Cuyahoga Valley National Park Tour

Lock 39 Trailhead - The Lock 39 Trailhead is 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.

If you head south on the towpath trail for a quarter mile from the parking lot, you’ll arrive at Lock 39.

Additionally, from the south end of the parking lot, you can cross a bridge over the Cuyahoga River.

This bridge leads 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. The center is open Wednesday through Sunday, from June to October.

It features interactive exhibits that are enjoyable for all ages and cover the canal’s entire history.

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

Bridal Veil Falls - Bridal Veil Falls is a gentle, cascading waterfall that can be viewed from a boardwalk and bridge over the creek.

You can follow the creek downstream for a quarter-mile to reach 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 stunning sight. A viaduct is a type of bridge supported by arches or columns.

Frazee House and Trailhead - The Frazee House, built in the 1820s in the Federal style by Stephen and Mehitable Frazee, was one of the first brick structures in the valley.

For its time, it was considered a dream home. However, since Ohio was still a frontier, there were no skilled laborers available to build such a house.

The family constructed it themselves, even making the bricks from mud and clay in their backyard. 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, which was also used in the construction of the nearby Brecksville Nature Center.

Brecksville Nature Center - Situated on the western edge of the National Park, the Brecksville Nature Center offers a variety of exhibits about the area’s plants, animals, and history.

There’s a kids’ corner with activities for children, and rocking chairs where you can enjoy views of nature through a wall of windows.

The center also features 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 leads to old-growth trees that have stood for hundreds of years.

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

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

Boston Mill Visitor Center - Opened in 2019, the Boston Mill Visitor Center is a state-of-the-art facility.

Visitors can speak with a park ranger, pick up trail maps, use the restroom, shop at the bookstore, or board the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

The Boston Store next door offers souvenirs and food.

Lock 29 Trailhead - Park at the Lock 29 Trailhead to explore the Peninsula on foot.

You 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 you can walk into! You can also park here to board the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

Ledges Trailhead - The Ledges Trail is the most recommended trail on the tour.

It’s 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 - 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 after they dammed part of the old canal.

Remarkably, this 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 took care of the rest.

Hunt House Visitor Center - The Hunt House offers child-friendly nature exhibits and information about nearby attractions.

It’s also a resting spot for those hiking the Towpath Trail. Next door is a popular farm market, open in the summer and fall.

Everett Covered Bridge - Originally built in the 1800s, the Everett Covered Bridge was one of about 2,000 at the time.

It is now the last surviving covered bridge in Summit County. After being damaged by floods, it was rebuilt in 1986.

Some 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 Sylvan Pond. Even in summer, you might have this trail all to yourself.

Tree Farm Trail - The Tree Farm Trail is named for its past as a tree farm. Although the farm is gone, many evergreen trees remain.

Deep Lock Quarry Metro Park - The final stop on the tour, located just below the town of Peninsula, offers at least two features worth exploring.

First, there’s Lock 28, known as Deep Lock, the deepest lock on the Ohio and Erie Canal at 17 feet.

Second, there’s an old sandstone quarry. The Berea Sandstone quarried here was used to make millstones and construct parts of the canal.

Later, the Civilian Conservation Corps used this quarry to build local structures.

Indiana Dunes National Park

Heron Rookery Trail Auxiliary (West) Lot - The Heron Rookery Trail is a peaceful 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
• Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and more.

In spring, you might see ephemeral flowers like Harbinger of Spring, with small white petals next to dark purple stamen, or Yellow Trout Lilies, whose flowers resemble banana peels.

Mt. Baldy - Mount Baldy is as tall as a 12-story building! Even more impressive, Mount Baldy is a wandering dune.

This means it can move up to ten feet per year. Grass once held the dune in place, but years of tourist activity destroyed it.

Now, the wind shifts the sand, causing the dune to change position. Mount Baldy is even starting to overtake its own parking lot!

Reaching the beach requires a half-mile roundtrip hike around the dune, including stairs.

Central Beach - Central Avenue Beach offers seasonal restrooms and potable water.

There are two picnic tables at the west end of the parking lot, up the stairs.

The National Park strongly advises visitors to stay on the beach and not climb the dune slopes behind it.

The restrooms are wheelchair accessible, but the beach and picnic tables are not.

There are no lifeguards, so swim at your own risk; rip currents and waves can be hazardous.

In spring and summer, watch Bank Swallows come and go from their nests 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.

The trail includes a separate wheelchair-accessible paved path with quick access to an observation deck. Look for:

• Ducks
• Geese
• Herons
• Egrets
• Warblers
• Red-winged blackbirds

1933 Chicago World’s Fair Century of Progress Homes - The five houses in the Century of Progress Historic District debuted at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair.

The Homes of Tomorrow Exhibit, featuring 12 futuristic houses, was a crowd favorite.

After the fair, a developer bought five homes and moved them here, naming the community Beverly Shores after his daughter.

While the houses are now owned by the National Park, they are leased to private residents who maintain them.

This means people live in these houses, so you can’t go inside unless you get a ticket to the annual tour every September. Tickets usually sell out within an hour.

Dunbar Beach - This beach has seasonal restrooms and potable water. The paved parking lot fills up quickly on summer weekends.

There are no lifeguards, so swim at your own risk; rip currents and waves can be hazardous.

Kemil Beach - Kemil Beach is perfect for enjoying the night sky and 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 swim at your own risk; rip currents and waves can be hazardous.

The Dune Ridge Trail, possibly the most diverse short nature trail in the park, runs over forested sand dunes, through Black Oak Savannas, and offers great views of The Great Marsh and Lake Michigan. Highly recommended if you have the time.

Glenwood Dunes Trail - This trail system is popular with hikers, runners, horseback riders, and cross-country skiers. A trail map is essential.

The trails range from less than 1 mile to 6.8 miles, with extensions over 15 miles.

There are 13 trail junctions, making the trail map very important. At 13,000 years old, the Glenwood Dunes are the oldest in the park!

Indiana Dunes Visitor Center - At the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, you can explore educational displays, watch short films about the park, shop at the bookstore, and talk to a park ranger.

A highlight is the Indigenous Cultural Trail, which honors the Indigenous Potawatomi and Miami People who called this land home and educates visitors about their culture and contributions.

The trail shows their connection to the park’s diverse ecosystems, creating a unique educational experience. For more information, ask a ranger!

Indiana Dunes State Park - This popular spot can get busy! Depending on the time of year or day, park rangers may direct traffic.

You might have to wait in line to enter! Note: the state park requires a separate fee.

For the 3-Dune hiking challenge, head to the Nature Center or go straight to the beach.

There, you’ll find a large, art deco park pavilion with a general store and restaurants. There’s also a bird observatory west of the pavilion.

In winter, enjoy the 100-foot sledding hill near the pavilion called The Devil’s Slide.

History enthusiasts shouldn’t miss the historical marker on the way to the pavilion, marking the site of the 1780 Battle of Petit Fort.

Porter Beach - Porter Beach is adjacent to the State Park beach but lacks amenities.

You can park here and walk a quarter mile along the beach to the state park.

There are no lifeguards at Porter Beach, so swim at your own risk. Seasonal restrooms are available at the parking lot.

Indiana Dunes National Park Bailly Cemetery - History buffs and fans of unique sites shouldn’t miss the Bailly Cemetery. It’s truly one-of-a-kind.

Take a shortcut hike, less than half a mile roundtrip, to an old cemetery hidden in the woods. Learn how one family took over the cemetery and made it their own.

Indiana Dunes National Park Bailly Homestead - The Bailly Homestead, a National Historic Landmark, was home to Joseph and Marie Bailly.

Joseph was one of the first settlers in the region, establishing a trading post here in 1822.

At one time, the Bailly Homestead was the only stop for travelers between Chicago and Detroit.

The Homestead includes five different buildings, from rustic log cabins and brick structures to the imposing late 19th-century main house.

Indiana Dunes National Park Chellberg Farm - The Chellbergs, Swedish immigrants, purchased this land in 1869.

Their original wooden farmhouse burned down in 1884, and they replaced it with the brick house seen today.

In the 1930s, they began making maple syrup. You’ll pass the syrup shack on your way to the farm.

Every March, the national park hosts a maple syrup festival! It’s the only National Park in the country that makes its own maple syrup.

Check the national park website calendar for ranger programs that allow tours of the old farmhouse and even feeding the farm’s cows, chickens, and goats!

Mnoke Prairie - The Mnoké Prairie is a restored pre-settlement tallgrass prairie.

Visitors can walk through this area and see what it looked like before European-American settlers reached Indiana.

The prairie is an excellent spot for birdwatching, with species like Double-Breasted Cormorants, Rock Pigeons, and Cooper’s Hawks.

Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk - This is a great beach and trail for birdwatching in spring and summer. In winter, you can see the shelf ice on Lake Michigan.

The riverwalk is just under a mile and is considered easy. You’ll also find the beach pavilion, which offers snacks, gifts, restrooms, and ranger programs.

Tolleston Dunes Trail - The Tolleston Dunes are nearly 5,000 years old. The trail is about three miles long and takes you through these ancient sand dunes.

It’s moderately difficult due to the ups and downs of the dunes, and it can get soggy after rain, but the many trees provide shade from the sun.

Look out for prickly pear cactus, sassafras, and the wild blue lupine flower.

West Beach - Welcome to West Beach, the largest and busiest beach in the national park.

Located along Lake Michigan’s southern shore, this beach offers something for everyone:

• Sunbathing
• Swimming
• Beachcombing
• Birdwatching

There’s also a picnic area near the parking lot and a designated spot for dune climbing.

Hiking trails, like the Long Lake Loop, wind through lush forests, wetlands, and rolling sand dunes. Then there’s the Diana of the Dunes Dare.

If you dare, take the one-mile Dune Succession Trail, which includes a challenging climb up 270 steps to the top of Diana’s Dune.

Marquette Park - Marquette Park, owned by the city of Gary, Indiana, is outside the National Park.

The park features a playground, concession stand, hiking trails, disc golf course, and more.

The beach is perfect for swimming, walking, and relaxing. It also boasts one of the area’s favorite buildings.

The Gary Bathing Beach Aquatorium, built in 1921, is a highlight.

Paul H. Douglas Trailhead - Nestled in Miller Woods, just outside Gary, Indiana, is The Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education.

The education center is a National Park visitor center with exhibits on the park’s wildlife and excellent hiking trails.

We recommend the Miller Woods Loop Trail. It’s less than a mile long, meandering through several habitats, with incredible lake views.

Gateway Arch National Park

Kiener Plaza Park - This 1.9-acre park is named after Harry J. Kiener, an Olympic athlete born in St. Louis. Kiener competed in the 1904 St. Louis Olympic games as part of the U.S. track and field team. Later, he became a steel executive and philanthropist, donating this land for a public plaza. Today, it features statues, fountains, a playground, and plenty of seating to admire the city skyline.

Old Courthouse - The Old Courthouse in St. Louis has undergone many changes. Originally built in 1828, it was expanded in 1839 and has been redesigned and remodeled several times since. The courthouse is associated with two landmark cases that reached the US Supreme Court, and a National Park museum inside details the history and legacy of those cases.

Dred And Harriet Scott Statue - The Dred and Harriet Scott Statue on the courthouse’s east side honors the Scotts’ fight for freedom in the US courts. Although ultimately unsuccessful, their struggle directly led to the United States Civil War.

Museum of Westward Expansion - The Gateway Arch Museum of Western Expansion is one of the top National Park museums in the country. It boasts an incredible collection of artifacts and fun, interactive exhibits. This is also where you can purchase tickets for various park activities, like a riverboat cruise, a 30-minute film, a VR experience, and a tram ride to the top of the arch. There’s also a gift shop and restaurant inside the museum.

The Gateway Arch - Get up close to the Gateway Arch!

Explorer’s Garden - This northern section of the park, known as The North Gateway, is a seven-and-a-half-acre area of Gateway Arch National Park. It features a natural amphitheater hosting concerts and events throughout the year. It also contains the Explorer’s Garden, showcasing plants that Lewis and Clark documented on their travels and used by the Indigenous People they encountered. The garden has about 26 different plant species and another five types of wild grass in the surrounding Native Meadow.

Eads Bridge - The Eads Bridge is the oldest surviving bridge across the Mississippi. Built in the late 19th century, it was a groundbreaking achievement designed by renowned engineer James Buchanan Eads. It was the first bridge in the world to use steel as its primary structural material.

The Captains’ Return - This bronze statue of Lewis, Clark, and Lewis’ dog Seaman commemorates the expedition’s heroic return. Created by sculptor Harry Weber, it was added to the riverfront in 2006.

Mississippi River Overlook - Get close to the historic Mississippi River! Nearby, you can take a helicopter tour of the park or board the riverboat cruise.

The Gateway Arch - The Grand Staircase of Gateway Arch National Park rises from the riverfront to meet the arch. The staircase symbolizes Rising Up to the West and all its challenges and riches.

Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France - Known locally as The Old Cathedral, this church was first established in the 1700s, soon after the city was founded. The current building was constructed in 1834. The church is open to visitors only on the first Sunday of the month, after the noon Mass. However, there is a museum open several days a week.

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