The Ledges Path in Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park is very gorgeous in winter, when snow settles into the cracks and crevices of its large sandstone cliffs. Icicles typically dangle from the Sharon Conglomerate ledges, giving the path a quiet, nearly frozen-in-time really feel. With fewer hikers on the trail, winter brings a peaceable solitude that highlights the pure great thing about the forest and rock formations. The path winds by slim passages and overlooks that supply scenic views of snow-covered hemlocks and pines. Packed snow and occasional ice could make footing slick, including a way of journey to a winter hike. Total, winter climbing on The Ledges Path gives some of the scenic and serene cold-weather experiences in all of CVNP.
Trailhead elevation 1,040′
Do not miss going off-trail and exploring the hidden passages
Mountain climbing The Ledges Path
With Northeast Ohio lastly rebounding from a number of weeks of frigid winter climate, it seems like the right time to get out and hike The Ledges Path in Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park another time earlier than the snow melts and the path turns to mud. Once I pull into the trailhead parking zone, I’m stunned to see only one different car—particularly contemplating how widespread this path is year-round. I toss on my Arc’teryx jacket and hit the path, ranging from the northeast nook of the lot to skip the japanese part, which is usually naked hardwood forest this time of 12 months.
Instantly, I move the Ledges Shelter, a spot full of reminiscences from childhood clam bakes, when everybody on my previous man’s facet of the household was nonetheless alive and kicking. From there, the path rapidly turns right into a sheet of ice, an indication of what’s ready under the cliffs. A few quarter mile in, I dangle a proper and enter a stand of japanese hemlock, a hanging distinction to the leafless hardwoods under.
Quickly, temporary views of the sandstone cliffs seem earlier than the path descends to the bottom of the ledges. On the backside, I flip left and arrive at Ice Field Cave, a well known characteristic alongside the Ledges Path. Immediately the cave is gated to guard bats, however I nonetheless keep in mind exploring deep inside as a child, the place temperatures stayed cool even on the most popular summer time days. We used to terrorize my youthful sister in that cave.
Simply past the cave, an icy stone staircase climbs towards a towering wall of sandstone cliffs.
On the prime, a slim crevice hides to the left—typically neglected by non-local hikers. Rising up right here, I do know the passage results in historic carvings courting again to the 1800s. I drop my pack, squeeze by the tight opening, and emerge right into a slim hall etched with native historical past.
After snapping just a few photographs, I proceed on, ducking by one other small opening that results in one among my favourite off-trail spots within the space. With the rocks coated in ice, I rigorously slide down reasonably than danger a fall, which I am well-known to do.
Beneath, the realm is quiet, distant, and eerily nonetheless—some of the peaceable sections of the Ledges space and a spot I explored numerous occasions as a child.
Ultimately, one other slim crevice leads me again to the primary path, the place towering ash timber and hemlocks line the bottom of the cliffs. You may simply spend hours exploring off-trail right here, however with out microspikes and with ice all over the place, I persist with the primary loop.
About midway by the hike, I attain some of the iconic options of the Ledges Path: a stone staircase constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps within the Thirties. Almost each hiker pauses right here to admire the craftsmanship and seize a photograph.
Farther alongside, simply previous the primary signal for the Octagon Shelter, I cease at a crevice that gives top-of-the-line views of glacial striations, etched into the rock by shifting ice over the last Ice Age.
The path continues previous extra sandstone cliffs, hemlocks, and naked hardwoods. The rolling, ice-covered terrain begins to put on on my ankles, however one way or the other I handle to keep away from a fall—no less than for now.
Not far forward, I move some of the well-known rock outcroppings alongside the Ledges Path, full of hundreds of white quartz pebbles. These cliffs are product of Sharon Conglomerate, a rock fashioned almost 300 million years in the past when pebbles had been naturally cemented along with sand and dust. Irrespective of what number of occasions I hike this path, I at all times cease to take a more in-depth look.
Ultimately, on a modest icy climb, I lastly slip and fall—no shock there. I am stunned it took this lengthy. Hell, just some days in the past I used to be climbing out to Blue Hen & Buttermilk Falls and slipped 4 or 5 occasions. On the prime, indicators level towards the Ledges Overlook. Whereas the view isn’t a lot this time of 12 months, it’s one other spot loaded with reminiscences, so I cease anyway.
Simply past the overlook, I cross a snowy discipline I used to play soccer in earlier than returning to my car on the far facet of the loop. It’s solely a few miles, nevertheless it’s a hike full of historical past, geology, and nostalgia. The Ledges Path is among the finest winter hikes in Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park, and regardless of what number of occasions I return, it by no means loses its magic.
