Annually, more than 2.5 million Americans find their way to the iconic 81+ mile Towpath Trail running through the heart of the Ohio & Erie Canalway.
Whether birding, biking, hiking, running, riding on horseback, taking a canal boat ride, or traveling alongside it by scenic rail — folks find that old-school “travel” along the Towpath Trail adds an undeniable energy to the quality of life in the counties of Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark and Tuscarawas in Northeastern Ohio.
Towpath Trail Fast Facts
Canalway: 81+ miles of Towpath Trail (& growing!)
Number of Trailheads: 48 Trailheads provide parking & Towpath Trail access
Starting at Harvard Ave. (N) to Canal Lands Park (S)
Trailhead/Towpath care: National Park, County Park Districts
Surface: Level, Mostly ADA Accessible
North Cuyahoga County Section/Cleveland Metroparks: Paved
National Park/Stark County: Level, Hard-Packed, Crushed Limestone
Tuscarawas County Section: Earthen, Hard-Packed
Emergency Number - 911
Grades, Closures & Expected 2013 Trail Events
Towpath Trailheads - Parking & Maps
Walking the Path of History
Travel — literally! — along the path where, from 1827 to 1913, mules once pulled canal boats laden with passengers and goods up and down the historic Ohio & Erie Canal.
Today’s Trail follows the historic Towpath as closely as possible, the exact route determined by historic maps and remnants of the Trail itself. In some places, the Trail leaves the historic route where time and events have erased the old path. [
Canal Fever, KSU Press, 2009] Along the Trail and at Key Visitor Centers, you can learn more about the cultural, historic, natural and recreational resources being preserved and celebrated along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. When completed, today’s Towpath Trail will be 101 miles long.
A Collaborative Effort
The collaborative community spirit at the heart of every National Heritage Area remains the hallmark of this Ohio & Erie Canalway project. Along the Towpath Trail, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, four county park districts — Cleveland Metroparks, Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, Stark Parks and Tuscarawas County Park Department — and our two founding organizations — Ohio Canal Corridor and Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition — work in concert in the Ohio & Erie Canalway to build, maintain, and promote the Towpath Trail. Another key partner — the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad — offers an innovative “Bike the Trail, Ride the Rail” program for a $3 bicyclist excursion fee. Join the 25,000+ riders expected to Bike Aboard! this year.
Planning Your Journey — A County-by-County Overview from North to South
There are more than 81 miles to explore, both on foot and by bicycle, and in some places — by horseback. (Check the map for bridle access details.) As the Towpath Trail is mostly ADA accessible, this beautiful and historic path provides ease-of-travel and recreation for just about everyone.
Visitor’s Note: You’ll find the Towpath Trail running through the heart of the Ohio & Erie Canalway, often alongside the other two key Canalway travel components - the Scenic Rail and the America’s Byway.
Read on for a taste of what you can see and do along the Towpath Trail. Then learn more in our Heritage, Bicycling, On Foot & Questing activity sections.
Share the Trail! The rules are pretty simple: bikers yield to pedestrians and everyone yields to horses. Wear a helmet when biking. Travel on the right and pass on the left, taking care to give a clear warning before you do. Pass with caution, because many people wear headphones when walking and jogging and, therefore, may not hear you approaching. Pets should be kept on a leash (6 ft. in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and 8 ft. everywhere else) and should stay to the right as well. It’s that easy to have fun and stay safe!
In Cuyahoga County
On the near west side of Cleveland, get a sampler of the Towpath Trail along a 1.2 mile placeholder stretch in Steelyard Commons. Running behind this retail center, where you’ll find plenty of parking, the trail segment offers views of the industrial valley stretching along this portion of the Cuyahoga River. Future plans call for Towpath connections both north and south.
In the Cleveland Metroparks
At Harvard Road, just east of Jennings, is the northernmost Towpath Trailhead. It’s here where your Towpath travels can truly begin. Set off on an 81+ mile journey south, starting in the Cleveland Metroparks’ Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation right on into the heart of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. (The transition takes place at Rockside Road.) Two iconic cable-style bridges punctuate this 10-foot wide asphalt portion of the trail, which makes crossing busy Warner and Granger roads a safer — and leg-stretching! — experience.
Cleveland Metroparks — Towpath Fast Facts
Number of Towpath miles: 7.2
Number of trailheads: 6
Surface: Paved
Key Visitor Center: Leonard Krieger CanalWay Center
In the Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Only in the National Park, the Towpath Trail is accessible 24-hours-a-day, providing unique opportunities to see nocturnal wildlife and get a workout in no matter what your schedule. (Note: Helmet lights required at night, as the trail is not lit.)
Be sure to stop at the Canal Visitor Center at Lock 38 to learn about 12,000 years of local history and check out a lock that’s been restored to its 1905 condition. Take in the sights and sounds of nature as you head further south into Pinery Narrows — a gorgeous, 2.7-mile stretch of trail south of historic Frazee House — as the Trail swings deeper into parklands. Continue on to Boston, one of Summit County’s oldest settlements, where you can take a hike over to the magnificent, 63-foot Brandywine Falls, located just about a mile west of the Towpath Trail, before continuing on to the charming village of Peninsula — where hungry hikers and bikers can grab a bite at Winking Lizard Tavern and Fisher’s Café & Pub.
The popular Beaver Marsh can be found just north of the Ira Road Trailhead as you head towards the southern boundaries of the National Park.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park — Towpath Fast Facts
Number of Towpath miles: 20
Number of Trailheads: 13
Surface: Level, Hard-Packed, Crushed Limestone
Key Visitor Centers: Canal Visitor Center, Boston Store Visitor Center
In the Metro Parks, Serving Summit County (MPSSC)
Beginning in Botzum, where you can visit the scenic and historic Conrad Botzum Farm, continue your journey south to Old Portage and Cascade Locks — where you can see five of the 15 “staircase” locks that were once used to lift boats up a very steep escarpment. On summer weekends, stop in and check out the canal-era exhibits on display at the restored 1850s Mustill Store Visitor Center (managed by the Cascade Locks Park Association - CLPA). Then continue south into the heart of Akron.
While in Akron, the Akron Art Museum, Canal Park Baseball Stadium and the Richard Howe House all make for terrific side trips, showcasing Akron’s culture, athletics and history. South of Downtown Akron, voyage across “The Divide” and an amazing floating portion of the Towpath Trail located at the southern tip of Summit Lake.
Metro Parks, Serving Summit County — Towpath Fast Facts
Number of Towpath miles: 22.4
Number of Trailheads: 16 (MPSSC - 14)
Surface: Hard Packed, Crushed Limestone
Key Visitor Centers: F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm (MPSSC); Mustill Store Visitor Center (CLPA)
Visitor’s Note: In 2012, the Towpath Trail through Summit County was completed border-to-border.
In the Stark County Park District
Now traveling along the Tuscarawas River, you’ll arrive at Canal Fulton, home of the St. Helena III, a working replica of a canal-era freight barge that offers 45-minute canal boat trips to Lock 4 Park and back.
Take a side trip to the Congressman Ralph Regula Canalway Center in Massillon, where you’ll experience the natural and cultural history of the Ohio & Erie Canalway as well as enjoy nature programs, wetland trails and boating. High Mill Bridge, Smith Mill, U.S. Boundary Marker — historic structures — are grouped together south of the Crystal Springs Park Trailhead.
Be careful finding the big rock along Erie Avenue that once marked the western border of our country! You can then stop at the Lake Avenue Trailhead to rent bicycles or canoes, have a bike repaired, get ice cream or a bite to eat, or pick up a new pair of running or hiking shoes.
Keep traveling south to the village of Navarre, home to the Mathews House Museum, and down through the rural farms of the Tuscarawas River Valley and Wildcat Basin. Visitor’s Tip: It should be noted that there are no trailside services between Navarre and Bolivar and that this stretch of the Towpath Trail also is open to equestrians.
Stark County Park District — Towpath Fast Facts
Number of Towpath miles: 25
Number of Trailheads: 13
Surface: Crushed Limestone, mostly ADA Accessible
Key Visitor Centers: Canal Fulton Canalway Center, Congressman Ralph Regula Canalway Center at Sippo Lake Park, Visitor amenities at
Lake Avenue Trailhead
Visitor’s Tip: You’ll find a small break in the trail at Lincoln Way, south of the Lake Avenue Trailhead. Call Stark Parks or ask at the Lake Avenue Trailhead for directions.
In Tuscarawas County
South of Bolivar is the Fort Laurens State Memorial, Ohio’s only Revolutionary War-era fort, where you can enjoy vast parklands and take a moment to remember our heroes at a visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Patriot of the American Revolution. Continue your journey south to the German community of Zoar and the Canal Lands Park Trailhead - currently, the southernmost Trailhead on the Towpath Trail.
Wander through the historic Village of Zoar and don’t forget to stop at their stunning historic gardens or pick up a few things at the Zoar Store.
Tuscarawas County — Towpath Fast Facts
Number of Towpath miles: 2.9
Number of Trailheads: 2
Surface: Earthen, Level
Key Visitor Centers: Ft. Laurens State Memorial, Village of Zoar
Visitor’s Tip: You’ll find a small break in the trail south of Shepler-Church Road - prior to where the Towpath picks up again at Fort Laurens. Call Tuscarawas County Park Department or Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition for directions.
Finally, for those of you who may be wondering, the Towpath Trail — except within Cleveland Metroparks — is not plowed in the winter. Enjoy the journeys!