Cuyahoga Valley National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

Cuyahoga Valley National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

By Shaka Guide Apps

Good

Free cancellation available

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Features

Free cancellation available
11h
Mobile voucher
Instant confirmation

Overview

Explore the magic of Cuyahoga Valley National Park! Begin with a scenic train ride, witnessing nature's beauty unfold. Discover Brandywine Falls, feel the mist and capture family photos at this enchanting waterfall.

Bike through winding trails, enjoying the park's scenic wonders. Immerse yourself in the vibrant Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, exploring intricate landscapes and learning about the estate's rich history.

Tune into nature's symphony – the rustle of leaves, babbling brooks, and birdsong. Engage in interactive games, bringing the park's wildlife to life for a fun experience.

End your day with a breathtaking sunset, casting warm colours over the park. Whether by train, bike, or on foot, our tour lets you explore Cuyahoga Valley National Park at your own pace.

Download the Shaka Guide app to access your purchased tours.

Activity location

Lock 39 Trailhead
- 44125, Independence, Ohio, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

8972+C9 Brecksville
- 44141, Brecksville, Ohio, United States

Multiple meeting/redemption points available, see location information for full list

Check availability

Cuyahoga Valley National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour in English

11h
Opening hours: Sat 6:00-19:30
English

Travellers

Language options: English

Price details

฿622.80 x 1 Traveller฿622.80

Total

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View the translated text (Thai)

What's included, what's not

Take the tour when you want
Tours NEVER expire
Audio narration that plays automatically as you drive using GPS
Offline map (map and GPS work completely offline - no wifi or data needed)
Tour Start is Customisable
Tour highlights with activity and restaurant recommendations
Turn-by-turn directions using GPS
Freedom to explore at your own pace - pick the stops you want, skip the ones you don’t
Hours of audio narration with stories, travel tips and music
Meals
Parking Fees
Entrance Fees
Hale Farm & Village (price varies)
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway Tickets

Know before you book

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Travellers must have a smartphone compatible with the Shaka Guide app.
The app must be downloaded and the tour redeemed before arrival.
Strong Wi-Fi or cellular data is required to download the tour in advance.
Location services (GPS) must be enabled on the device
Travellers are responsible for securing any required entrance passes, reservations, or permits before starting
No park entrance fee
Best visited in summer and fall — most stops open in summer; stunning foliage in fall; winter offers cross-country skiing and a scenic Railway Christmas event
Several stops have limited or seasonal hours — check before you go; Brandywine Falls, Ledges, Kendall Lake, and Happy Days South Parking Area are open dawn to dusk only
Boston Mill Visitor Centre open daily 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. year-round (except major holidays)
Canal Exploration Centre closed November–May; limited hours in spring and fall

Activity itinerary

Lock 39 Trailhead

The Lock 39 Trailhead is one of many access points for the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Back when the canals were in use, the boats were towed by teams of mules or horses along that path. If you take the towpath trail south for a quarter mile, away from the car park, you’ll reach Lock 39. Also from the south end of the car park, you can walk across a bridge over the Cuyahoga River. The bridge takes you to the Rockside Station of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway.

Canal Exploration Center

Canal Exploration Centre is housed inside an old canal-side tavern. And outside, sits a reconstructed canal lock. The centre is open five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday. But only from June through October. It has interactive exhibits that are fun for all ages and covers the complete history of the canal.

Tinkers Creek

The first of three overlooks on this tour, the Tinkers Creek Overlook lets you look down into the Tinkers Creek Gorge, a National Natural Landmark.

Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls is a gentle, cascading waterfall that you can observe from a boardwalk and bridge over the creek. You can follow the creek downstream a quarter-mile to the Lower Deerlick Creek Falls.

Egbert Picnic Area

This is a large picnic area with tables, grills, a shelter, bathrooms, and nature trails.

Great Falls of Tinkers Creek

The Great Falls of Tinkers Creek can be found in Viaduct Park. A viaduct is a kind of bridge, supported by arches or columns.

Frazee House and Trailhead

The Frazee House was one of the first brick structures in the valley. It was built in the 1820s, in the Federal style, by Stephen and Mehitable Frazee. For the time period, it was actually kind of a dream home. But because Ohio was still technically the frontier, there weren’t any skilled labourers who could build this kind of house. So, the family did it themselves! They even made the bricks out of mud and clay from their backyard. Today, the house is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Chippewa Creek Gorge Overlook

The Chippewa Creek Gorge was carved by glaciers during the last major ice age. The top layer of rock is made up of Berea Sandstone, which was also used in the construction of the nearby Brecksville Nature Centre.

Brecksville Nature Center

Brecksville Nature Centre sits on the western edge of the National Park. Inside, there are all kinds of exhibits about the plants, animals, and history of the area. There’s a kids' corner, with activities for the little ones. And even some rocking chairs where you can look out through a wall of windows into nature. There’s also a park, picnic area, nature trails, and a programme centre for educational events.

Jaite Trailhead

The Jaite Trailhead provides access to a highly recommended section of the Buckeye Trail. Just a mile-and-a-half walk from the trailhead, you can find old-growth trees that have been around for hundreds of years.

Red Lock Trailhead

At this trailhead, you can inspect Lock 34, also known as Red Lock. If you take the Red Lock Trail a half-mile south, you’ll reach the remains of the old Jaite Paper Mill.

Brandywine Falls

At 60 feet high, Brandywine Falls is the tallest waterfall in Ohio. There are several boardwalk viewing areas, and the remains of an old appliance factory right next to the falls.

Boston Mill Visitor Center

The Boston Mill was opened in 2019 as a new, state-of-the-art Visitor Centre. You can speak with a park ranger, pick up trail maps, use the bathroom, shop the bookshop, or board the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway, all from the visitor centre. You can also visit the Boston Store next door for souvenirs and food.

Lock 29 Trailhead

Park your car at the Lock 29 Trailhead to explore the Peninsula on foot. You can shop at the National Park’s Trail Mix store, or visit one of the small towns restaurants, art galleries, gift shops, and more. Lock 29 is also the only canal lock you can actually walk into! You can also park here to board the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway.

Ledges Trailhead

The Ledges Trail is the most highly recommended trail on the tour. It’s an easy, 2-mile loop trail around the bottom of a plateau that explores rocky ledges, crevasses, caves, and overhangs. The rocks here are up to 400 million years old!

Kendall Lake

Kendall Lake was created by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935. Today, it’s popular with birdwatchers and fishing enthusiasts.

Great Blue Heron Viewing Area

Between Valentine’s Day and Independence Day, this is a popular area for spotting Great Blue Herons, who nest nearby.

Hale Farm & Village

The Hale Farm & Village is a living history museum where you can interact with volunteers dressed in period attire, and explore 32 historical structures.

Beaver Marsh

Beaver Marsh is a wetland created by beavers after they dammed a portion of the old canal. Amazingly, the wetland actually used to be an auto salvage yard, back in the 1970s. Volunteers from a local branch of the Sierra Club cleaned it up in the 80s, and wildlife did the rest.

Hunt House Visitor Center

The Hunt House offers child-friendly nature exhibits and information about nearby attractions. It’s also a resting place for those hiking the Towpath Trail. Next door is a popular farm market, open in the summer and fall.

Everett Covered Bridge

The original Everett Covered Bridge was built in the 1800s and was one of about 2,000 at the time. It is now the last surviving covered bridge in Summit County. After being damaged in a series of floods, the bridge was rebuilt in 1986. Some people say the bridge is haunted by the ghost of a farmer who drowned trying to cross the creek.

Oak Hill Trailhead

The Oak Hill Trail is a flat, easy-loop trail that circles around Sylvan Pond. Even in the summer, you might have this trail all to yourself.

Tree Farm Trail

Tree Farm trail gets its name because it used to be the site of a tree farm. The farm’s long gone, but plenty of evergreen trees remain.

Deep Lock Quarry Metro Park

This is the final stop on the tour, just below the town of Peninsula. There are at least two features worth hiking to. First, there’s Lock 28, which is also known as Deep Lock, because at 17 feet, it was the deepest lock on the Ohio and Erie Canal. Secondly, there’s an old sandstone quarry. The Berea Sandstone quarried there was used to make millstones and to construct parts of the canal. Later, the Civilian Conservation Corps used this quarry to build some local structures.

Location

Activity location

Lock 39 Trailhead
- 44125, Independence, Ohio, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

8972+C9 Brecksville
- 44141, Brecksville, Ohio, United States
Maple Heights
- 44137, Maple Heights, Ohio, United States
Interstate 77
- Interstate 77
- Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Interstate 480N
- Interstate 480N
- Cleveland, Ohio, United States

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