The 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 Native Americans called it -- gives way to rolling floodplain, steep valley walls, ravines, and lush upland forests. The park is a refuge for flora and fauna, and provides both recreation and solitude for Northeastern Ohio residents and visitors.