Ledges Trail

The Ledges Trail is a 1.8-mile loop around a plateau of sandstone cliffs in the Virginia Kendall area of Cuyahoga Valley. Its main draw is the path that drops below the Ritchie Ledges, then climbs back out to a view over the valley. Plan on about 1.5 hours; the rocky, unpaved tread and steps make this moderate walk feel busier underfoot than its distance suggests. Mileage sources differ: the current trail description gives 1.8 miles, while the 2022 area map lists 2.2. Use 1.8 for the standalone loop and follow the Ledges Trail signs; adjoining connectors add more route choices and distance.

From the Ledges Trailhead, follow the path to the right of the shelter and down below the cliffs. Counterclockwise is a good way around: you get the ledges corridor before the climb back to the overlook. The tread is rough and unpaved, with roots, loose stones, rock shelves, and steps. It feels cooler and darker beneath the sandstone than on the open plateau. Several connectors meet this route, so check the map at the kiosk and follow the Ledges Trail markers instead of turning onto Pine Grove or Haskell Run. If you only want the overlook, a separate short walk crosses the grassy playfield from the parking lot.

Ice Box Cave sits beside the rock corridor, but it is closed to protect bats. Stay out of the cave, keep back from the cliffs, and do not climb the formations. After the lower ledges, the trail climbs a large stone staircase toward the plateau and Ledges Overlook. The view opens over Cuyahoga Valley, though trees can obscure parts of the long view; the rock corridor is the more dependable draw. For a photo, include a strip of path under one of the pitted overhangs so the rock's scale reads clearly.

These cliffs are made of Sharon Sandstone and Conglomerate. The geology panel explains that fast streams crossing a steamy swamp about 315 to 320 million years ago carried sand and pebbles that eventually hardened into the rock around you. Ferns, moss, and hemlocks gather in the shaded stretch below the walls, adding to the sense of stepping into a different pocket of the park.

People came to play among these rocks in the 1800s. Cleveland industrialist Hayward Kendall bought the Ritchie Farm as a retreat and willed it to the state when he died in 1927. The area became Virginia Kendall Park and joined Cuyahoga Valley National Park in 1974. The stone staircase has its own unsettled history: it has long been credited to the Civilian Conservation Corps, but a 1906 photograph shows similar steps. The original builder has not been established.

Use the Ledges Trailhead main lot at 701 Truxell Road. Follow the path to the right of the shelter and consult the map by the gate; several trails overlap here. The lot closes at dusk. This trail is not wheelchair accessible, and its uneven rocks and steps can be tough for anyone unsteady. Leashed pets are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet. In winter, ice and snow can make the stone footing slippery.