Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail

Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail
Name	Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail
Location	Cleveland, Summit County, Stark County, Tuscarawas County, Akron, Canton
Length mi	101
Use	Hiking, Bicycling, Equestrianism, Cross-country skiing
Established	1990s

Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail is a 101-mile multi-use rail-trail and canal-path corridor traversing northeastern Ohio from Cleveland to New Philadelphia. It links urban centers such as Cleveland Clinic, Akron Art Museum city districts and the National First Ladies' Library region with rural landscapes in Stark County and Tuscarawas County, providing continuous access to heritage sites tied to the 19th-century Ohio and Erie Canal and industrial corridors like the Cuyahoga River valley.

Route and Geography

The trail follows the historic canal prism and towpath corridor from the mouth of the Cuyahoga River at Lake Erie through Cleveland neighborhoods, into Cuyahoga Valley National Park, past Akron, across Summit County landscapes, through Canton and onward to Dover and New Philadelphia. It traverses urban greenways adjacent to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority network, suburban riparian zones along the Tuscarawas River, and preserved floodplains near Portage County tributaries. Elevation changes mirror the original canal summit at Stow and engineering works near locks originally built to connect the watershed between Lake Erie and the Ohio River basin.

History and Construction

The corridor overlays the 19th-century Ohio and Erie Canal, a major infrastructure project championed by figures such as Davy Crockett-era politicians and state engineers of the Canal Age. Construction began in the 1820s with funding and legislative acts passed by the Ohio General Assembly and was completed in segments connecting Cleveland and Akron to the Ohio River system via feeder canals. Industrialists in Akron and merchants in Cleveland relied on the canal before the expansion of the Pennsylvania Railroad and Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The modern trail was developed during late 20th-century preservation efforts involving the National Park Service, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, local historical societies including the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association, and municipal partners. Restoration projects recreated towpath surfaces, repaired surviving stonework, and conserved artifacts from canal-era entrepreneurs and engineers.

Recreation and Amenities

Users find mixed surfaces — paved segments near Cleveland and Akron and crushed stone through rural tracts — accommodating bicycle touring and foot traffic. Trailheads provide parking and information at sites like the Towpath Trail at Lock 39 and community hubs near the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad stations. Amenities include interpretive signage curated by the Ohio History Connection, restrooms, picnic areas adjacent to Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens grounds, and bike-share or repair services in urban nodes linked to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and regional visitor centers. Winter use features groomed sections for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing coordinated with county parks departments such as the Summit Metro Parks system.

Management and Conservation

A mosaic of agencies and non-profits manages the corridor: the National Park Service within the Cuyahoga Valley National Park portion, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources on state-leased segments, county park systems including Cuyahoga County and Summit Metro Parks, and advocacy organizations like the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition. Conservation efforts prioritize riparian habitat restoration, invasive species control coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and protection of archeological resources overseen in consultation with the Ohio Historic Preservation Office. Funding streams combine federal transportation grants under programs administered by the Federal Highway Administration, state appropriations from the Ohio Capital Budget Act era investments, and private philanthropy from foundations associated with Procter & Gamble donors and regional corporations.

Cultural and Historical Sites

The towpath corridor provides access to numerous cultural landmarks: the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Canal Exploration Center, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, Blossom Music Center nearby, and the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum in Canton. Interpretive exhibits interpret canal-era commerce involving merchants who traded with ports on Lake Erie and connections to industries like rubber manufacturing in Akron tied to companies such as Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and B.F. Goodrich. Historic engineering features include restored locks, aqueduct foundations, and canal-side mills associated with early entrepreneurs and builders documented in regional archives held by the Western Reserve Historical Society.

Events and Community Involvement

Annual events on the trail engage organizations such as the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition and local civic groups: guided history walks, volunteer habitat restoration days with partners like America the Beautiful-aligned programs, and charity rides benefiting the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association and community health partners including Cleveland Clinic outreach. Municipalities host festivals at trail hubs that coordinate with regional transit schedules maintained by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority and tourism promotion by Destination Cleveland and Visit Akron to highlight heritage tourism, outdoor recreation, and economic revitalization initiatives led by county development agencies.

Category:Trails in Ohio