Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Pine Grove Trail
easy Solitude SeekersFamiliesDog-Free Quiet
2.2 mi Distance
105 ft Elevation Gain
Varies Estimated Time
loop Trail Type
What to Expect
Pine Grove Trail is the kind of walk where you forget you're in a national park wedged between Cleveland and Akron. Starting from the Kendall Park Road area, this gentle loop winds through a quiet hardwood forest that feels miles from anywhere — the canopy closes in fast, and within minutes the only sounds are birdsong and your own footsteps on packed dirt. The trail is almost perfectly flat, with barely enough elevation change to notice, meandering through groves of oak, maple, and the namesake pines that give the air a resinous edge. It sits adjacent to the more famous Ledges Trail area but draws a fraction of the foot traffic, which is exactly the point. You won't find dramatic cliff faces or waterfalls here — the payoff is the quiet itself. This is the trail for anyone who wants a meditative forest walk without sharing elbow room with half of Summit County.
Trail Details
Distance 2.2 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain 105 ft
Difficulty easy
Estimated Time Varies
Trail Type loop
Pets Not allowed
Season Year-round
Trailhead Pine Grove Trail
Pro Tips
Trail Tip
Combine this with the nearby Ledges Trail and Ice Box Cave loop for a solid half-day outing — Pine Grove makes a perfect warm-up or cool-down leg without adding serious mileage.
Trail Tip
The pine sections hold moisture longer than the hardwood areas, so expect muddy patches for a day or two after rain. Trail runners with some grip are fine; full hiking boots are overkill here.
Trail Tip
Come on a weekday morning and you'll likely have the entire loop to yourself — weekend afternoons push overflow crowds from the Ledges parking area onto this trail, breaking the solitude that makes it worth doing.
