Midwest National Parks – Self-Guided Audio Tour Bundle

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 parking lot, you’ll reach Lock 39. Also from the south end of the parking lot, you can walk across a bridge over the Cuyahoga River. The bridge takes you to the Rockside Station of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

Canal Exploration Center is housed inside an old canal-side tavern. And outside, sits a reconstructed canal lock. The center 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.

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 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.

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

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

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 laborers 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.

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 Center.

Brecksville Nature Center 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 program center for educational events.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 Railroad.

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

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

The Heron Rookery trail is an easy and peaceful 3.3-mile nature walk through a bird sanctuary. A rookery is a collection of nests, high up in the trees. Unfortunately, the Great Blue Herons who used to nest here have moved on to new grounds. But you can still find plenty of other birds, like: Kingfishers warblers Red-headed woodpeckers Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and more. In the spring, you may see ephemeral flowers, like Harbinger of Spring, which have small, white petals next to dark purple stamen. Or Yellow Trout Lilies, whose flowers sorta look like banana peels.

Mount Baldy is as tall as a 12-story building! And even more impressive, is that Mount Baldy’s what’s called a wandering dune. That means it can move up to ten feet per year. There used to be grass on the dune that held it in place. But after years of tourists climbing on it, the grass was destroyed. Now, the wind blows the sand around, causing the dune to change position. Mount Baldy is actually starting to overtake its own parking lot! Getting to the beach requires a half-mile roundtrip hike around the dune, and includes stairs.

Central Avenue Beach as 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 urges visitors to remain on the beach area and not to climb up on the dune slopes directly behind the beach. The restrooms are wheelchair accessible. The beach and picnic tables are not wheelchair accessible. There are no lifeguards, so swim at your own risk; rip currents and waves can make swimming hazardous. During the spring and summer, watch the Bank Swallows come and go from their nests in the dunes.

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

In the spring, it’s a great spot for catching smelt; a small, oily fish that tastes fantastic. I’d say they’re best enjoyed dusted with flour, shallow fried, and eaten whole. Delicious!

The five houses that make up the Century of Progress Historic District originally debuted at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. The Homes of Tomorrow Exhibit, which consisted of 12 futuristic houses, was a particular crowd-pleaser. After the fair, a developer purchased five of the homes and moved them here. He called his new community Beverly Shores, after his daughter. While the houses are now owned by the National Park, they’ve been leased to private residents on the condition that they keep them maintained. That means people live in these houses, so you can’t actually go inside. Unless you’re lucky enough to score a ticket to the annual tour every September. And we do mean lucky because tickets usually sell out within an hour.

This beach has seasonal restrooms and potable water. The parking lot is paved and can fill up quickly on summer weekends. There are no lifeguards, so swim at your own risk; rip currents and waves can make swimming hazardous.

This is a great beach to enjoy the night sky and nocturnal animals. This beach has year-round restrooms and potable water. The parking lot is paved and can fill up quickly on summer weekends. There are no lifeguards, so swim at your own risk; rip currents and waves can make swimming hazardous. There's also the Dune Ridge Trail, which might just be the most diverse short nature trail in the park. It runs over forested sand dunes, through Black Oak Savannas, and has terrific views of The Great Marsh and Lake Michigan. Highly recommend it if you have the time.

This trail is popular with bird watchers in the summer, and cross-country skiers in the winter. But, once upon a time, the Calumet Dunes Ridge was actually the shoreline of Lake Michigan! In the last 12,000 years, the water’s receded about one and a half miles. If you hike the trail, try to imagine what the Calumet Dunes must have looked like when the lake was right here. Just imagine everything that’s happened to transform these old sand dunes, melting glaciers, wind, water, and lots and lots of time...

If you hike this trail system, popular with hikers, runners, horseback riders, and cross-country skiers, you'll definitely want to take a trail map with you. The trails vary in length, from less than 1 mile to 6.8 miles, with extensions that take it to over 15 miles. There are 13 trail junctions, which makes that trail map super important. Best of all, at 13,000 years old, the Glenwood Dunes are the oldest dunes in the park!

At the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, you can check out the educational displays, watch a few short films about the park, shop the bookstore, and talk to a park ranger. But my favorite thing about the Visitor Center is the Indigenous Cultural Trail. The National Park wants to honor the Indigenous Potawatomi and Miami People who called this land home and educate visitors about their culture and contributions. The Indigenous Cultural trail shows just how connected they were to the diverse ecosystems of the park, creating an educational experience like no other. If you wanna learn more, just ask a ranger!

This place is popular, and can get busy! Depending on what time of year it is, or even the time of day, the park rangers may be out directing traffic. You may have to wait in line just to get in! Heads up: the state park requires a separate fee. If you want to check out the 3-Dune hiking challenge, then make your way to the Nature Center. Or, head straight for 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. If it’s winter, there’s a fantastic, 100-foot sledding hill near the pavilion called, The Devil’s Slide. And for the history fans, don’t miss the historical marker on the way to the pavilion, that marks the site of the 1780 Battle of Petit Fort.

Porter Beach is right next to the State Park beach but offers none of the amenities. But, you're welcome to 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.

The Cowles Bog Trail is a moderate 4.7 miles, with 202 feet of elevation gain. The trail is rugged, with steep dune climbs in loose sand. Cowles Bog was named after ecologist Doctor Henry Cowles. It turns out sand dunes are great for studying how plants react to environmental changes. And that’s exactly what Doctor Cowles did! His research in the area led to the Indiana Dunes being called, the birthplace of ecology.

If you’re a history buff, or just a fan of weird, cool things, you won’t wanna skip the Bailly Cemetery. This place is totally unique. Take our shortcut hike, less than half a mile roundtrip, to an old cemetery hidden in the woods. And hear the story about how one family took over the cemetery and made it their own.

The Bailly homestead is a National Historic Landmark and was the home of Joseph and Marie Bailly. Joseph was one of the first settlers in this region and established a trading post here in 1822. At one point, the Bailly homestead was the only stopping point for travelers between Chicago and Detroit. The Homestead is a collection of 5 different buildings, ranging from rustic log cabins and brick structures to the imposing late 19th century main house.

The Chellbergs were Swedish Immigrants who purchased this land in 1869. Their original wooden farmhouse burned down in 1884, and they replaced it the next year with the brick house you can see today. And in the 1930s, they started making maple syrup. You’ll actually walk past the syrup shack on your way to the farm. Every March, the national park holds a maple syrup festival! This is the only National Park in the country that makes its own maple syrup. Check the national park website calendar, because there are ranger programs that allow you to tour the old farmhouse, and even feed the cows, chickens, and goats on the farm!

The Mnoké Prairie is a restored pre-settlement tallgrass prairie. That means you can walk through this area, and see what it would have looked like before European-American settlers ever reached Indiana. The prairie is an excellent place to spot birds, like Double-Breasted Cormorants, Rock Pigeons, and Cooper's Hawks.

This is a great beach and trail to observe birds in the spring and summer. And in the 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 has snacks, gifts, restrooms, and ranger programs.

The Tolleston Dunes are nearly 5,000 years old. The trail's about three miles long, and it takes you through 5,000-year-old sand dunes. It’s moderately difficult because it goes up and down the dunes…and it can get soggy after a rain, but plenty of trees means it’s mostly shaded from the sun. Keep a lookout for prickly pear cactus, sassafrass, and the wild blue lupine flower.

Welcome to West Beach, the biggest and busiest beach in the national park. Nestled along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, this beach provides something for everyone: sunbathing swimming beachcombing birdwatching There’s also a picnic area near the parking lot and even a designated spot for dune climbing. There are hiking trails, like the Long Lake Loop, which winds through lush forests, wetlands, and rolling sand dunes. And then, there’s the Diana of the Dunes Dare. If you dare, you can take the one-mile Dune Succession Trail, which includes a strenuous climb up two hundred and seventy steps to the top of Diana’s Dune.

Marquette Park belongs to the city of Gary, Indiana, and is outside the National Park. The park has a playground, a concession stand, hiking trails, a disc golf course, and more. The beach is great for swimming, walking, and just relaxing. It also has one of our favorite buildings in the area. The Gary Bathing Beach Aquatorium was built in 1921.

Nestled in the Miller Woods, just outside Gary, Indiana, you'll find The Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education. The education center is a National Park visitor center with exhibits on the wildlife found throughout the park. Plus it’s got some excellent hiking trails. We recommend the Miller Woods Loop Trail. It’s less than a mile long, meanders through several habitats, and the views of the lake are incredible.

This 1.9 acre park was named in honor of Harry J. Kiener, an olympic athlete who was born in St. Louis. Kiener competed in the 1904 St. Louis Olympic games, as part of the U.S. track and field team. Later in life, Kiener became a steel executive and a philanthropist. In his will, he donated this land to be used as a public plaza. Today, you can find statues, fountains, a playground and plenty of seating from which to admire the city skyline.

The Old Courthouse of St. Louis has gone through many changes. Originally built in 1828, the courthouse was expanded in 1839, and has been redesigned and remodeled several times since. The courthouse is associated with 2 landmark cases that went all the way to the US Supreme Court, and a National Park museum inside the courthouse details the history and legacy of those court cases.

The Dred and Harriet Scott Statue on the east side of the courthouse is dedicated to the Scotts' fight for freedom in the US courts. Although ultimately unsuccessful, their struggle led directly to the United States Civil War.

The Luther Ely Smith Square is the start of the St. Louis Gateway Mall, along row of parks and green spaces running through downtown St. Louis. The park commemorates Luther Ely Smith, the father of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, the predecessor of Gateway Arch National Park. The park is also the start of the Gateway Ach Trail, which winds through the National Park. There are two beautiful zen gardens in this park for shade and relaxation.

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

Get up close to the Gateway Arch!

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

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

This bronze statue of Lewis, Clark, and Lewis' dog Seaman, memorializes the expedition's heroic return. It was created by sculptor Harry Weber, and added to the riverfront in 2006.

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

The Grand Staircase of Gateway Arch National Park rises up from the riverfront to meet the arch. The staircase represents Rising Up to the West, and all the challenges and riches it possessed.

Known locally as The Old Cathedral, this church was first established in the 1700s, soon after the city itself was founded. The current building was constructed in 1834. The church is only open to visitors on on the first Sunday of the month, after the noon Mass has ended. But there is a museum that's open several days a week.