Brandywine Falls Cuyahoga Valley National Park Hiking Pictures

Brandywine Falls is in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park located in the Akron Cleveland Ohio area.The rock layers of the 60-foot-tall Brandywine Falls can be read like a book. Each chapter covers millions of years, as ancient seas left behind sediments that were compressed by added layers. The rocks here at the base of the falls were formed more than 400 million years ago.

Around 320 million years ago, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Virginia Kendall ledges had fast-moving streams from the north and east flowed into an inland sea covering Ohio at that time. Sand, gravel and quartz pebbles were carried by the water and deposited in a wide delta. After millions of years, this debris in the Cuyahoga Valley National park compacted and became Sharon conglomerate.

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Brandywine Creek and the"bridalveil" cascades began about ten thousand years ago after the last glacial retreat. The falls have now exposed the harder, yellow-brown Berea Sandstone looming over the softer, deep red Bedford Shale. Since sandstone is more resistant to erosion, the shale below is frequently undercut. As these layers wear away, the story of the earth continues to be revealed.

An exhibit near the falls includes a photo of the waterfalls, a map of the area, and a cross-sectional drawing of the rock with Berea Sandstone (320 million years), Bedford Shale (350 million years), and Cleveland Shale (350 - 400 million years) labeled.

Location: The Brandywine Falls parking lot is located on Stanford Road about 100 feet from Brandywine Road approximately 2 miles south of State Route 82 and 1 mile northwest of Olde Eight in Sagamore Hills, OH

Just a short drive from the major metropolitan areas of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park protects 33,000 acres along the banks of the Cuyahoga River. Though such a short distance from urban environments, the park is worlds away. The winding Cuyahoga—the "crooked river," as named by American Indians—gives way to rolling floodplain, steep valley walls and ravines, and lush upland forests. Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a refuge for flora and fauna, and provides both recreation and solitude for Northeastern Ohio's residents and visitors. Park trails, from rugged backcountry hiking trails to the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, a graded biking and hiking trail, offer something for everyone.