Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Stanford Trailhead to Brandywine Falls (Blog Hike #1096; Golden Staff Hike)

Trails: Stanford and Brandywine Gorge Trails
Hike Location: Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Geographic Location: southwest of Twinsburg, OH (41.27116, -81.55677)
Length: 3.9 miles
Difficulty: 6/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: October 2025
Overview: A lollipop loop to scenic Brandywine Falls.
Park Information: https://www.nps.gov/cuva/index.htm
Hike Route Map: 

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming October 16, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: Southeast of Cleveland, take I-271 to SR 303 (exit 12).  Exit and go east on SR 303.  Drive SR 303 east 1.8 miles to Riverview Road and turn left on Riverview Rd.  Drive Riverview Rd. north 1.6 miles to Boston Mills Road and turn right on Boston Mills Rd.  Drive Boston Mills Rd. east 0.2 miles to Stanford Road and turn left on Stanford Rd.  Stanford Rd. deadends at the large Stanford Trailhead parking area, where this hike begins.

The hike: Located in northeast Ohio in the suburbs southeast of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Valley National Park has the distinction of being Ohio's only national park, and therefore it is sometimes thought of as the best park and hiking destination in Ohio.  Yet Cuyahoga Valley is not your typical national park in several ways.  First, unlike many of the big western national parks that were established in the early 1900s, Cuyahoga Valley's 32,783 acres entered the public domain only in 1974 with the creation of Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area.

            Second, the recreation area earned its promotion to national park status in 2000, making it the first national park that started as a national recreation area.  Finally, the park still has many private inholdings and even entire towns within its boundaries.  As a consequence, you can be inside the park and not even know you are in the park.  Yet for people willing to put up with this park's oddities and suburban location, a fantastic experience awaits.

            Cuyahoga Valley National Park is most famous for 2 things.  First, the park's Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail is a 21-mile hike/bike trail along the Cuyahoga River that uses the old canal towpath.  Second, many of Ohio's most scenic and popular waterfalls are located within the park's boundaries.  I only had time to do 1 hike in this large park, and the hike described here involves both of this park's main attractions.  This hike starts at a trailhead for the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail but heads away from the river to reach Brandywine Falls, which is possibly Ohio's most famous waterfall.

Start of the Stanford Trail

            The Stanford Trailhead parking area was enlarged and relocated in 2025, and I parked and started at the new trailhead.  From the information sign at the southeast corner of the parking lot, head south on the entrance trail, and in only a couple hundred feet intersect a connector trail.  Going right on the connector trail leads to the famous Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail, but our hike turns left to cross the entrance road and head around the old trailhead parking lot beside the Stanford House.  James and George Stanford built this farmhouse in 1843, and it served as the center of the Stanford farm well into the 1900's.  The Stanford Barn stands nearby.

Passing the old trailhead parking area

            Now on the Stanford Trail, you head northeast through the old Stanford farmland, which today is young shrubby forest with only small trees.  At 0.4 miles, the trail crosses a nice stream on a nice wooden bridge.  Next the first of 3 moderate climbs begins; the trail gains about 150 feet of elevation over 0.3 miles.  A couple of broad switchbacks make the grade easier, and the forest on the hillside is a nice mature mixture of oak, hickory, and maple that was showing near-peak leaf color when I hiked here in mid-October.

Crossing a stream

            0.7 miles into the hike, you reach the broad and flat ridgetop.  The trail makes a sweeping left curve on the ridgetop to reach an intersection just past 0.9 miles.  A spur trail to Averill Pond angles left, and you could add on the spur if you wanted a little more distance.  The main Stanford Trail turns right and begins descending on a moderately steep grade via some wooden stairs.

Hiking on the ridgetop

            At 1.2 miles, you reach the east end of the Stanford Trail and its intersection with the Brandywine Gorge Trail, which is the loop portion of this hike.  To get to Brandywine Falls faster, I turned right and used the trail going left as my return route, thus hiking the loop counterclockwise.  The trail climbs out of the gorge via more wooden stairs before joining an old road.

Climbing stairs out of the gorge

            At 1.55 miles, you intersect the trail that leads from the Brandywine Falls parking area to the falls.  Turn left twice to descend several sets of wooden steps and boardwalks that lead to the lower Brandywine Falls overlook.  Brandywine Falls is a 60-65 foot cascade-type waterfall, and it had plenty of water volume even though I came here during a fairly dry period.  2 distinct rock layers can be seen, sandstone on top of shale, and the rocks give this waterfall a dark and stark appearance.  You hiked a decent way to get this view while most people just walk down here from the parking lot, so enjoy the benches that give great waterfall views.

Stairs and boardwalk at Brandywine Falls

Brandywine Falls

            Retrace your steps up the wooden stairs, then turn left to continue the Brandywine Gorge Loop.  Near the top of Brandywine Falls, you reach the former site of Brandywine Village.  The village was established in 1814 when George Wallace built a sawmill here that was powered by the waterfall.  This site was used for industrial purposes as recently as 1937, when the Champion Electric Company manufactured restaurant appliances here.  The concrete block ruins of the most recent building can still be seen.

Champion Electric Company ruins

            Just past 1.8 miles, you reach a paved Bike and Hike Trail.  Turn left to cross Brandywine Creek above the falls, then stay with the paved trail as it curves left away from Brandywine Road.  2 miles into the hike, turn left at a signed intersection to leave the asphalt and continue the Brandywine Gorge Trail.  The trail descends into the gorge on a moderate but rocky track, and some benches offer nice gorge views to the left.  This area is more natural than the touristy waterfall area you passed earlier.

Descending into Brandywine Gorge

Brandywine Creek in Brandywine Gorge

            Just shy of 2.5 miles, the trail curves left and crosses Brandywine Creek on a narrow but nice footbridge.  At 2.7 miles, you close the loop.  Turn right and retrace your steps out the Stanford Trail to return to the parking lot and complete the hike.