Things To Do
Bicycling Join the 2.5 million people who travel the iconic 81+ mile Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail each year. And, while cycling through the National Park between Akron and Independence, make sure you double your fun with a $3 Bike Aboard! ride on the Scenic Railroad.
Questing Try our new outdoor Canalway adventure series! Twenty-two Quests take you on walking journeys through spaces with a history to share. Follow the clues to solve the mystery - and find the hidden box - contained in each Quest. Now available in three county sections.
Photography Moments of discovery and natural photo ops abound in the Canalway - whether in the National Park, named one of the Top 25 locations in the world for nature photography; taking guided hikes through Important Bird Areas; or pretty much anywhere along the Towpath Trail. Travel through our towns and villages and find a stunning collection of architectural and historical treasures too.
Bird Watching/Wildlife Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles and more - oh my! Over 400 bird species have been recorded in Ohio - 250 in the National Park alone. In each county section, area Naturalists have selected their favorite birding and wildlife sites for you to explore. Enjoy the views!
Family Outings When’s the last time you took the kids to see birds bigger than they are? The Great Blue Herons offer such a treat. And with two zoos, two Halls of Fame and one of the “Top 10” most visited National Parks - the choices for combined learning & classic fun bring the phrase “110 Miles. Endless Possibilities.” to life.
Heritage Find your inner historian, cultural guru or nature guide. It’s easy here. The Canalway boasts 45 Historic Districts, 385 Buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, a National Natural Landmark, Presidential and First Ladies’ museums, one of the largest theater restorations in the country, award-winning tours and so much more...
On Foot Whether participating in the iconic Towpath Marathon - named “one of the most beautiful race courses in America” by Runners Magazine - or simply heading out for some fitness, walkers, hikers, and runners can find natural, cultural and historical paths to take in the Ohio & Erie Canalway. Most folks start walking the path of history somewhere along the iconic 81+ mile Towpath Trail traveling through all four county sections in the Canalway.
Rails A ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) - one of the oldest, longest and most scenic excursion railroads in the nation - offers you some of the most picturesque ways to experience the Ohio & Erie Canalway. Named one of the “Top 10” excursion railways in the USA, five years running, it lets you travel 51 miles through the Cuyahoga, Summit and Stark Sections of the Canalway.
Byway Driving The Ohio & Erie Canalway America’s Byway offers you a two-lane route to key sights and sites of the Canalway. Follow the 600+ signs along our nationally designated route and take a “discovery drive” filled with cultural, historic, natural and recreational sources of wonder.
Winter Activities When you live here - you find ways to make winter fun. Really! When the snow flies, sledding, ice-skating and cross-country skiing are great bets for restless families in need of some old-fashioned fun. Check back with us later in the year.