Cuyahoga Valley National Park's Largest Artificial Lake Is An Ohio Gem With Wetland Trails, Fishing, And Wildlife

Ohio may only have a single national park, but it's an impressive one. Cuyahoga Valley National Park follows the curves of the Cuyahoga River as it flows through Northeast Ohio. It's a diverse ecosystem that's home to forests, grasslands, wetlands, and more than 100 lakes and ponds. The man-made Kendall Lake in particular is a serene spot to fish, hike, and spot birds and other animals.

In 1975, 32,000 acres that straddled 22 miles of the Cuyahoga River – an 80-mile-long river that eventually empties into Lake Erie – were protected as the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area (eventually Cuyahoga Valley National Park) to combat urbanization. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which was founded during the Great Depression for unemployed workers to upgrade publicly owned land, went to work. One of the CCC's projects was Kendall Lake in Peninsula, a small, under-the-radar town with impressive outdoor views.

Kendall Lake was formed when a dam was built on Salt Run, a tributary of the Cuyahoga River, in 1935. A sandy beach, bathhouse, fishing pier, and trail were soon added around the 12-acre lake. Though swimming is, unfortunately, no longer allowed, Kendall Lake is still the biggest lake in Cuyahoga Valley and a destination for outdoor recreation.

When you arrive at Kendall Lake, you'll find a paved path with a bulletin board. This is the beginning of the "excellent hiking trails," as one Google reviewer describes them. The Kendall Lake Loop is the main trail around the lake. It's an easy, 1.5-mile, mostly unpaved trail that's used by hikers and dog walkers most of the year, before snowshoers take over in the winter. The trail hugs the edge of the cattail-lined lake, moves through the forest — full of cherry, maple, and pine trees— and up small hills with lovely views of the water. A deer or coyote could be sharing the path with you.

If the Kendall Lake Loop isn't long enough, you can extend your hike by connecting it with another trail. The Cross Country Trail from Kendall Lake heads southeast of the lake. It's a moderate, 3-mile trail that loops around wildflower-filled meadows, over a little pedestrian bridge, and into tree-lined passageways. Or, in the opposite direction, you can follow the even longer and steeper Kendall Lake Loop Trail and Salt Run Trail. This 4.5-mile trail climbs into the forest, over hills, and up wooden staircases along the stream that bears its name. "This is a great walk through the woods, and it would make sense for a trail run," according to one AllTrails user.

You can also go fishing on Kendall Lake. The stone-and-wood bathhouse, which the CCC built into the hillside, is on the lake's eastern shore. Outside the historic building, you'll find benches and picnic tables scattered across the lawn, as well as a wooden fishing pier jutting into the water. It's a tranquil spot to fish for bluegills, channel catfish, largemouth bass, and pumpkinseeds. You might see a beaver or a kayaker paddling across the water while you're casting. Keep an eye out for amphibians and waterfowl, too.

There's no entrance fee to visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park or Kendall Lake. Adults (age 16 and older) need to purchase a license from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to go fishing, though. Catch-and-release fishing is recommended, though not mandated, here. After enjoying Kendall Lake, you should follow the nearby Ledges Trail, which winds through stunning rock formations and a spectacular overlook. Less than 5 miles away, you'll also find Boston, Ohio's once-thriving village now largely lost to time.

It's easy to reach Kendall Lake from two of Ohio's airports. The first option is Akron-Canton Airport (CAK), which is about 27 miles to the south. It receives nonstop flights from roughly two dozen, mostly East Coast, cities. The second option, for additional departure cities, or if you're starting north of the lake, is Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), which is 30 miles away.