CLEVELAND — Editor's Note: The above video features a segment of Boss Ladies of CLE with Cuyahoga Valley National Park superintendent Lisa Petit
As the COVID-19 pandemic raged throughout the nation in 2020, apparently many Northeast Ohioans found refuge by heading outdoors to the state's only national park.
According to the National Park Service, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) ranked seventh in the U.S. in the list of the most visited national parks last year. Here is the top 10:
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park - 12.1 million
- Yellowstone National Park - 3.8 million
- Zion National Park - 3.6 million
- Rocky Mountain National Park - 3.3 million
- Grand Teton National Park - 3.3 million
- Grand Canyon National Park - 2.9 million
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park - 2.8 million
- Acadia National Park - 2.7 million
- Olympic National Park - 2.5 million
- Joshua Tree National Park - 2.4 million
Out of the 423 parks in the National Park System in 2020, there were 62 with the naming designation "national park" when the visitor statistics were collected.
CVNP was designated as Cuyahoga Valley National Park on October 11, 2000. It had previously been known as Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area. The 33,000-acre park borders Cleveland to the north and Akron to the south.
Find out more about the Cuyahoga Valley National Park by clicking here. You'll find scenery and wildlife for photographers. There are miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, paddling, and cross-country skiing. Farms and markets sell fresh food, while venues offer concerts and programs.
More headlines:
- Boss Ladies of CLE: CVNP Superintendent Lisa Petit
- Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad announces COVID-19 protocols for North Pole Adventure ride
- Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad announces iconic Nickel Plate steam locomotive to return in September
- Purchase of old Brandywine Golf Course property draws opposition