Mountain climbing to Twin Sister Falls is without doubt one of the greatest methods to find a hidden waterfall in Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park. Whereas many guests flock to standard locations like Brandywine Falls and Blue Hen Falls, Twin Sister Falls provides a extra secluded expertise surrounded by towering hardwood forests, moss-covered stone, and the peaceable sounds of the park’s winding streams. Though the waterfall is seasonal and flows most impressively after intervals of heavy rain or spring snowmelt, the hike is rewarding all year long due to its scenic woodland setting and lack of crowds. Whether or not you are looking for one of the best waterfall hikes in Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park, hidden hikes in Northeast Ohio, or a singular path that showcases a unique facet of CVNP, climbing to Twin Sister Falls is a memorable journey that deserves a spot on each hiker’s itinerary.
Water water spigot at Brecksville Station
Do not miss checking to see if the canal is shallow sufficient to cross earlier than bushwhacking to the falls
Mountain climbing to Twin Sister Falls
The hike to Twin Sister Falls begins on the Station Street Bridge Trailhead, situated close to the northern finish of the park. A big parking space makes this one of many best trailheads to entry. From the parking zone, hikers cross Station Street Bridge, which spans the Cuyahoga River at Pinery Narrows, the narrowest part of the Cuyahoga River Gorge inside Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park.
Throughout the bridge, the route joins the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Path and heads north the place hikers cross beneath the Brecksville-Northfield Bridge.
A brief distance later, a big bench seems on the proper beside a metal footbridge crossing the Ohio & Erie Canal. This marks the purpose the place hikers have two choices for reaching Twin Sister Falls. The primary choice is to depart the Towpath and bushwhack by means of the woods alongside the east facet of the canal. Whereas this route avoids crossing the creek later, thick vegetation could make it sluggish and troublesome through the rising season, to not point out very slippery. The second choice, and usually the higher alternative from summer time by means of winter, is to stay on the Towpath Path.
Persevering with north alongside the Towpath Path for roughly 1 / 4 mile brings hikers to Mudcatcher Falls, a small man-made waterfall marked by a Nationwide Park Service signal that is troublesome to overlook. Right here, when the water ranges are low, hikers can rock hop throughout the canal earlier than passing Mudcatcher Falls and starting the upstream trek towards Twin Sister Falls.
From this level ahead, the route turns into extra of a creek stroll than a standard path. A faint user-created path seems in locations, however a lot of the hike follows the stream itself. Waterproof footwear are extremely beneficial, particularly after current rain.
The creek winds by means of a ravishing, secluded ravine lined with towering bushes, moss-covered rocks, and quite a few fallen logs that add each character and some minor obstacles alongside the best way. Even after heavy rainfall, the creek is mostly solely a number of inches deep, with most deeper swimming pools simply bypassed.
About half a mile into the creek part, hikers attain a small cascade spilling over layered shale on the left facet of the ravine. The simplest route is to remain to the proper, utilizing a big fallen tree for stability whereas crossing one of many slickest sections of the hike. Though the footing might be surprisingly slippery, most hikers ought to have little hassle navigating it.
Simply past a bend, Twin Sister Falls comes into view. Standing roughly 65 ft tall, the waterfall cascades in two distinct streams over a broad shale ledge, creating one of the crucial distinctive waterfalls in Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park. At roughly 5 ft taller than close by Brandywine Falls, Twin Sister Falls ranks among the many tallest waterfalls within the park. Whereas it lacks the developed overlooks and quick access of Brandywine, its distant setting means hikers typically have the falls fully to themselves, even on busy weekends. To see the falls at its greatest, plan your go to inside hours of a heavy rain. At different instances, the waterfall sometimes dwindles to a small trickle.
In the course of the winter months, Twin Sister Falls turns into much more spectacular as ice formations rework the dual cascades into towering frozen columns. Mixed with the virtually full absence of crowds, it is one of many greatest winter hikes in Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park. After having fun with the falls, merely retrace your route down the creek and return through the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Path to the Station Street Bridge Trailhead.
