Beaver Marsh

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a story of rebirth, of a landscape ravaged by industrialization coming tenuously back to life. Beaver Marsh is an excellent example of the triumph of conservation efforts.

A simple wooden boardwalk beckons, come stand in the marsh. Walk among the water lillies and mosquitoes. Witness the raucousness of life eagerly reclaiming the land.

the burning river itself, almost 50 years later

nesting tree swallow

Beaver Marsh used to be a trash dump. In the mid-80s, it was acquired by the National Park Service. Through joint efforts with the Sierra Club, the marsh was restored (not without the help of beavers, who returned to the marshland after the cleanup and, damming the wetlands, created deep pools).

early morning and evening are the best times to spot beavers

The trail through beaver marsh is part of the Towpath Trail, which is a bike/hike trail that runs through Cuyahoga Valley. It is not the best place to go if you are looking for an intense hike, but it is one of the best areas for wildlife viewing in northeast Ohio.

Today, the marsh is green and vibrant. It has been designed an Important Bird Area by the Audubon Society.  It is a good place to spy migrating songbirds, including the colorful Baltimore Oriole.

It just happens to be my favorite place to watch the sun come up.

Did you catch my last post?

Trail Info:

Length: Variable (but the boardwalk itself is quite short)

Difficulty: Easy

Best Time of Year: Summer (for songbird migration)

Fees:  None

What to bring: Long sleeves or bug spray (for mosquitoes)

Carry on, graceful hikers. Until next time.