Parking
Park at Viaduct Park in Bedford Reservation, then follow the internal park path to the mapped loop. The loop begins a short walk from the official driving-access point.
Overview
About Viaduct Park Loop
Why go
- Great Falls and Bedford’s mill history in a 0.4-mile circuit.
Heads up
- The loop drops about 50 feet into the gorge, then climbs back.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Cuyahoga Valley map
Full mapElevation875–928 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
3 active Cuyahoga Valley alerts
- ClosureTowpath Trail improvement closureThe Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail from Boston Trailhead to Lock 29 in Peninsula is closed for improvements during the August 24–November 20, 2026 closure period.Official details
- CautionCuyahoga River paddling closure and hazardsPaddlers must portage the current river-wide closure near river mile 17 and avoid serious river hazards. - The closure is due to bridge demolition and construction.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Cuyahoga Valley Tour Guide
Your drive to Viaduct Park Loop, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Great Falls and Viaduct Park0:00 / 0:29
“You're coming up on Viaduct Park, the starting point for a short walk to Great Falls of Tinker's Creek.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Cuyahoga Valley Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Egbert Picnic Area and Gorge Trail
- Shawnee Hills Golf Course
- Bridal Veil Falls
- Tinker's Creek Gorge Overlook
- 97 audio storiesacross Cuyahoga Valley’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bald Eagle, River Otter, Coyote, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 63 trails, 88 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Viaduct Park Loop
A compact loop to the gorgeViaduct Park Loop is a 0.4-mile circuit in Bedford Reservation.
Viaduct Park Loop is a 0.4-mile circuit in Bedford Reservation. It drops from the upper park toward Tinker's Creek, then climbs back through the woods. The loop gains about 50 feet overall, so it feels hillier than a flat park stroll. A brisk circuit is listed at about eight minutes; give yourself 15–20 minutes if you want to stop at the overlooks and read the wayside panels.
Great Falls and the old millsGreat Falls of Tinker's Creek is the payoff.
Great Falls of Tinker's Creek is the payoff. The park's paths reach overlooks above the creek, with the railway viaduct and gorge adding context to the view. Waterpower drove a sawmill, gristmill and electric power plant here from 1821 to 1913. Wayside panels help you spot the industrial history in what is now a wooded setting.
Getting startedPark at Viaduct Park and follow the internal path to the loop; the mapped route begins a short…
Park at Viaduct Park and follow the internal path to the loop; the mapped route begins a short walk from the official driving-access point. Dogs and cats are allowed on leashes no longer than eight feet. This is a good choice for a quick waterfall stop or a short leg-stretcher, but the descent and climb make it less suited to anyone looking for a flat stroll.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Cuyahoga Valley
319 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
12 sightingsRiver OtterMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
103 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
248 sightingsBeaverMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
492 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
99 sightingsTrumpeter SwanMost seen around 5 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Cuyahoga Valley. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
