CVNP Spring Wildflowers

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, better known as CVNP, is a unique national park located in Northeast Ohio, covering over 51 square miles. What makes this park so special is its close proximity to urban cities like Akron and Cleveland with a “far from urban development” feeling. When walking the peaceful trails in the CVNP, it’s hard to believe the park is located roughly 22 miles from Cleveland and less than 10 miles from Akron. It’s a place where families and friends come to escape the urban life and surround themselves with nature. It’s also great for visitors as they can stay in the city of Cleveland or Akron. Enjoying a day of hiking, biking, tracking fall foliage, snowshoeing, kayaking, bird watching, or wildflower hunting in the CVNP but also be able to experience nightlife or have time to check out a professional or semi-professional sports team in one of the neighboring cities.

There are so many activities to participate in on your visit to the CVNP. With the park experiencing every season you aren’t limited to a best or better time to visit. It just really depends on what you enjoy. I love peeking the fall foliage in Autumn, hiking during Spring migration to track the warblers, or even snowshoeing at Kendall Lake in the winter. But, if you do happen to visit during spring, I suggest learning about the wildflower of the area. This article will cover how you can spot the spring bloom in the CVNP.

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CVNP Spring Wildflowers

Here we’ll cover the most common spring Wildflower and as well as where you may be able to spot some of them. And we will start with my favorite spring flower in the park.

Virgina Bluebell

The Virgina Bluebell is pink when it’s starting to bloom but turns a beautiful blueish color as it reaches maturity. This might be one of the most popular flowers in the park and you can clearly see why. The colors are incredibly vibrant, and I personally love when there is a mix of young and mature bluebells together. These flowers do wither away fast, so time is of the essence. I have been known to take multiple trips to go check on the bluebells during the season. You can usually expect the bloom to be in April.

Insider Tip: The best place to spot the Virigina Bluebell is Furnace Run Trail. I also suggest checking out the Everett Covered Bridge just a short distance from the parking lot. This is the only remaining covered bridge in Ohio’s Summit County. Image below.

Bluets

Bluets are tiny delicate wildflowers; they are also quite gorgeous. So, keep your eyes to the ground when hiking in the CVNP. Usually, Bluets are blooming in late-April to mid-May. They like shaded wood areas, but you will probably also spot them in meadows and open habitat areas. As you can see in the images they tend to grow in groups, so even though they are small you should easily be able to spot them.

Insider Tip: Look for the distinctive four petals with a yellow bulls-eye center to spot this wildflower.

Squirrel Corn

This is another one of my favorite spring flowers. First, because I find the name fun and second because the flower just looks so fun. Squirrel Corn is quite unique and, therefore, hard to miss while you’re out on your wildflower hunt. However, it can be commonly confused with Dutchman’s Breeches. Just remember you can distinguish Squirrel Corn by its heart-shaped flower, while Dutchman’s Breeches has a shape that resembles more of well…breeches! Squirrel Corn likes moist woodland areas and usually blooms in late-April to mid-May.

Insider Tip: I recommend hiking the Brandywine Gorge Trail to locate this Spring flower. And you MUST check out Brandywine Fall on your visit. A trip to the CVNP isn’t complete without a stop at Brandywine Falls. Images of Brandywine Falls below.

Rue Anemone

The Rue Anemone is an early sign of Spring. You can find them in abundance in woodland areas. Native to Eastern North America, they are one on the earliest spring blooming flowers and will usually bloom for 3 weeks in the Spring. Rue Anemone ranges in color from white to pink. They are also known for attracting bees.

Insider Tip: This wildflower is actually part of the buttercup family.

Great White Trillium

There are a variety of trillium species, but my favorite to spot is the Great White Trillium. They sure are a sign of spring in Ohio, and they prefer shady wooded areas. If you need more motivation to locate this flower, know that it’s actually Ohio’s state wildflower. They are native to Eastern North America, and you will probably spot various other trillium species on your visit.

Insider Tip: You may also be able to check this wildflower off your list when hiking the Brandywine Gorge Trail.

Wild Violet

Wild Violets typically flower from early April to late May. Usually, the color will be violet, but as you can see from my photos, that’s not always the case. They can range from white to a deeper bluish color. They like shaded moist areas.

Insider Tip: I have located violets on the Wetmore Bridal Trail. Which is a 4.7-mile dog-friendly loop trail.

Wild Blue Phox

Another spring blooming flower is the Wild Blue Phlox. This flower is native to Eastern North America. It is a very delicate flower that is usually found in forests and woodland areas. It is known to attract butterflies and even hummingbirds. Look for the Wild Blue Phlox in late-April to mid-May

Insider Tip: This flower tends to bloom later than some of the other Spring wildflower in the CVNP so you may even be able to spot it in the summer.

Jacob’s Ladder

Jacob’s Ladder is one of the later bloomers, so you might be able to locate this flower in the summer. Blooming usually from mid-spring to early summer, it’s named for its ladder like arrangement. Flowers range in color from blue, purple, pink, white, and even yellow!

Insider Tip: Jacob’s Ladder is part of the Phlox family.

Those are just some of the wildflowers you can expect in to find in spring. There are even more to discover like the Trout lily, Spring beauty, Dutchman’s breeches, Marsh marigold, and Jack-in-the-pulpit. So be on the lookout for all the spring flowers. Enjoy the CVNP spring wildflowers.

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Tips for Your CVNP Spring Wildflowers

• Stay on the trails
• Do not pick the wildflowers, only take photos and memories home with you!
• Stop at the visitors center to see what is blooming where!
• Pick up a CVNP wildflower field guide at Trail Mix in Peninsula
• Remember timing is everything so do your research bloom times change yearly!
• The CVNPs “favorite wildflower spots” list.
• Golden Hour can be one of the best times of day to take pictures of wildflower. Check out this guide with 8 Wildflower Photography Tips
• Head to California for the Anza Borrego bloom!

Enjoy the CVNP spring wildflowers, track the bloom. Adventure Awaits!