CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio -- This summer, you and your buddies can float down the Cuyahoga River in an inner tube.
TJ Mack and his girlfriend, Savannah, are launching their business, Float the River, on Memorial Day weekend. You show up in your swimsuit and old shoes at Waterworks Park, pay $20 and enjoy the 1 1/2-mile ride. You’ll get out at River Front Park in Cuyahoga Falls and take a shuttle back to your car.
The river section, which does not go through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, includes some easy class 1 rapids. At points the water may be 12 feet deep and at others, ankle-deep.
Mack moved to Akron from Texas, where he and his friends spent plenty of summer weekends floating down rivers.
“It brought this kind of community around the river, and this awareness,” Mack said. “When I moved here, I realized no one was really using the river. This beautiful natural resource was not getting utilized the way it needed to.”
Mack and his girlfriend, Savannah Snyder, received permission from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Army Corps of Engineers and the city to launch their idea. They want to show Northeast Ohioans how clean the river is -- especially this year, marking the 50th anniversary of the last Cuyahoga River fire.
Snyder is an analytical chemist, studying for her doctorate. She’s tested the water in the Cuyahoga and found it as clean as other area bodies of water.
The pair plan to donate a portion of proceeds to keep the river clean, or invest in their own river management business.
Got questions? We’ve got answers.
How much does Float the River cost?
$20, whether or not you bring your own tube. $10 for a cooler tube.
Can you bring your own beverages?
Yes, but they must be in a reusable container. “We’re doing this because we want the river to be clean,” Mack said. “We don’t want to be the reason it’s dirty.”
How old do you have to be?
Participants must be at least 5 years old. Anyone under 18 must have a parent sign a waiver and must wear a lifejacket.
Any other rules?
Don’t litter. Do not tie more than five tubes together.
Can you make online reservations?
Yes, later this week that will be live. You can also just walk up.
When are they open?
Weekends from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. You can tube from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with the last start at 4 p.m.
Large groups can book trips on weekdays.
What if you forget sunscreen?
There’ll be a shop at the start that will sell waterproof phone bags, reusable drink bottles, etc.
Where do we start?
Waterworks Park, 2025 Munroe Falls Ave. in Cuyahoga Falls
Are pets allowed to float?
Nope. Leave Fido at home.
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