OutReserve

Cuyahoga Valley National Park Picnic Shelters

A park visitor and her dog enjoy the Ledges overlook
Visitors explore the Ledges
Ledges Shelter
Hikers look at the high rock walls at the Ledges
Octagon Shelter Exterior

About Cuyahoga Valley National Park Picnic Shelters

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a destination for millions of visitors each year who enjoy hiking, riding the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad , biking and picnicking. Whether you need an area large enough for a family reunion or just an intimate spot for two, Cuyahoga Valley is an ideal destination. Picnic areas are scattered throughout the park. Two rustic shelters, Ledges and Octagon, are available for reservation in the Virginia Kendall Unit of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
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Apr
May
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Dec

Open year round

This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.

365 Days

Reviews (33)

What Guests Are Saying

Cuyahoga Valley National Park Picnic Shelters offer beautiful settings, such as the Octagon and Ledges, perfect for special events like grad parties. Reviewers appreciated the helpful staff and smooth reservation process, along with upgrades to picnic tables and good parking. While there were minor issues with bathrooms and the kitchen being locked, overall experiences were positive and enjoyable.

Review Summary

4.5
33 reviews
5
72.7%
24
4
18.2%
6
3
3.0%
1
2
3.0%
1
1
3.0%
1

Kaleigh V

November 4, 2021

5

Shelter was easy to access and use. Provided firewood was nearby and it was easy to light the fireplaces for warmth. We had an offsite work meeting here and it worked out very well with the added bonus of getting to show off the National Park to our counterparts from out of state.

Sara W

October 13, 2021

4

It was an easy process and the place was beautiful.

Linda M

September 25, 2021

5

The Octogon shelter is beautiful. There were plenty of picnic tables, but they were a little heavy when trying to arrange them. The shelter is located close to the large parking lot for guests and there are two accessible parking spaces next to the shelter.

Margaret S

September 14, 2021

5

Lovely shelter with outdoor covered picnic tables. Very useable.

David L

July 31, 2021

5

Very nice facility. Clean.

Wendy R

June 5, 2021

5

We live nearby and this is one of our favorite spots in the CVNP. All of our children have had their high school graduation parties at the Octagon. This year, the weather was chilly so we used the fireplaces. It ended up creating such a special atmosphere. This shelter and the open space as well as hiking lend itself to the perfect location for an event.

Bob E

January 25, 2020

5

large, clean and well-maintained

Martha E

January 24, 2020

3

The facility is great. The service is not. We had a very difficult time getting wood for the fireplaces. The park employee said that he could bring us one load of wood, which is not enough for two fireplaces to be there all day. When we asked him to bring a second load, he claimed that in so many words, it was not his job. I am a supporter of CVNP and to receive level of service is disheartening!

Joseph H

January 17, 2020

4

Space is well-kept and easy to access. As it's in a public park, make sure you arrive early. We had another school group that had set up a few things in the space we had reserved. If nobody reserves the structures - which we had done - others will understandably try to use them. We asked the other group to move their materials and it was fine.

Chrissy M

January 17, 2020

1

You can eat lunch, play in the field, and then go on a hike all in one place!

Location Cuyahoga Valley National Park Picnic Shelters

Address:
15610 Vaughn Road
Brecksville, OH, 44141
United States

Latitude & Longitude: 41.2206 / -81.5167

Elevation: 279 feet

Policies & Rules

Category About
General

Only the shelter and the large grill adjacent to the shelter are reservable; the fields and restrooms are open to the public.

General

SHELTER HOURS:
May 1 - September 30: 10 a.m. to 9.p.m.
October 1 - April 30: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Both shelters gates are closed at dusk until morning.

General

Space heaters and other large appliances are not permitted. The fireplaces are for ambient heating and do not heat the entire building; dress warmly in winter months. 

General

KEY CODE PICK-UP: 
Keys for the shelter are kept in a lock box on site. The access code for the key box must be picked up at the Boston Mill Visitor Center located at 6947 Riverview Road, Peninsula, Ohio 44264. The access code may be picked up between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For reservations occurring on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or New Years Day, the code must be picked up a day in advance. Reservation holder must must bring a copy of the permit when picking up the access code. Rental fees must be paid in advance to receive a key. At the conclusion of the rental, leave the key in the drop box located near the shelter. 

General

Decoration of shelters must not alter the historic structures in any way, including damage from nails, tacks or tape.

General

Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

General

Bounce houses and other inflatables are not permitted.

General

Catering trucks and guest vehicles are prohibited from using the service driveway. The service driveway gate cannot be opened for public use

General

A Special Use Permit is required for weddings outside the shelter. Visit the Permits & Reservations page on the park website for more information.

General

There are two bins of firewood provided with a reservations. The group must provide their own kindling and start the fire themselves. Requests for additional wood are not available. 

General

Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states.  

General

Ice Box Cave (at the Ledges) is closed year-round to all park visitors in an effort to slow the spread of White-Nose Syndrome. This emerging fungal disease has killed millions of bats in the US. The main method of transfer of the disease is by bat to bat transmission. Humans can also transport the fungal spores on their shoes, clothes and gear from contaminated sites to new sites. Please help protect our bats! Respect all posted trail restrictions and closed areas. Read more at Bats in the Park on our website. https://www.nps.gov/cuva/learn/nature/bats-in-the-park.htm

General

Visit the Cuyahoga Valley National Park website for more information and Things to Do in the park!

General

CANCELLATION POLICY: Cancellations more that 14 days before arrival will receive a refund minus a $10 cancellation fee. Cancellations less than 14 days out will forfeit the entire fee.

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