and that is how we missed the most massive interesting ledges seen at the bottom of the map.  I could clearly see the "loop" on the trail map now, but somehow we ended going all the way around till we reached the Octagon Shelter on the top of the map, but we saw more ledges that way as that's the grey color you see on the map.

Once we knew where we were, we decided to head back to the start of the trail, and this time go left instead of right so we could see the most famous ledges. 

First we went back to the very start of the trail and lo and behold I saw the map we missed when we started!  I always take a photo of a trail map before we start our hike, but because of the pouring rain, I think I was distracted.  Oh well, it gave us the opportunity to use the potty again at the shelter before we headed out.

This time, we turned left at the start of the trail and I knew instantly we were exactly where we were supposed to be as I saw lots of pictures of the ledges when planning this trip and the scenery was looking familiar.   By now the rain had ended and the sun was peeking out, so it was the perfect time to be here.  It turned out getting lost wasn't such a bad idea, as if we had been here when it was dark and rainy we wouldn't have seen or enjoyed it as much.

Stepping down the massive rock staircases drops you directly to the floor of the Ritchie Ledges.  They are 30 foot tall sandstone cliffs formed 300 million years ago according to some scientists or thousands of years ago according to creationists.  The air down here feels entirely different-a cool, damp microclimate where green ferns burst from rocky fissures, and thick coats of moss carpet the stone walls. 

Moss always interests me, but after a rain it is truly spectacular as the colors are so vibrant.  Just look at the moss on the rocks!

Every twist in the trail reveals new green ferns and cool microclimates.

If there are too many photos of me in the scenery, sorry but hubby had the camera this time.  I think having a person in the photo is a good thing anyway as it gives you perspective of the size of these rock formations.

The trail is mostly dirt, but there are also stone and wooden steps and bridges that add interest.

The trail goes around the front of the ledges, but you can get off the trail (without getting lost) to get inside these massive rock formations.

I love the ferns growing on this rock.  How do they do that?  Oh, and see little ole me walking on the path in the distance?  Yup, having a person in the photo gives you perspective.  Ledges is amazing! It sure felt like I was walking through a prehistoric forest...especially after it rained!

Look at this narrow gap!  You can squeeze through to see what's inside if you dare!

This opening was a bit more spacious so we went through this one.

And this is what it looked like on the inside.

These cool stone steps led us up and back and out of the Ledges trail.

The Ledges Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers an unforgettable journey through ancient rock formations and mossy forests that leaves a lasting impression long after you finish the hike. Whether you seek a quiet afternoon in nature or a lost-in-the-forest adventure like us, this loop proves why Ohio's only national park is a true Midwestern treasure.

See you next week with how we finished our day in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Have A Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!

For more posts on our Midwest Road Trip, check these out:

A Gilded Age Getaway:  Our Boat Tour of Lake Geneva's Black Point Estate

The Best of Indiana Dunes National Park:  Tackling Dune Succession and Mt. Baldy

Exploring the Best of Cuyahoga Valley:  Brecksville Reservation and the Towpath Trail 

 

Chasing Waterfalls in the Cuyahoga Valley