Brandywine Falls Trail

Brandywine Falls is the most iconic waterfall in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a 65-foot cascade of Brandywine Creek over columnar jointed Sharon Conglomerate and shale that produces a layered, tiered effect unlike the single-drop falls more common in Ohio. The columnar jointing — a pattern of vertical fractures formed as ancient lava cooled — is unusually well-displayed here, giving the falls face a geometric, almost architectural appearance. A boardwalk and staircase system descends from the rim-level parking area to a lower observation deck with a direct, close-range view of the falls and its mist-shrouded plunge pool. The surrounding hemlock and mixed hardwood forest thrives in the perpetual spray zone. The trail connects to the broader trail network of Cuyahoga Valley, including the Stanford House and Stanford Trail for longer loop options. Spring runoff produces the most powerful flow; summer flows are often reduced. The falls are particularly dramatic in winter when ice formations build on the shale faces and a massive ice cone grows at the base. A historic farmstead, the Inn at Brandywine Falls, sits adjacent to the trailhead. National Park rules apply — no fees at this trailhead, and leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.