Self-guided audio car tour of Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Overview

Explore the wilderness of Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio on a self-guided car tour. This route takes you through a lush valley located between Cleveland and Akron, following the course of the Cuyahoga River. The itinerary allows you to admire Brandywine Falls, discover the history of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, and enjoy numerous panoramic viewpoints. Guidance is provided via a dedicated app offering audio narratives, road maps, and suggestions for stops. The experience is flexible: you use your own vehicle and can start, pause, or extend your stops for photos or hiking at your own pace. A single purchase covers all passengers in the vehicle. Access to the tour is valid for life after downloading the app. Please note that this service does not include park entry fees, parking, or car rental.

Itinerary

1. Chippewa Creek Gorge Overlook

   We’re approaching the Tinkers Creek Gorge Scenic Overlook. Here, we’ll get a great look at the beautiful Tinkers Creek and the gorge it runs through. After the glaciers melted and rivers began carving into the landscape, water slowly eroded layer after layer of soft shale… Eventually leaving behind sharp, steep cliffs. Note: The tour is over 37+ miles long, with more than 67+ audio stories, and takes about 3-4 hours per tour to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

   · 15 min

2. These falls are known for their fine, gentle cascades… which resemble a bride’s lacy veil. Here, an offshoot of Tinkers Creek tumbles 30 feet down a shale gorge. This waterfall is so lovely you’ll want to put a ring on it! We can reach the falls by walking a short 500 feet from the parking area coming up soon.

   · 15 min

3. Great Falls of Tinkers Creek

   Head towards the walking path near a set of stairs and benches. Follow this path a quarter mile to the falls. What makes the Great Falls of Tinkers Creek so great? Back in the 1800s, these falls were very important to the nearby town of Bedford. Workers harnessed the waterfall’s energy to power all kinds of industry, including a sawmill and an electric power plant. Sounds pretty great to me!

   · 15 min

4. Boston Store Visitor Center

   So if the French House was the hottest spot in Boston during the 1700s, where should you visit today? Let me recommend the Boston Mill Visitor Center. This center has so much to offer that it’s often called the ‘front door’ of Cuyahoga Valley National Park!

   · 15 min

5. Brandywine Falls

   These 60-foot falls are the geologic highlight of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Just by looking at these falls, you can take a trip back in time… way back in time! About 400 million years ago, an enormous ocean covered this section of North America. Over time, layers and layers of mud collected on the seafloor, eventually forming slabs of soft shale. Today, these dark sections of rock make up the bottom of Brandywine Falls.

   · 10 min

6. In just a moment, we’ll pass the Brecksville Nature Center. This is a museum, park, and school all mixed into one. Here, you can learn more about Ohio’s natural history, enjoy a hike along a wooded trail, and even admire the Center’s live animal exhibits. The Prairie Loop Trail which begins here is short and easy, at under a mile. It offers some relaxing prairie scenery along the way.

   · 10 min

7. Station Road Bridge

   Welcome to Station Road Bridge! Starting in the 1880s, railroad passengers disembarked here to visit Brecksville Station. Under clouds of steam and smoke, workers loaded crates of milk, cheese, and lumber onto the train, as passengers stood to the side and admired the newly-built Station Road Bridge.

   · 15 min

8. In about a mile, we’ll see a large group of bright yellow houses standing at a crossroads. These were the homes of workers at the nearby Jaite Paper Mill, one of the most successful businesses in the Cuyahoga Valley. The founder, Charles Jaite, originally worked at a large paper manufacturer in Cleveland. But in 1905, Jaite grew sick of city life. He decided to create his own paper mill all the way out in this lush, quiet valley.

   · 10 min

9. Deep Lock Quarry Metro Park

   About half a mile ahead lies Deep Lock Quarry Metro Park. In addition to quarry remains, you’ll also see a huge stand of buckeyes at the park. This is Ohio’s official state tree! This lovely park just might have a strange connection to your breakfast today.

   · 15 min

10. Everett Covered Bridge

    This bright red bridge crosses Furnace Run just before it meets up with the Cuyahoga River. During the valley’s canal era, the Everett Covered Bridge allowed farmers and workers to easily reach the Ohio and Erie Canal. Locals decided to build the bridge over Furnace Run after a tragic accident one winter night…

    · 10 min

11. Hale Farm & Village

    Hale Farm dates back to the early 1800s. That’s when farmer John Hale put down roots here—no pun intended, of course. Over the next century, Hale’s family looked after this farm, growing grains and vegetables and harvesting maple syrup each winter.

    · 15 min

12. Choo choo! Anyone hear that? Sounds to me like the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad might be passing through! In just a few minutes we’ll pass near Peninsula Depot. From here, you can catch the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad for a totally locomotive view of the park. To check out Peninsula Depot, turn right onto Streetsboro Road at the next intersection. To continue the tour, keep driving straight.

    · 15 min

How to use your ticket

Ticket handed over by the operator on site

IGNORE THE QR CODE ABOVE The QR code CANNOT be presented for a ticket onsite. The QR simply contains your tour access instructions. Please follow these instructions BEFORE you’re onsite because they require WiFi/signal. 1. Download my Action Tour Guide app: actiontourguide.com/app 2. Sign in/ register with your email (this is will automatically generate a one-time verification sent to your email. That code is NOT your tour password). 3. Go to “My Tours” and select “Enter Password”. Find your password in the instructions email sent by “Action Tour Guide” to you by email and text. 4. Download your tour NOW. Do not wait until you are onsite. BEFORE YOU START This is a self-guided audio tour. No guide will meet you. Entrance tickets, attraction tickets, parking, and transportation are not included. Your tour has lifetime access with no expiry. Use it on any date—no need to change your booking date. For walking tours, we recommend headphones. See how it works: actiontourguide.com/tutorial NEED HELP? Setup: actiontourguide.com/redeem FAQs: actiontourguide.com/faq Call: 1-508-506-1844 Email: support@actiontourguide.com Please note that Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers free entry, and no permit is required for general access. However, certain activities may require a permit.

Meeting and end point

What to know before you go

• Public transport available nearby.
• Suitable for all fitness levels.
• General entry to Cuyahoga Valley National Park is free and no permit is required, although some specific activities may require one.
• Audio guidance is automatically triggered via GPS for a hands-free experience.
• The tour is conducted in your own vehicle, without a group.
• The pace is flexible for hiking, picnics, and photos.
• The app works offline via GPS once the content is downloaded.
• A single purchase covers all passengers in the vehicle.
• Option to choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to over 200 tours.
• The Audio Tour Guide by Action app must be downloaded in advance via Wi-Fi or mobile data.
• Start at the suggested starting point or anywhere along the app's route.
• Lifetime access to view stories and photos before and after the trip.
• Compatible with iPhone (iOS 15+), Android (version 9+), or GPS tablet with cellular capability.
• Audio is compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and vehicle Bluetooth connection.
• Not recommended for pregnant women.
• Booking confirmation is immediate.

Travelers

Pricing per vehicle (up to 4 people).

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure date.

• Cancellations up to 1 day before are 100% refundable.
• No refund from 0 days before departure.

Who is it for?

• Travellers with their own vehicle
• Families or groups wanting a private experience
• People looking for a flexible tour without a physical guide
• Smartphone users (iOS 15+ or Android 9+)

What makes it different

• Single purchase for all passengers in the vehicle
• Lifetime access to the tour content
• Automatic GPS guidance working offline

Frequently asked questions

Reviews

Product code: 259640P28

Activity offered by Guide With Action via Viator.