On May 5, Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) temporarily closed the Brandywine Falls parking lot and the Brandywine Gorge Trail’s upper section due to safety issues.
A portion of the Summit Metroparks Bike and Hike Trail is also closed, making the waterfall inaccessible from that trail. The closure will take effect until September 30 because of numerous construction projects in the area. Park staff will regularly inspect the conditions and reopen some parts if it is safe.
The boardwalk falls viewing area, and the lower section of the gorge trail will remain open, according to the report.
Visitors can park at Boston Mill Visitor Center and take the Stanford Trail, around five miles round trip from the falls. Usually, parking in that area fills up between 10 AM and 3 PM, especially on weekends.
“Because we know that this is a popular place to experience in CVNP, we made a good faith effort to keep the area open during a major construction project,” said Superintendent Lisa Petit.
“As the work progresses, we have been closely monitoring potential hazards in the area, and we have found that the parking lot is no longer safe for vehicles and pedestrians. Closing it is the only option at this time, and we will reopen it as soon as conditions allow safe access for the public.”
Early this year, the park started a major project for the improvement of visitor amenities by building a new restroom with running water and its independent wastewater treatment system. Contractors are making progress and are on schedule to finish the project by the end of September, according to the report.
Summit Country Engineer is also replacing a Brandywine Road bridge near the parking entrance. The road will be closed with a detour in place.
The park encourages visitors to respect all closures and not attempt to park along the road or turn around in private driveways.
For more information and updates, visit Brandywine Falls Restroom Improvements – Cuyahoga Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).
CVNP encompasses 33,000 acres along the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio. Managed by the National Park Service, CVNP combines cultural, historical, recreational, and natural resources in one setting. For more information, visit us at www.nps.gov/cuva on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or call 440-717-3890.
