INDIA, Dec. 5 -- A patchwork of plunging waterfalls, weather-pocked gorges, and forested trails brings nature buffs to Northeast Ohio. The draw? Cuyahoga Valley National Park, an outdoor oasis that's less than 40 minutes from my front door in Cleveland.

I hike, bike, or run in the 33,000-acre destination almost monthly, and in this local's guide to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, I'm sharing everything you need to know about visiting Ohio's only national park.

The first lesson: Cuyahoga Valley's reason for existing. This urban getaway lacks the drama of national park favorites like Zion or the Grand Canyon, but its conservation successes are quite astonishing. Cuyahoga Valley's rangers and volunteers have restored and continue to rewild ...