Portraits of Adventure / CVNP / Melissa
Ledges Trail, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
May 2025
Melissa is a 5th grade teacher currently making her way through each national park. @cuyahogavalleynps marks her 9th with number 10 soon to follow. Melissa came up for a solo trip and explored other trails within the park including Blue Hen, and Brandy wine Falls the previous day.
Each chapter is handled with care, honesty and respect. Here is what is takes to be considered for the next one
A spillway rebuilt so steelhead trout can find their way back to Lake Erie. Coming Fall 2026.
A 50 year old private trail, its final season open before logging moves in on land once used as a landfill.
Where this project began, a free national park that taught me how much people shape a place.
The volunteers who keep a 1,400 mile trail connected across Ohio, one blaze and cleared log at a time.
A dam removal on the Cuyahoga River and the people affected by the restoration. Coming Fall 2026.
Kite surfers, mountain bikers, skaters, people met in passing rather than by appointment.
Portraits of Akron students building a life around the outdoors, met through a campus climate symposium and the people who followed.
