Cuyahoga Valley National Park Picnic Shelters Near

A park visitor and her dog enjoy the Ledges overlook

Featured amenities

Parking

Picnic Table

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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

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Open year round

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

365 Days

Campground Amenities

Reviews

45 reviews

Summary

AI generated

Cuyahoga Valley National Park Picnic Shelters receive high praise for their beautiful locations, cleanliness, and amenities like kitchenettes and grills, making them ideal for family reunions and company picnics. Many users appreciated the helpful staff and reported that the shelters were perfect for large gatherings. However, some guests noted issues such as long wait times for access codes and unwanted foot traffic from hikers, suggesting improvements in these areas.

Based on guest feedback

4.6

Overall rating

Based on 45 reviews

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5 stars 77.8% (35)

4 stars 15.6% (7)

3 stars 2.2% (1)

2 stars 2.2% (1)

1 star 2.2% (1)

Showing 45 reviews

Newest First

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Pam H

November 13, 2021

The Ledges Shelter was the perfect little cozy cabin to have our get together. The weather could not have been more perfect. The fireplaces kept the inside warm, the bar area was super spacious and had plenty of spots for extra food or to set containers around. There was a room in the back that was nice and heated with a big sink for water. Everything was clean and spacious. It was perfect.

Helpful

Valerie L

November 10, 2021

The Ledges pavilion was a perfect location for a fall eagle court of honor! The fireplaces made it very cozy and the kitchen area was very nice for serving food. We enjoyed it very much!! I only took off 1 star because instructions were to go to the visitor center 10 minutes from the location to get a key for the pavilion, which was actually a code. Something that could have easily been emailed, and saved extra drive and set up time.

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Kaleigh V

November 4, 2021

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.

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Sara W

October 13, 2021

It was an easy process and the place was beautiful.

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Linda M

September 25, 2021

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.

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Margaret S

September 14, 2021

Lovely shelter with outdoor covered picnic tables. Very useable.

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David L

July 31, 2021

Very nice facility. Clean.

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Wendy R

June 5, 2021

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.

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Bob E

January 25, 2020

large, clean and well-maintained

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Martha E

January 24, 2020

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!

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Location & Directions for Cuyahoga Valley National Park Picnic Shelters

15610 Vaughn Road, Brecksville, OH 44141 United States

Elevation: 279 ft

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Getting There

Ledges Shelter:

701 Truxell Road

Boston Township, Peninsula, OH 44264

Octagon Shelter:

801 Truxell Road

Boston Township, Peninsula, OH 44264

Click here for the quickest routes to Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Nearest town

Brecksville, OH - 11 mi

About 21 min to downtown

Highway access

Cuyahoga Valley National Park Picnic Shelters are accessible via Interstate 80, approximately 10 miles to the north, and Interstate 271, about 8 miles to the east. Additionally, Ohio State Route 8 runs nearby, providing further access to the area.

Near Cuyahoga Valley National Park

The closest entrance is: Boston Mill Visitor Center

Approximate drive: 4.5 mi · 8 min

Policies & Rules

General

Only the shelter and the large grill adjacent to the shelter are reservable; the fields and restrooms are open to the public.
SHELTER HOURS: May 1 - September 30: . October 1 - April 30: . Both shelters gates are closed at dusk until morning.
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. 
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 . 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.
Decoration of shelters must not alter the historic structures in any way, including damage from nails, tacks or tape.
Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Bounce houses and other inflatables are not permitted.
Catering trucks and guest vehicles are prohibited from using the service driveway. The service driveway gate cannot be opened for public use
A Special Use Permit is required for weddings outside the shelter. Visit the Permits & Reservations page on the park website for more information.
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. 
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.  
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
Visit the Cuyahoga Valley National Park website for more information and Things to Do in the park!
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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