Learn more about hiking over 100 miles in Cuyahoga Valley National Park during the Full on CVNP Challenge!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. I only recommend things I've tried myself or that a trusted peer has recommended. Thanks in advance for supporting my work!
How would you like to hike over 100 miles? As a beginner hiker, this may seem impossible.
But what if you split it up over six months? Way more doable!
This is the premise of the Full on CVNP2 Challenge that I completed in 2021. I’ve reviewed each trail in the challenge to give you some different routes throughout the national park. I credit this trail challenge as kicking off my love of hiking solo.
As of 2026, Full On CVNP is on its sixth iteration. It’s so cool to see how much this has grown since I first completed it in 2021. To sign up for the latest challenge, visit the official Full on CVNP 6 challenge page.
I highly recommend this challenge for anyone trying to get into hiking or find motivation to get outside during the gross winter months!
Table of Contents - Why Cuyahoga Valley National Park - About Full on CVNP Challenge - Is the Full on CVNP Challenge Worth It? - Tracking Full on CVNP Challenge - Trails of Full on CVNP
Why is Cuyahoga Valley National Park Great?
Let’s start with the location. Cuyahoga Valley National Park is one of the lesser-known national parks but it’s an amazing place to visit. Most of the trails I visited were 30 minutes or less from downtown Cleveland.
The park has over 125 miles of hiking trails. These trails are truly amazing in all seasons – yes, even when it’s below freezing. Anyone from beginner hikers to more advanced trail veterans can find a hike that meets their needs. I love that the challenge introduced me to so many trails I likely would not have discovered myself.
One of the best things about CVNP is that, unlike most west coast national parks, CVNP is dog-friendly! This is perfect for tiring out my high-energy dog. He also completed 115 miles of hikes during the challenge in 2021.
If you want to make sure you never lose a route, upgrade to AllTrails+. Then you can download trail maps to stay on trail even when you don't have service!
About Full on CVNP
Full on CVNP is a six month virtual challenge located in CVNP. Participants can choose the “hike” or “run” version upon signing up. Each participant receives a packet with information about each of the 24 trails with a map, route guides, and history and lore of each route. Maps can also be accessed via AllTrails which was incredibly helpful for map-challenged humans like me.
The race organizers also give you the ability to upload your routes via Garmin or other map programs or simply log your mileage and time and submit them on the results page. Participants who complete receive a medal.
Is the Full on CVNP Challenge Worth It?
I initially balked at the registration fee ($50 for walking in the woods?!) but it was 100% worth it. I was between jobs for two weeks and normally would use that time to travel but the pandemic was in full swing. It also looks like the price for 2026 is $40, so that’s less expensive than 2021!
Full on CVNP gave me a reason to get off the couch and it’s been super fun to see the miles tick away. Also, 10% of the registration fee is donated to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park with a request to earmark the funds for trail maintenance. This is super important, especially now that people are looking to get outside more than ever, causing more trail use.
Tracking Full on CVNP Challenge
My friend who told me about the challenge created a Google spreadsheet to track her progress. I love spreadsheets so I created my own with formulas to determine how far I’d gone and how many miles were left. Very satisfying. She’s a local and her spreadsheet was filled with helpful tips about terrain (towpath, trail, or combo) and what trailhead to park at.
Check mine out in the link and feel free to make a copy if you decide to take on the challenge on your own! (If you’re here for the 2026 challenge, you may need to make some updates!)
Trails of Full on CVNP Challenge
One of the things that made the CVNP challenge made it so great was how different and interesting each of the trails were. The challenge forced me to explore parts of CVNP I never would have discovered otherwise.
Below are guides and more detailed reviews of some of my favorite hikes from the Full on CVNP 2 challenge! (Based on the 2021 version of the challenge – 2025 may be a little different!)
(In Alphabetical Order)
In summary, the Full on CVNP trail challenge is a great way to get outside, explore Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and challenge yourself to hike more miles in 2026!
Did you sign up for the challenge? Have any questions about my experience? Let me know in the comments below or send me a DM @torytalkstrails on socials!