Cuyahoga National Park

Lock 39 Trailhead - The Lock 39 Trailhead serves as one of the many entry points to the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.

During the canal era, boats were pulled by teams of mules or horses along this path.

Heading south on the towpath trail for a quarter mile from the parking area leads to Lock 39.

From the southern end of the parking lot, a bridge crosses the Cuyahoga River.

This bridge connects to the Rockside Station of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

Canal Exploration Center - The Canal Exploration Center is located in a historic canal-side tavern, with a reconstructed canal lock outside. It operates five days a week, from Wednesday to Sunday, between June and October. The center features interactive exhibits suitable for all ages, detailing the canal’s history.

Tinkers Creek - The Tinkers Creek Overlook, the first of three overlooks on this tour, offers views into the Tinkers Creek Gorge, a National Natural Landmark.

Bridal Veil Falls - Bridal Veil Falls is a gentle, cascading waterfall viewable from a boardwalk and bridge over the creek.

Following the creek downstream for a quarter-mile leads to the Lower Deerlick Creek Falls.

Egbert Picnic Area - This spacious picnic area includes tables, grills, a shelter, restrooms, and nature trails.

Great Falls of Tinkers Creek - Located in Viaduct Park, the Great Falls of Tinkers Creek is a highlight. A viaduct is a type of bridge supported by arches or columns.

Frazee House and Trailhead - The Frazee House, one of the first brick structures in the valley, was built in the 1820s in the Federal style by Stephen and Mehitable Frazee. It was considered a dream home for its time, despite Ohio being a frontier area with no skilled laborers to construct such a house. The family built it themselves, using mud and clay from their backyard to make the bricks. Today, the house is listed 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 consists of Berea Sandstone, also used in constructing the nearby Brecksville Nature Center.

Brecksville Nature Center - Situated on the western edge of the National Park, the Brecksville Nature Center offers exhibits on the area’s plants, animals, and history. It includes a kids’ corner with activities, rocking chairs for viewing nature through a wall of windows, a park, picnic area, nature trails, and a program center for educational events.

Jaite Trailhead - The Jaite Trailhead provides access to a highly recommended section of the Buckeye Trail. A mile-and-a-half walk from the trailhead reveals old-growth trees that have stood for centuries.

Red Lock Trailhead - At this trailhead, visitors can explore Lock 34, also known as Red Lock. A half-mile south on the Red Lock Trail leads to the remains of the old Jaite Paper Mill.

Brandywine Falls - Standing at 60 feet, Brandywine Falls is Ohio’s tallest waterfall. Several boardwalk viewing areas and the remnants of an old appliance factory are located nearby.

Boston Common Visitor Center - Opened in 2019, the Boston Mill serves as a state-of-the-art Visitor Center. Visitors can speak with a park ranger, obtain trail maps, use restrooms, shop at the bookstore, or board the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. The adjacent Boston Store offers souvenirs and food.

Lock 29 Trailhead - The Lock 29 Trailhead is a starting point for exploring the Peninsula on foot. Visitors can shop at the National Park’s Trail Mix store or visit local restaurants, art galleries, gift shops, and more. Lock 29 is the only canal lock accessible for walking inside. Parking is also available for boarding the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

Ledges Trailhead - The Ledges Trail is the most recommended trail on the tour. It is an easy, 2-mile loop around the base of a plateau, featuring rocky ledges, crevasses, caves, and overhangs. The rocks here are up to 400 million years old.

Kendall Lake - Created by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935, Kendall Lake is popular with birdwatchers and fishing enthusiasts.

Great Blue Heron Viewing Area - Between Valentine’s Day and Independence Day, this area is popular for spotting Great Blue Herons nesting nearby.

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

Beaver Marsh - Beaver Marsh is a wetland created by beavers damming a section of the old canal. Remarkably, the wetland was once an auto salvage yard in the 1970s. Volunteers from a local Sierra Club branch cleaned it up in the 80s, and wildlife completed the transformation.

Hunt House Visitor Center - The Hunt House offers child-friendly nature exhibits and information about nearby attractions. It also serves as a rest stop for Towpath Trail hikers. A popular farm market, open in summer and fall, is located next door.

Everett Covered Bridge - Built in the 1800s, the original Everett Covered Bridge was one of about 2,000 at the time. It is now the last surviving covered bridge in Summit County. After flood damage, the bridge was rebuilt in 1986. Some say it is haunted by the ghost of a farmer who drowned while crossing the creek.

Oak Hill Trailhead - The Oak Hill Trail is a flat, easy-loop trail encircling Sylvan Pond. Even in summer, it offers a peaceful experience.

Tree Farm Trail - Named for its past as a tree farm, the Tree Farm Trail still features many evergreen trees.

Deep Lock Quarry Metro Park - The final stop on the tour, located just below the town of Peninsula, offers at least two notable features. First, Lock 28, known as Deep Lock, is the deepest lock on the Ohio and Erie Canal at 17 feet. Second, an old sandstone quarry, where Berea Sandstone was quarried for millstones and canal construction. The Civilian Conservation Corps later used this quarry for local structures.

Indiana Dunes National Park

Heron Rookery Trail Auxiliary (West) Lot - The Heron Rookery Trail is a serene 3.3-mile nature walk through a bird sanctuary. A rookery is a collection of nests high in the trees. Although the Great Blue Herons have moved to new grounds, many other birds can be found, such as kingfishers, warblers, red-headed woodpeckers, and yellow-bellied sapsuckers. In spring, ephemeral flowers like Harbinger of Spring and Yellow Trout Lilies can be seen.

Mt. Baldy - Mount Baldy, as tall as a 12-story building, is a wandering dune that can move up to ten feet per year. Grass once stabilized the dune, but tourist activity destroyed it, allowing the wind to shift the sand. Mount Baldy is now encroaching on its parking lot. A half-mile roundtrip hike around the dune, including stairs, leads to the beach.

Central Beach - Central Avenue Beach offers seasonal restrooms and potable water. Two picnic tables are located at the west end of the parking lot, up the stairs. Visitors are advised to stay on the beach and avoid climbing the dune slopes. The restrooms are wheelchair accessible, but the beach and picnic tables are not. There are no lifeguards, so swimming is at one’s own risk, as rip currents and waves can be hazardous. In spring and summer, Bank Swallows can be observed nesting in the dunes.

Great Marsh Trail - The Great Marsh Trail is an easy birding hike with views of the largest wetland complex in the Lake Michigan watershed. It includes a separate wheelchair-accessible paved trail with quick access to an observation deck. Look for ducks, geese, herons, egrets, warblers, and red-winged blackbirds.

Lake View Beach - In spring, Lake View Beach is a great spot for catching smelt, a small, oily fish that tastes delicious when dusted with flour, shallow fried, and eaten whole.

1933 Chicago World’s Fair Century of Progress Homes - The five houses in the Century of Progress Historic District were originally part of the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. The Homes of Tomorrow Exhibit, featuring 12 futuristic houses, was a highlight. After the fair, a developer moved five of the homes here, naming the community Beverly Shores after his daughter. The houses are now owned by the National Park and leased to private residents who maintain them. While people live in these houses, they are not open to the public, except during the annual tour in September, for which tickets sell out quickly.

Dunbar Beach - Dunbar Beach offers seasonal restrooms and potable water. The paved parking lot fills up quickly on summer weekends. There are no lifeguards, so swimming is at one’s own risk, as rip currents and waves can be hazardous.

Kemil Beach - Kemil Beach is ideal for enjoying the night sky and observing nocturnal animals. It has year-round restrooms and potable water. The paved parking lot fills up quickly on summer weekends. There are no lifeguards, so swimming is at one’s own risk, as rip currents and waves can be hazardous. The Dune Ridge Trail, possibly the park’s most diverse short nature trail, runs over forested sand dunes, through Black Oak Savannas, and offers views of The Great Marsh and Lake Michigan.

Little Calumet River Trail - Popular with bird watchers in summer and cross-country skiers in winter, the Little Calumet River Trail was once the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Over the last 12,000 years, the water has receded about one and a half miles. Hikers can imagine the transformation of the old sand dunes through melting glaciers, wind, water, and time.

Glenwood Dunes Trail - The Glenwood Dunes Trail system is popular with hikers, runners, horseback riders, and cross-country skiers. A trail map is essential, as the trails vary in length from less than 1 mile to 6.8 miles, with extensions over 15 miles. The Glenwood Dunes, at 13,000 years old, are the park’s oldest dunes.

Indiana Dunes Visitor Center - At the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, visitors can explore educational displays, watch short films about the park, shop at the bookstore, and speak with a park ranger. The Indigenous Cultural Trail is a highlight, honoring the Indigenous Potawatomi and Miami People who once lived here and educating visitors about their culture and contributions. The trail showcases their connection to the park’s diverse ecosystems, offering a unique educational experience.

Indiana Dunes State Park - This popular destination can get busy, with park rangers directing traffic during peak times. A separate fee is required for entry. Visitors can take on the 3-Dune hiking challenge at the Nature Center or head to the beach, where an art deco park pavilion houses a general store and restaurants. A bird observatory is located west of the pavilion. In winter, the 100-foot sledding hill, The Devil’s Slide, is a favorite. History enthusiasts should not miss the historical marker for the 1780 Battle of Petit Fort.

Porter Beach - Adjacent to the State Park beach, Porter Beach offers no amenities but allows parking for a quarter-mile walk along the beach to the state park. There are no lifeguards, so swimming is at one’s own risk. Seasonal restrooms are available at the parking lot.

• Tours never expire
• Freedom to explore at your own pace
• Offline map (no wifi or data needed)
• Turn-by-turn directions using GPS
• Hours of audio narration with stories, travel tips, and music
• Audio narration plays automatically as you drive

• Private transportation
• Meals and refreshment
• Parking Fees
• Entrance Fees

Experience the stunning landscapes of the Midwest with our Cuyahoga Valley and Indiana Dunes Audio Tour Bundle! Explore the verdant forests, picturesque waterfalls, and historic canals of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, as our guides share fascinating tales about its history and wildlife. Next, visit Indiana Dunes National Park, where you can stroll along sandy beaches, majestic dunes, and diverse ecosystems by Lake Michigan. Discover the unique geology and conservation initiatives in both parks. Ideal for families, nature enthusiasts, and adventurers, this bundle offers a rewarding journey through two of the Midwest’s most breathtaking parks. Just download, plug in your headphones, and embark on the adventure!

Download the Shaka Guide app to access the purchased tours

• Cuyahoga Valley Optional Starting Points: • Interstate 77 North & South • Interstate 480 East & West
• Indiana Dunes Optional Starting Points: • I-94 West, next to the town of New Buffalo • 80/90 West, near Sherwood Forest Paintball • US 421 North, near the Bed & Biscuit Pet Resort
• Get Started Easily: • Book Your Tour: Receive a confirmation and easy instructions via email. • Download the App: Follow the simple steps in your email. • Redeem the Tour: Use the redeem code in your email to redeem the tour in the app. • Prepare Ahead: Download the tour using strong Wi-Fi.
• Begin Your Journey: • Select Your Tour: Go to the My Stuff tab in the Shaka Guide app to launch the tour. • Start the Tour: Select the tour starting point and follow the GPS instructions. • Follow Shaka Guide: Stick to the suggested route and speed for the best experience.
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• The Ultimate Guided Tour: • Detailed Itinerary: Includes travel tips and recommendations. • Engaging Narration: Captivating stories and history.
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