Since I saw a Facebook post about the best waterfalls in Ohio, I have been looking forward to nice weather so I could start visiting them. Finally, Saturday, April 16, 2016, I got the opportunity to at least see one. We visited Brandywine Falls at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Sagamore Hills Township.
On our drive there, Bobby read to me the blog Linda Hall wrote of her and her husband’s hike to the falls. Her blog talked of taking a lengthy hike in which she eventually made it to the falls. We decided to forego the hike she took and started at the parking lot much nearer the falls.
The park has a well maintained boardwalk path that gives you three different views of the falls. One is handicapped accessible. The other two involve climbing or descending steps to the lookout portion of the path.
The falls were amazing. The roar that the constant flow of water cascading over the sandstone makes is unforgettable. It is astounding to me that just a few hundred yards upstream from the falls the river is just calmly flowing.
I was also intrigued by the three uprooted trees lying in a heap at the side of the falls. I wondered if they had fallen from the cliff on the side or if on some time in the past, during a violent storm, the trees were ripped from their homes and carried down the river to end up at the bottom of the falls. It reminded me of the sheer power water can have if given the right conditions.
After we saw the falls, we opted to drive over to the Stanford House instead of making the loop around the falls on the Brandywine Gorge Trail. The Stanford House is where Linda had started her hike. Which if you hike it, it is 2.6 miles from the falls. Driving to it was longer, but obviously took much less time and exertion!
Thanks to Kelsey, a volunteer at the Stanford House, we learned it was built in 1848. We also saw the original spring house, smoke house and care taker’s cottage. There is also a huge barn on the property, which they hope to restore and make into a facility that can be used for weddings. Right now it is possible to rent the house or even just a room in the house for an overnight stay.
I am glad to have a had the chance to get out on such a beautiful day and see the falls. I am glad I got to spend the day with my best friend, Bobby (who is also my husband for those of you new to my blog). I am really glad that I read (or in my case heard) Linda Hall’s blog so I could avoid an extended hike. But whether you enjoy a short jaunt or a lengthy trek, Brandywine Falls should be something you check out. I look forward to checking them again when the leaves are on the trees or maybe in the fall when the leaves have changed colors–or maybe both!
Sharon, I can’t wait to go back when the leaves are on the trees. Thanks for your comment.