Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area -
By the Facts & By the Numbers
Official Description
The Ohio & Erie Canalway is a National Heritage Area – designated by Congress – to help preserve and celebrate the rails, trails, landscapes, towns and sites that grew up along the first 110 miles of the canal that helped Ohio and our nation grow.
National Heritage Area Status
Official Name - Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area
Year Congressionally designated as a National Heritage Area - 1996
Number of National Heritage Areas across the United States - 49
National Heritage Area Boundaries
Length - as the crow flies - 110 Miles. Endless Possibilities.
Water Boundaries - from the shores of Lake Erie north to the Tuscarawas River south
Width - varies from five to 10 miles in width - based on impact of canal-era history
Number of counties it passes through - Four
- Cuyahoga County
- Summit County
- Stark County
- Tuscarawas County
Founding Organizations
Ohio Canal Corridor - focuses on Cuyahoga County
Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition - focuses on Summit, Stark & Tuscarawas Counties
Core Park & Rail Partners - North to South
- Cleveland Metroparks
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Top 10 “Most Visited” National Park
- Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
- Metro Parks, Serving Summit County
- Stark County Park Districts aka Stark Parks
- Tuscarawas County Park Department
Travel Components - Three Major Pathways through the Canalway
1. Towpath Trail
Official Name - Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail
Number of miles currently completed - 81+ Miles
Anticipated Length when completed - 101 Miles
Number of Trailheads - 48
Annual Visitation: Over 2.5 Million Visitors
Number of miles managed by each Core Partner - North to South:
- Cleveland Metroparks - 7.2 Miles
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park - 20 Miles
- Metro Parks, Serving Summit County - 22.4 Miles
- Stark County Park District - 25 Miles
- Tuscarawas County Park Department - 2.9 Miles improved Trail
2. Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
Number of miles - 51 Miles
Number of routes - Two
1. Scenic Railroad - Independence to Akron, Ohio
Number of Boarding Stations - Eight
News Notes: Two Northernmost Stations - Rockside and Canal Visitor Center - temporarily closed to Boarding - June 1st until further notice
2. Akron-Canton Flyer
Number of Boarding Stations - Two
3. America’s Byway
Official Name - Ohio & Erie Canalway America’s Byway
Number of Miles - 110 Miles
Nationally Designated Route
Year designation received - 2000
Signed Route traveling along existing roads
Number of Signs - 600+
About the National Scenic Byways Program - The National Scenic Byways Program is part of the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. America's Byways® is a distinctive collection of American roads, their stories and treasured places.
Route Variations
Cleveland - North of Granger - three looping routes
East, Central and West
Massillon to Canton - straight leg off the Byway connecting the two areas
Southernmost Point - Schoenbrunn Village, New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas County
Time to Travel - 4.5 hours one way
2010 Key America’s Byway Route Updates
Stark County
A new leg of the Byway connects the cities of Massillon and Canton using a route along the 12th Street corridor, which includes the Congressman Ralph Regula Canalway Center inside the Exploration Gateway at Sippo Lake Park.
Tuscarawas County
A route extension takes the Byway the full length of the National Heritage Area to New Philadelphia, Ohio and concludes at Schoenbrunn Village, the southernmost anchor for both the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area and America’s Byway.
Cuyahoga County
There has been a permanent route change to reflect the closing of two bridges - Rockefeller Avenue & Eagle Viaduct. With a unanimous vote, a path worked out with the City of Cleveland Planning Commission was accepted. The new route passes through Cleveland’s Public Square, provides a direct link with the Coastal Ohio National Scenic Byway and intersects with the Historic Warehouse District - Cleveland’s business district during the canal era. The route will again conclude at the proposed Canal Basin park - located at the point where the Ohio & Erie Canal entered the Cuyahoga River.