Best time to visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park
The short answer
Best months to visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park: September. Daily highs run around 75°F, with about 75% of July's visitors.
Hardest months: December–March, mostly because of cold weather.
How we picked these months: each month is scored on daily highs (65–82°F is ideal), rain, snow and seasonal closures, then reduced by up to 30% for crowds, measured against the park's busiest month. We list the months within 15% of the top score (at most 5).
Weather and crowds by month
Cuyahoga Valley National Park month by month
Park-wide averages. Crowds compare each month with the park's busiest month: Quiet is under 35% of it, Moderate under 60%, Busy under 85%, Peak above that.
| Month | Rating | High / low | Rain | Snow | Crowds | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 34° / 20°F | 2.1 in | 9.5 in | Quiet | – |
| February | Poor | 38° / 21°F | 2.0 in | 9.3 in | Quiet | – |
| March | Poor | 47° / 28°F | 3.2 in | 5.2 in | Moderate | – |
| April | Fair | 58° / 38°F | 3.6 in | 3.2 in | Busy | – |
| May | Good | 69° / 50°F | 4.0 in | – | Busy | – |
| June | Fair | 78° / 60°F | 5.3 in | – | Peak | – |
| July | Fair | 81° / 64°F | 5.0 in | – | Peak | – |
| August | Good | 80° / 63°F | 3.9 in | – | Peak | – |
| September | Best | 75° / 58°F | 2.9 in | – | Busy | – |
| October | Good | 63° / 47°F | 3.5 in | – | Busy | – |
| November | Poor | 49° / 35°F | 2.4 in | 3.5 in | Moderate | – |
| December | Poor | 41° / 29°F | 2.4 in | 5.2 in | Quiet | – |
Cuyahoga Valley National Park by season
Spring (March–May)
Spring (March–May) is a mixed time to visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Daily highs average 47–69°F and lows 28–50°F. Expect about 3.6 in of rain a month and 2.9 in of snow, with up to 2 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 50–83% of the busiest month, which is busy by this park's standards.
Summer (June–August)
Summer (June–August) is a mixed time to visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Daily highs average 78–81°F and lows 60–64°F. Expect about 4.7 in of rain a month and little or no snow. Visitor numbers run 90–100% of the busiest month, which is peak by this park's standards.
Fall (September–November)
Fall (September–November) is a good time to visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Daily highs average 49–75°F and lows 35–58°F. Expect about 2.9 in of rain a month and 1.2 in of snow, with up to 0 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 43–78% of the busiest month, which is busy by this park's standards.
Winter (December–February)
Winter (December–February) is a difficult time to visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Daily highs average 34–41°F and lows 20–29°F. Expect about 2.2 in of rain a month and 8.0 in of snow, with up to 5 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 24–32% of the busiest month, which is quiet by this park's standards.
For what to do in each season, see our guides to trip planning, fees and hours, trails and things to do, where the planning page also has our written advice on when to go. In-depth topic guides cover individual places and hikes.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Spring's rain and warming temperatures bring new leaves on trees, blooming wildflowers, and visitors anxious to get out on the trail. Summer temperatures range from 49 to 95 degrees F and can be humid. Dressing in layers is advisable. Fall temperatures can range from low 70s during the day to freezing during the night. Fall foliage often peaks in mid-October. Winter weather conditions can rapidly change due to the lake effect snow from Lake Erie. Temperatures vary from mid-30s to below zero.
Weather: modeled monthly averages for 2014-2023 (Open-Meteo Archive API), averaged over 1 location. Modeled grid cells can read cooler than weather stations in deep canyons and deserts, and warmer or colder at high elevation. Visits: monthly recreation visits for 2021-2024, National Park Service.
