Top 10 Little Known Facts about Cuyahoga Valley National Park

1. It’s in Ohio, between Cleveland and Akron

2. Cuyahoga means “Crooked River” in the language of the Native Americans who used to live here

3. The Cuyahoga River was one of those infamous rivers that were so polluted by the dumping of industrial chemicals and sewage that they frequently caught fire 

4. The Cuyahoga River fire of 1969, also called the Lake Erie Fire, was written up in Time Magazine, had a song written about it, Randy Newman's "Burn On", and became a catalyst for the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (1970) and the federal Clean Water Act (1972).  

5. By 1989, the Cuyahoga River was not quite pristine, but it was fireproof, at least according to the New York Times  

6. Cuyahoga Valley was designated as a National Recreation Area in 1974, and became a national park in 2000 

7. The river is now much healthier, as indicated by the fish and wildlife. Researchers use electrofishing to determine the numbers and kinds of fish in the river. Not to worry, when performed correctly, electrofishing results in no permanent harm to fish

8. Cuyahoga Valley National Park is no Yellowstone, but we are very much enjoying our visit

9. It does not always rain in the park, just when we are here. Thank you, Hurricane Zêta!  What’s with Z following E anyway? It’s all Greek to me. 

10. The Little Tykes Headquarters is a few miles from the Park. We passed it several times driving around the area. Sadly, they are not giving tours.

                  

Blue Hen Falls 

I trade my hiking poles for an umbrella

Brandywine Falls