Explore One of Ohio’s Most Picturesque, Cleanest Lakes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

While Ohio's nature scene is finally getting a bit of the national recognition it so deserves, our state is home to just one national park. We may be dwarfed by California's nine national parks and Alaska's eight, but The Buckeye State's one-and-only national park is still dazzling.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park has waterfalls, cliffs comprised of Devonian-era rocks, historic locks and remnants of the Ohio & Erie Canal, and trees estimated to be hundreds of years old! And yet, today, we're going to visit a hidden gem you might not even think twice about: Indigo Lake, a man-made water basin that's fed by natural springs and, as a result, is very clean. This scenic spot is so charming that it just might become your favorite hidden gem in Ohio.

If you've never been to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, you might be surprised to see its historic railroad and old structures. The 32,783-acre space started its life as a national recreation area in the 1970s, and in 2000, it was formally designated as a national park. To fuel its creation, the government gobbled up local land parcels, which resulted in bizarre legends of abandonment and some very necessary cleanup projects. As cleanup wrapped up and the landscape prospered, Mother Nature took the area back over. Nevertheless, old structures still wait to greet visitors if you know where to look.

Before you even make it to Indigo Lake, you might encounter Indigo Lake Station. While it may look historic, the yellow paint on this station actually distinguishes it as a new structure. (If you explore landmarks like Jaite, don't let this "yellow means new" rule confuse you. It only applies to the train depots!) The building here popped up to support traffic to the surrounding hiking trails, which includes the Towpath Trail, Hale Farm & Village, Beaver Marsh, and Indigo Lake itself.

Like many structures in the national park, Indigo Lake is a monument to human activity in the area. The structure started as a sand and gravel mine known as Gray's Quarry. Quarries, as you may know, often filled with water after their abandonment... or, alternatively, water may have led to its abandonment. It wasn't unusual for miners and quarry workers to hit natural springs underground, which naturally filled up quarries like the Peninsula Quarry right around the corner. This lake, however, was formed when the National Park Service filled it with water. Nowadays, that water supply is indeed fueled by underground springs, making it clear, healthy for indigenous species to thrive in, and beautiful.

Locals love this area as a fishing spot. Yes, like the water, fish were introduced to the lake by the National Park Service. As it's 89 feet to the bottom at its deepest point, the small lake is surprisingly spacious for indigenous species to thrive in. That depth also makes this hidden gem in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park a favorite hangout for migratory waterfowl, meaning you might be able to spot some rare species here in the spring and fall.

Interestingly, as winter sets in, humans are the one species you're especially likely to encounter here. The Akron Fire Department's Water Rescue Team uses this spot for ice diving training, a much-needed and lifesaving skill in a place with winters as brutal as ours.

In the warmer months, this man-made lake in Ohio is a coveted hiking spot. It's right off the Towpath Trail, a massively long stretch of historic path that follows the route of the old Ohio & Erie Canal. This old waterway was constructed in the 1820s and 1830s, and it really allowed the communities along its path to prosper. This old waterway was how goods were transported before the railroads took over, though a flood in 1913 ultimately spelled its end. Nowadays, it's fascinating to see both the canal remains and the railroad in the area around Peninsula, Ohio. These structures allowed a little middle-of-nowhere community south of Cleveland to thrive before highways were common.

Whether you're stopping by to hike or fish, Indigo Lake is a true sight to see. It's one of just two spots in the national park where swimming is not allowed, unfortunately, but you'll still want to sit and soak up the area's natural beauty. Stunning, historic, and boasting a legacy that stretches back to the community's birth and early success, this area is a true hidden gem.

While you're in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, make sure you budget some time to visit Brandywine Falls. At 65 feet in height, it trickles down rocks that predate the dinosaurs.