September
Migration before full colorNPS identifies songbird migration in September and early red maples around Sylvan Pond and Horseshoe Pond.
291,197 average visits in September
Choose your fall month
Compare early-season outings with later weather and service changes.
October
The main foliage windowColor often peaks around mid-October. Oak Hill and Brandywine Falls give different woodland views; weather changes the timing.
295,470 average visits in October
November
Late color and open woodsWitch-hazel flowers and golden larch provide later interest. Dress for weather that can shift to freezing nights.
171,342 average visits in November
Get oriented for fall
Choose a river-valley or woodland outing rather than trying to see every trail in one visit.
- 1 · North Access
- 2 · Central Access
- 3 · South Access
- Park boundary
Things to do in fall
Choose one or two outings that fit your dates and the day’s conditions.
Oak Hill
The inner loop offers autumn woodland views. Choose your walking distance after checking the trail.
Brandywine Falls
Combine the falls with surrounding woodland color. Keep gorge and trail access separate from the foliage forecast.
Ledges oaks
Later-turning oaks can extend the woodland interest beyond the first maple color.
Getting around in fall
Use the season’s access and weather limits to choose the day’s route.
Follow the weather
Mid-October is a typical foliage target. Rain, wind and temperature affect which trees are worth a stop.
Keep a later-season option
November is not just a missed October: look for late flowers and larch, with clothing for freezing nights.
Where to stay in fall
Choose a room in or near the valley; camping is not an in-park overnight option.
Inn at Brandywine Falls
This in-park bed and breakfast is an alternative to a nearby hotel. Check the property directly before booking.
Nearby communities
Choose a hotel or outside campground that fits the part of the valley you plan to explore.
Camping The national park does not permit camping, backcountry overnight stays or parking-lot overnight stays. Use an outside campground.
Cuyahoga Valley fall crowds
The highlighted whole months average 252,670 recreation visits per month. July is the annual peak at 369,056.
Fall months highlightedSeptember through November
LowestLowModerateHighPeakAverage month: 238,107
Cuyahoga Valley fall temperatures
NOAA 1991-2020 averages at Akron-Canton Regional Airport, OH (preview station; full station review pending). Use long-term averages for context, then check the forecast before a woodland or river-valley outing.
Fall months highlightedSeptember through November
Cooler Hotter
Jan
High36°F
Low20°F
Feb
High39°F
Low22°F
Mar
High48°F
Low29°F
Apr
High62°F
Low40°F
May
High72°F
Low50°F
Jun
High80°F
Low59°F
Jul
High84°F
Low63°F
Aug
High83°F
Low62°F
Sep
High76°F
Low55°F
Oct
High63°F
Low44°F
Nov
High51°F
Low34°F
Dec
High40°F
Low26°F
Questions about Cuyahoga Valley fall
Quick answers to the practical questions below.
Is Cuyahoga Valley worth visiting in fall?
Cuyahoga Valley in fall offers migrating birds, maple color and late-season woodland walks. Mid-October is the usual foliage target, while September and November have their own wildlife and plant interest.
Which fall month should I choose?
September: Migration before full color. October: The main foliage window. November: Late color and open woods.
Where are good autumn walks?
Oak Hill, Brandywine Falls and Ledges offer different woodland views. Mid-October is a typical color target; later-turning trees add interest afterward.
How we built this page.
An independent guide using official data. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service.
- Official guidance
- NPS and the relevant operators. The linked official pages support the access, facilities and rules described here. Confirm details before traveling.
- Crowd context
- 2021–2025 monthly averages. NPS recreation visits describe normal seasonal demand, not trail congestion, parking availability or unique visitors.
- Schedules and conditions
- Planning patterns, not live status. Seasonal information describes the normal pattern or explicitly dated source schedule. Current conditions are handled separately. The official source is the place to confirm today’s access.
Topic sources and data details
NPS seasonal, activity and overnight guidance supports the normal patterns and named choices on this page. Check the linked official pages for current operation and booking details.
Month choices describe the reviewed planning window. Monthly recreation visits are full-calendar-month 2021–2025 averages, including any month partly inside the window.
Temperatures are NOAA 1991-2020 normals at Akron-Canton Regional Airport, OH; The Akron-Canton Regional Airport NOAA station sits at about 1,208 ft, roughly 20 miles south of the park. The river valley inside the park is lower, so treat these numbers as a close guide rather than an exact reading. This is a preview station: we haven't finished reviewing it. This is a preview station, pending full station review.
Seasonal highlights mark the editorial month window, not guaranteed access or travel-date weather.
Operational source check: October 21, 2026. Design and emphasized source review: 2026-10-21. A design review does not refresh every underlying record.