Cascade Valley Metro Park
Rate this placeNearby: Babb Run Park Furnace Run Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Cascade Valley Metro Park is located in Akron, Ohio and spans over 135 acres.
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Summary
It offers a variety of recreational and educational opportunities for visitors of all ages.
One of the main reasons to visit Cascade Valley Metro Park is for its scenic beauty. The park features rolling hills, lush forests, and cascading waterfalls that offer stunning views and opportunities for hiking and photography.
In addition to its natural beauty, the park also has several points of interest to see, such as the Schumacher Valley overlook, the Indian Signal Tree, and the Cascade Locks Park Association. The park also has several picnic areas, playgrounds, and a nature center that offers educational programs and exhibits about local wildlife and ecosystems.
Interesting facts about Cascade Valley Metro Park include its history as a former industrial site that has been transformed into a natural oasis. The park is also home to several rare and endangered species, including the Indiana bat and the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake.
The best time of year to visit Cascade Valley Metro Park is during the spring and summer months when the weather is mild and the park is in full bloom. However, the park is also open year-round and offers seasonal activities such as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing during the winter months.
Overall, Cascade Valley Metro Park is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to enjoy the beauty of nature and learn more about the local wildlife and history of Akron, Ohio.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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