Mountain climbing to Indigo Lake in Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park provides a peaceable and scenic escape, simply accessed through the Towpath Path. Ranging from the south close to the Ira Trailhead, the route winds by the center of the valley, guiding hikers previous the serene wetlands of Beaver Marsh—a perfect spot for recognizing herons, turtles, and the occasional beaver in case you’re fortunate. The flat, crushed limestone path makes for a simple and accessible hike, with dense forests and open marshland providing a quiet rhythm of adjusting surroundings. As you proceed north, a spur path results in Indigo Lake—a deep, nonetheless pool of water nestled quietly between wooded hillsides, its glassy floor typically mirroring the sky. It’s a easy, rewarding hike with simply sufficient nature, wildlife, and stillness to make you neglect you are not removed from the bustle of close by cities.
Do not miss dawn on the again finish of the lake and recognizing wildlife at Beaver March
Mountain climbing to Indigo Lake
Heather and I arrive on the Towpath’s Ida Trailhead at 5:30 AM on a cool July morning and shortly hit the path. Our purpose is to succeed in Indigo Lake in time to catch the dawn—the primary mild spilling over the bushes is all the time definitely worth the early begin. The car parking zone is sort of empty, with only a few autos that seemingly belong to early-rising cyclists.
Heading north on the Towpath, we arrive at Lock 26—one in every of 44 locks from the Ohio & Erie Canal discovered inside Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park—after a brief stroll. An interpretive signal shares its story and the lives of Charles and Susan Carter, who lived in a home beside it within the mid-1800s, again when the world was often called Ira. Charles labored as each a canal boat captain and locktender, whereas the household farmed corn and hay to feed their dairy cows. Like many native farmers, the Carters delivered milk to the close by Hawkins Cheese Manufacturing unit—one in every of a number of within the area, which got here to be often called “Cheesedom.”
A number of hundred yards later, we attain the boardwalk over Beaver Marsh. It’s a favourite spot for glimpsing blue herons, turtles, and even the occasional beaver, however this morning the marsh continues to be and quiet, with no wildlife in sight. A delicate fog lingers within the air, and solely birdsong breaks the silence.
We proceed north, past a view of a bend within the Cuyahoga River, and attain the Hale Farm Connector Path simply earlier than the 0.9-mile mark. Turning left, we observe the connector for a few third of a mile, crossing Riverview Street earlier than becoming a member of the paved path from the Indigo Lake car parking zone. Certain, we may’ve pushed straight to the lake, however with a morning this stunning, we needed to get out and stretch our legs slightly.
On the entrance of the lake sits Indigo Lake Station, one in every of a number of stops alongside the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. After a fast look, we proceed alongside the paved path till it transitions to a grassy path that traces the lake’s northern edge.
The grassy path ultimately opens up into a large discipline, the place a delicate slope guides us right down to the lake’s western edge. Right here, Heather and I cease to soak in one other beautiful valley dawn. A delicate fog drifts off the water, whereas reflections of the forest and streaks of pink from the sky ripple throughout the lake’s floor. Heather spots a beaver gliding by the water on its morning swim, then factors out the remnants of an ash tree—freshly gnawed down by one other busy beaver.
Indigo Lake was as soon as the positioning of Grey’s Quarry, a gravel and sand pit, the land turned a part of the Nationwide Park Service a couple of days after Christmas in 1974, with the institution of the Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Recreation Space. The previous pit was later stuffed with water by park employees and subsequently given its present identify. Fed by a number of close by pure springs, the 90-feet deep lake continues to be sustained year-round.
After having fun with the fantastic thing about the morning mild, we make our approach again to the Towpath and head again to the trailhead. This was our first go to to Indigo Lake collectively—and positively not our final. The autumn colours listed here are beautiful, and we’ll be again in a couple of months to take all of them in.
