Never thought that the old part of Cleveland could be so enjoyable. Make sure you have a headlight and a taillight, as it gets dark on the trail! We rode from Clinton to Summit Lake and enjoyed the ride very much. Much of the time the bike path traverses between the Ohio & Erie Canal and the Tuscawaras River so plan your exits. Much of the trail is paved or crushed limestone on top of hard pan soil. The Mystery: 21-year-old Andrea Flenoury's body was found submerged in the river along the Ohio & Erie Canal towpath, wrapped in chains. On January 15, 1812, the Ohio General Assembly passed a resolution expressing its opinion that the connection of the Great Lakes with the Hudson River was a project of "national concern". Definitely our favorite out of the two portions. This calculator is to help plan trips on the Ohio Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Many visitors like to bike the Towpath Trail one way and take the train back (only available April–October). MarathonGuide.com - the complete marathon resource and community. We rode north to the northern most train station at Rockside (13 miles). I understand that grant money has been received or construction projects are underway to fill in these last three gaps in the trail. Rode this trail from Cincinnati to Cleveland and back in three weeks. 2-day trip planned from Western PA to bike one way and ride train back. At this point, the path transitions into a crushed limestone surface as it enters Cuyahoga Valley National Park. So, depending on what I feel like, depends on where I start and whether I head north or south. Having been born and raised in Southern Tusc. Check the railways website for current information and train schedules. It is much safer than following 212 through town. I forgot to do the star rating when I submitted my review. There is a steel heritage museum along with some artifacts from the steel industry. I would only recommend it to others if the owners agree to pick you up at the trail. Theres a really nice bike shop north of Massillon for snacks, sandwiches and ICE CREAM. Second day into downtown Akron. A beautiful ride as the trail passes through woodlands, small towns and larger cities. Clearing has been started and I was told the it should be open by sometime in the of summer 2010. It is in very good to excellent condition. This is a great trail well maintained plenty of amenities and some nice scenery. 3. 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. About 5 miles north of Akron, the trail runs through a section of suburban strip mall, where we found a small cafe and had quite well made omelets for lunch. Nevertheless, some revenue was accrued into the early twentieth century from the sale of water rights as well as recovery and sale of land surrounding the canals. near Old River Road, Portsmouth/Alexandria, Restored canal town Historic Roscoe Village, Monticello III Canal Ride on Mudport Basin, This page was last edited on 13 January 2021, at 05:45. (A few flats) but really no issues. It’s rich with both history and scenic views. Bald Eagles, deer, turtles (sliders and snappers), woodchucks, otters, mink, beaver Canada Geese (with their fuzzlings this time of spring), ducks, great blue herons (who have a rookery off Bath Road). And Bike repairs if needed. Started in Akron and went downhill along the trail through the national park and just had a wonderful time. May 1 was a beautiful evening so after work I rode from Vanderhoof Rd to Forty Corners. He was unsuccessful in his attempt to get national aid for the construction of a canal connecting Lake Erie to the Hudson River, so he enlisted the aid of state legislators and Ohio's congressional delegation. ", TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy, We're a non-profit all about helping you enjoy the outdoors, Scranton Flats (Cleveland) and State Route 212 and Shepler Church Avenue SW (Bolivar). Here, trail users again have a short on-road route to navigate. Not quite as scenic as the sections north of Massilon. The path itself, on a Saturday afternoon, was full of cyclists and joggers. The section of the Ohio & Erie Canal from the Brecksville Dam to Rockside Road in Cuyahoga County was transferred to the National Park Service during 1989 as part of the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreational Area (now known as the Cuyahoga Valley National Park). ^ B: Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail miles are measured from its original connection with Lake Erie at Lock 44, on the Cuyahoga River, and marked with a 3.3-foot-tall (1.0 m) sandstone obelisk at each mile mark. I'd like to figure out a way to do the whole thing next season if possible. Guess ill have to find it. Also, the trail surface is rougher, especially south of Navarre. The trail does pick up after a short ride along Route 212 and makes a link to the Zoar Valley Trail after following bike paths, streets, and sidewalks to the Fort Laurens Memorial Site south of the town. We live in Akron and ride it frequently. Tip: Click on the slider arrow icon in the upper left corner to toggle between views. I give it 5 bright gold stars! According to my bike computer the trip was 102 miles. Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail: Day trip!! I rode 66 miles from the northern most part of this trail starting in Scranton Flats in downtown Cleveland to the the start of the Sippo Valley Trail in Massillon, Ohio. The trail surface is mostly packed crushed stone. We saw two deer on our ride. Most of the web-based maps are out of date. The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail is managed by multiple partners. There are several places to park and access the trail along its 81-mile route; below are directions to a few of its main trailheads. Tinkers Creek Aqueduct is undergoing renovation following flood damage from Tinkers Creek (Cuyahoga River) and Cuyahoga River from there to Zoar village, the trail is again crushed stone. In the wake of the canal came prosperity, a national transportation system, and a national market economy. The ride was cut short in Akron where construction is ongoing to connect another 10 or so miles on to the Southern end of my trip. 39, West side of Canal Road, 3400 feet north of Stone Road, Valley View, Cuyahoga County, OH, Ohio & Erie Canal, Lock No. Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail, the 85-mile Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath offers biking, hiking, jogging, horseback riding, and historical exhibits. Our next stop was at the Canal Visitor Center where we talked to a really nice and knowledgeable Ranger about the towpath. It really is a great trail. Help defend and expand trails nationwide. I plan to ride it this spring, even if i need to use some local highways. The detour is well marked but it goes up a very steep (but short) hill from N-S. I wanted to walk on the tracks instead of the detour, but caution got the better of me. Take a right onto Steelyard Dr., which becomes Jennings Road. I am sure it would be pretty beautiful around fall season. Start in the industrial valley, looking up at downtown Cleveland. Restrooms every so often. Parks & Trail Map; Discover the unique blend of industrial valley and up close nature along the paved Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath.This reservation provides opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, visiting a nature center, exploring a National Heritage corridor and wildlife viewing. I provides a combination of history, environment, social, and cultural settings. Second from Akron to a little south of Massillon, and back. The Ohio & Erie Canal is maintained, to this day, as a water supply for local industries. My wife and I started our adventure in Cleveland at the Rockside Station of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and took the train to the Akron Northside Station. My wife and I have ridden most of the major trails in Pa, Md, Va, NY, and W Va. Last weekend we drove out to Ohio to give this one a try. It was pretty soft -- not so soft as to sink into the trail but soft enough to give noticeable additional resistance. The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail is also a major component of the Ohio to Erie Trail. The Towpath Trail follows the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal. Get a FREE Rail Trails Guidebook when you become a Member with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Canal Fulton is a nice little town with lots of ice cream shops. Here’s the trail status as I know it as of April 6, 2010. The Ohio & Erie Canal--Cuyahoga Valley NRA or Towpath as we refer to it is one of my favorite places to ride bicycle in Northeast Ohio. The dedicated trail ends at State Street behind the stadium. The trail is mostly wooded and very pretty. Through Barberton, the trail is lovely but the rolling terrain follows the ups and downs of the hills rather than the level ride of a towpath or train bed. I biked this a few years ago for my birthday. There the signs are good; be aware it is actually in town. I recommend this trail to any biker looking for a ride where most of the time the sun is blocked by the trees. I strongly recommend Hale Farm and Village. Overall I found the condition of the towpath in this section pretty good, but not necessarily up to the quality of sections further north. Tips for birding the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in Stark County The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in Stark County features a variety of birding habitats along the 26 miles stretching from the Summit and Stark county border south to OH-212, nearly to Tuscarawas County. The path is packed hard and easy to walk. 38, Canal & Hillside Roads, Valley View, Cuyahoga County, OH, Ohio & Erie Canal, Lock No. The train only costs $3.00 for bike and you. Study the map, and then keep your eye on the signs and painted road markings. The trail goes through two quick tunnels under Steelyard Commons and Quigley and the Towpath continues straight on the OTET turns right and goes up next to Quigley to W14th. Plus, if it's busy, you're not going to get up to speed anyways. 2. It does get busy in the cuyahoga valley section but most people were kind and moved over. The trail is hard packed and in bad weather not a pleasant place to ride. I had checked for alerts, and what I had found greatly understated the problem areas. Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation (Park)with the Leonard Krieger Visitor Center manages the north end of the trail above the NPS managed section. First time I was going to start in Peninsula at Lock 29 Trail head. The route gets hillier the farther north you head. From Ft. Laurens down to SR800 the path is well graded with a fine crushed stone surface. The Towpath is managed by several jurisdictions: the National Park Service, Summit Parks and the City of Akron. Went just south to Deep Lock instead. I had not ridden north of Harvard Rd and my wife and I are doing the OH2ERIE in a couple of weeks so I wanted to scout this section out to Edgewater park. 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