Tinker's Creek, named after Joseph Tinker of Moses Cleveland's survey crew, has carved this gorge from the surrounding rock for thousands of years. The creek begins its 28.2 mile journey in Portage County, flows through sections of Summit and Cuyahoga Counties, and empties into the Cuyalitoga River a few miles downstream from here. It is the largest tributary of the Cuyahoga River in both length and volume of water. In the 1800s, the creek's water power supported industries vital to early communities, with grist mills, saw mills, and eventually an electrical power plant built along it. In the 1950s, plans were made to dam the creek and create Lake Shawnee for recreation, but local activists worked to preserve the pristine gorge, which remains in a natural state today. In 1967, the National Park Service included this portion of Tinker's Creek Gorge on the Registry of National Natural Landmarks, and that distinction, together with continuing conservation efforts of Cleveland Metroparks, helps ensure that this view will remain for years to come.
