Brandywine Falls — Attraction in Northfield Center Township

20250712 Park8ng was pretty full t9day. Luckily, this is a short visit for many, and it's easier to find parking today even though there was a Lot Full sign at the entrance. A car ahead of me made a 3 way turn and left. If only he would circle around the small parking lot, or as the Park Ranger like I did, he would have got a spot, because there were about 10 parking spaces available. The walk to the falls is short, but there are steep stairs with tiny steps down the falls. The steps are so small that are not ideal for bog feet. Just be careful going down the stairs, and use the handle. Unlike many waterfalls, the platform in front of the falls is very close to the falls. There was a lot of water today, and the sound of the water was quite loud, scared one of my little one. Initially, I wasn't going to walk down to the falls because my pups are so tired from this week long vacation, but I was afraid that I would regret not seeing the falls up close. I'm so happy that I went up close to see the fall. Highly recommended! The falls can also be seem without going diwn the stairs, but you lose the experience of the loud and massive waterfalls, when looking at it from above. The park ranger said that this park can get even more crowded. There us a restroom by the parking lot at the beginning...

Carved by Brandywine Creek, the 60-foot falls demonstrates classic geological features of waterfalls. A layer of hard rock caps the waterfall, protecting softer layers of rock below. In this case, the top layer is Berea Sandstone. The softer layers include Bedford and Cleveland shales, soft rocks formed from mud found on the sea floor that covered this area 350-400 million years ago. Shale is thinly chunked, giving water a bridal veil appearance as it cascades down the falls.

A combination of boardwalk and steps brings you into the waterfall's gorge and lets you view the waterfall head-on (a boardwalk option without stairs is also available). The boardwalk also provides a close look at Berea Sandstone. Careful inspection will reveal the individual grains of sand that accumulated in a sea 320 million years ago. Berea Sandstone is high quality sandstone found commonly throughout this area, both in nature and as a construction material used in buildings and canal locks.

The moistness of the gorge is evident as you walk along boardwalk. The moisture invites moss to grow on the sandstone and eastern hemlocks, a type of evergreen tree, to grow along the gorge. The hemlocks contrast with the abundant red maple trees in the area, which flame with color...

This review is about the Brandywine Falls in the Cuyahoga National Valley Park.

I have visited this place multiple times and my most recent visit being yesterday afternoon. This waterfall is active only when there is enough precipitation in the North East Ohio. I visited here yesterday only because of the 8 hour rain and that level of precipitation is more than enough to give a spectacular show.

This area of the CNVP is not at all in a remote area. You have a good parking space just about 100ft from this falls and adjacent to the parking lot you get restrooms (which are maintained in a good manner) and open benches and tables for relaxing/waiting. If you are going to visit here via Uber/lyft, you can easily pick this parking lot as a drop off or pick up point. This place is filled with families and kids, hence it's a safe place!

The hiking trail and biking trail starts/end here too. So you can park your car here and get to action.

No swimming is allowed here!

There are 4 levels of observation decks. I am adding few pictures taken yesterday.

I recommend this place for any type of civilized crowds for picnic.

By the way, the fall gives a spectacular...