Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail

Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail

Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles106 reviews
Excellent
78
Very good
22
Average
4
Poor
0
Terrible
2

bli1220
Eustis, FL312 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
One of best out of state trails we have rode. We started at Botzum trail head and went to Boston Mill. Trail is well maintained and shady. Very diverse landscape. Loved the history markers that explained the canal -amazing. Did this ride on Monday and it was fairly busy but most people were polite and shared the road. Wish We could go another day.
Written July 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

xiolung
newark, de266 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
Had a great family walk along this trail. It had hills for the kids to climb and slide to get down as well as walking paths for regular people. Saw a beautiful blue heron who posed for us.
Written November 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LWhetzel
Fairfax, VA133 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2015 • Couples
We made a 3 day trip out of biking the towpath. Firstly i spent hours trying to get my head around options and what portion is best to see and where to stay. So i hope you find this helpful. We spent two nights in Akron and one night in Zoar. We rented an airbnb (Cadillac Hill apt, very clean and safe) which was located .25mile from the towpath. We biked to Rockside in about 5 hours (30miles), stopping at all the museums. The museums and docents along this portion were knowledgeable and friendly. Fascinating feet of engineering and public private partnership to build the canalway and later the park. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park (north of Akron to Cleveland) was our favorite portion of the towpath. The scenery wasn't breathtaking (like Grand Tetons) but it was just such an enjoyable ride (no traffic), mostly shaded, very flat, lots of places to stop for bathrooms and water refills, well maintained. We brought food with us because we just weren't sure where we'd find something to eat when we were hungry. Glad we did. We wished we'd allowed more time for side trips like the farms, Peninsula village, and trail to Cuyahoga Falls (which is 3 miles by car from Boston stop). A Park Service nervous nelly insisted you hike/car to get to the falls and not bike to it because the road has no shoulder. But i'd do it anyway since the speed limit is 35mph on the rode. Anyway, we bagged it because we weren't sure if we'd make it to Rockside for the last train to Akron. To hike RT from towpath at Boston to the falls they estimate takes 5 hours. Arriving at Rockside, we had an hour to kill so we found an indoor/outdoor restaurant across the street for a beer and chicken humus wrap. The train back was $3, volunteers are expecting bikers and lift them into the last train car. Pay cash to the conductor who comes to your seat. The train ride was nice, beverages and snacks sold. The scenery was pleasant and green but not spectacular.
I printed off maps from the park website but I wish that i had taken notes on how far from the towpath the extra sights were.
We ate that night at Diamond Grille and next morning for breakfast Akron Restaurant. I plan to make reviews of both. Great food and interesting slice of Akron culture.
Our plan the next day was drive to Canal Fulton (15 miles south), park, bike to Zoar, spend the night, bike back. I was told by Canal Fulton non-emergency police we could leave our car at the Canal Fulton visitor center overnight if we called them that day. Pouring Rain foiled our plans. We drove to Canal Fulton, visiting Glassworks (cute little handcrafted artsy shop!) and the store keeper recommended visiting Amish country 20 min southwest of Canal Fulton. We visited Lehmans (gotta see it to believe it) in Kidron, and then Ft. Laurens (the fort was a bad idea compounded), and ended our da in Zoar. Stayed at Zoar Schoolhouse Inn (very nice!). Zoar village has several buildings as part of it's tour. Hours 11am-4pm. We bagged the tour and walked around the village. If we had more time, it would be worth the tickets to hear docents rendition of the village history.
Woke up, drove to Massillon. Road the towpath from Massillon to Canal Fulton. Very nice! Again, flat, gravel, and shaded. Never did find the boundary maker at Canal Springs?? Smith House was interesting from the outside but not open to tour. From Canal Fulton you can rent canoes.
The next morning we biked from Massillon to Navarre (10 mile RT). Stayed at Hampton Inn, .25mile from the towpath. There were some nice stretches of greenery and shaded towpath but it skirted stinky industrial areas. Overall, our least favorite portion of the towpath. There was a nice park halfway honoring astronaut John Glenn.
Massillon has seen better days but it was quaint. Ate at Kozmo's for dinner. very good. Along 4th street there are some very cool old homes, large with big porches.
There is a complete guide to the towpath for sale for $15. Saw it for sale several museum stores.
It was a very enjoyable bike trip!
Written September 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SigneyAnn
Cleveland, OH104 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2015 • Family
Rode this path with my father for over a decade both leisurely and for sport exercise. I now ride with my husband and six year old. The trail is most kid friendly and interesting between Boston Mills and Peninsula. Bathrooms and snack stands to get ice cream, Popsicles or an energy drink. Stop at each lock and peer in for a glimpse of frogs, goldfish or huge snapping turtles. Take your bike on the train for three bucks and get dropped off anywhere along the line and pedal back to where you parked. We like riding from Brecksville, South along the river to peninsula for breakfast and back. Tunnels, bridges, relatively flat. Lots of deer, rabbits, snapping turtles in the canal... Etc. Or ride further south to Szalay's farm market and enjoy the Amish swings and rockers, grab a yogurt with fresh produce, then go back to the Winking Lizard to catch the game and eat wings or grab a sandwich there or across the street at Fisher's. Rent bikes from courteous, knowledgeable Century Cycles. Fall it can't be beat.
Written July 19, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jim M
Pittsburgh, PA188 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2016 • Couples
My wife and I recently road the trail from Big Bend (just above Akron) to Rockside Station in Independence, about 20 miles one way. We were told that the best way to do the trail was from south to north. That' s what we did, although there really wasn't any grade on the trail to speak of, so either direction would have worked for us.

We weren't really interested in doing 40 miles round trip, so we hopped on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad at Rockside Station and road it south to Big Bend, about 3.5 miles short of Akron. We originally planned on going all the way to Akron, but we were told there was construction and a detour between Akron and Big Bend, so we decided to hop off early. The railroad has a program where you load your bike on the train, get on or off at any stop for only $3. The program is called BikeAboard. The train ride south to Big Bend (Botzum) was very pleasant. The best part of the train ride was that all of the bicyclists are in the same coach, and there was a lot of interesting discussion about trails and experiences.

Once on the trail, we found it to be well maintained (mostly crushed limestone, but some asphalt) and a very easy ride. Lunch time found us at Peninsula and the Winking Lizard Tavern. Although we decided not to eat there, it appeared very popular and many of the people on the train recommended it.

If you're looking to do a few more miles (6 miles one way), you can head north from Rockside Station on the All Purpose Trail in the Cleveland Metroparks. This section of the trail is paved and is also an easy ride. We did the round trip on this section and saw a few great blue herons along the way.

We highly recommend this trail. Further we suggest you take that train as part of the day's adventure.
Written September 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

open_to_the_world
Columbus, OH287 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2015 • Couples
Ready, Set, Lets Ride! The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail is a multipurpose active trail for bicyclists, walkers, runners and, in some places, horseback riders. If you enjoy the outdoors, an active lifestyle, natural offerings and just peace of mind, come here. Towpath Trail begins in the city of Massillon and goes north into Cleveland. The trail runs through the Stark County Park District, Summit Metro Parks and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Weekdays are best for avoiding the crowds and feeling the spaciousness of nature.

We picked the perfect summer day for a bike ride. We began in Akron at the Mustill Store, on North Street, near where the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) begins or ends, depending on your location. There is ample parking in the adjacent lot. Our plan was to bike one way north and return by CVSR. CVSR offers cyclists boarding & bike loading for the low cost of $3 one way. (Runners and hikers are eligible) Beware though, the train technically only loads bikes at Akron Northside, Peninsula and Rockside (lock 39) stations. At the other stations, you have to clearly/actively flag them down or they will pass you by. Be sure to get a schedule for the train so you aren't left stranded somewhere in the woods. Admittedly, there were a number of park rangers visible to provide information and assistance.

When we first started on Towpath, I was somewhat concerned because I didn't see the tracks. But that was only for the first few miles. The tracks are to the left and the canal is to the right as you are headed north. Along the trail you will see many mile markers, station signs and historical information about the canal area. For your viewing pleasure are forests, fields, flowers, plants, wetlands, bridges and wildlife such as hawks, beavers, herons and frogs. At different points, the trail is either paved, graveled or planked. This is not a difficult ride as the terrain is mostly flat. Bicycle rentals are offered somewhere along the trail. Also, there are many rest stops, some stores and restaurants for eating, drinking and shopping. At one point we saw a farmers market and ice cream shop. As a side note, the restroom facilities are some of the best I have encountered: modern, clean, odor-free, lots of soap and paper products. Yipee!

After approximately 3 hours and 27.5 miles of bike riding and another 75 minutes on the train our mission was accomplished. Oh happy trails. Worth toasting to. Must plan another ride soon.
Written November 1, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Janet M
Oberlin, OH123 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2015
My daughter and I just completed the entire Towpath Trail from Cleveland to Zoar. It was incredibly wonderful. Flat, shady, beautiful, varied, well-maintained...I could go on and on. Very well signed on the few portions of the route that go on roads. Several places to get something to eat or drink along the way - a highlight was the Cherry Creamery in Canal Fulton. Highly recommend and can't wait to do it again.
Written September 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GuidoLocattelli
Cuyahoga Falls, OH6,818 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2014 • Solo
I am surprised that there are so few or no more comments about this part of Ohio wilderness and history. Growing up in and around Akron last century taught me something about the Erie Canal. I worked near the center of Akron where the Canal made its passage southward to Canton. Towpath Trail was added later to the name and geographical description of the region extending southward. I know the territory south to Canton and Stark County even as far south as Bolivar, Zoar, Navarre and New Philadelphia or Dover in near by Tuscawaras County. I have explored the trail as it goes up north. But urban beauty of this trail should not be allowed to disfigure your memory of it further south. Things are quite different southward. Growing up in Summit County brought me into contact with this historical information. Towns like Peninsula and others north of Akron still harbor a storm of desirably good qualities for liking the trail as it goes up north. But I like the rural parts of trail region as much as the urban parts. Maybe more so. Yes there are bike trails and hiking trails. I wonder how the emissions of gasoline and oil from mountain or motorbikes will affect the environment. There are important historical places to be dealt with and learned about in this region south of Akron. Fort Laurens is one example. Bolivar and Zoar are two others. The NFL Hall of Fame in Canton has little trouble attracting people, but by comparison these small towns and historically important forts could benefit from seeing the NFL football crowd make a visit or two each week. Reading about national and Ohio history is a prerequisite for visiting these places. Forget for a moment about collecting antiques. Learn about the history of the region. Now this same trail does extend up north toward Cleveland and this is one of the benefits of living here. Many parts of Summit County are still wilderness areas that deserve to be explored. If you need a reason to study geography and geology here it is in abundance. Universities would do themselves a favor by using this trail as an incentive to study Ohio history. I imagine it is possible to obtain a bachelor's degree value of knowledge by visiting and walking the trail. The walking experience from being in Akron and walking the trail inside Summit County through downtown Akron is surely worth a small book. This is especially so since many old parts of downtown Akron have been redesigned with urban renewal and costly rehabilitation of the downtown area. I am a boating fanatic and I like to canoe or go boating. There are numerous chances to do this along the trail. Go there especially south of Canton in and around New Philadelphia and Dover. Tuscawaras River will be the place to begin. Many places to rent boats are available as tourism has caught this region by pleasant surprise. Route 250 leads further south from Tuscawaras and Carroll County toward Cadiz and is not part of the trail but it does represent what has been done in Ohio to beautify the state with additional state parks. Places like Malvern, Paris, Minerva and the like need to be seen.This is the boundary area that begins to separate rural Ohio from many parts of urban Ohio. This area contains the foothills of the Appalachian mountains and is the beginning of a different cultural environment. Make no mistake about that! This is Carroll County. Numerous road side stands where people are selling fruit can be found here. I have heard of people driving their cars down interstate 77 to get to a trail head near Dover or Ulrichsville - but that is cheating a little. Take time and paddle a canoe and photograph the landscape. Some parts of this area is in the television station viewing area for reception from Cleveland. This fact surprises people. Three or more universities and colleges can be found in the region especially two or three branches of Kent State University to offer a different form of education available for younger and older students alike. In this respect the region is somewhat different. This area south of Canton is still rural Ohio and things are quite different here than they are up north. Diversity of Ohio is worth your time to explore for this reason too. Many years ago I drove my car to regular employment south of Canton and I became knowledgeable with the region. So much of the area is farm country and it remains as such stubbornly. As you move south of Tuscawaras county then you are getting deep into rural Ohio - appalachian Ohio to be sure. Poverty still abounds here. Elements of the bible belt remain in place. To summarize, places like Brewster and Osnaburg deserve a visit. Alliance is pretty far from the trail but it might deserve a visit for seeing the college atmosphere that has dominated the town for years - Mount Union. Higher education has led many young people to follow different career paths. Follow the entire Tuscawaras river south of Canton and you will see the importance of the river for the trail itself. Go there and enjoy the beauty. In the greater geographical region there are small lakes. Be sure to visit Akron however. Erie canal began to lose its importance south of Akron before many people realized what had happened to Ohio and national history.
Written August 11, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

bees60
Cleveland, OH41 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2016 • Couples
This flat and beautiful path is such a blessing to our family. We ride the path on our bikes often and can easily go many miles because of the flat terrain. My favorite thing to do is to take the train down to Akron with our bikes aboard and then ride them back to our car. Usually we stop often along the path to enjoy the beauty and sometimes we stop to snack at Szalays or somewhere in Peninsula. Since we have been riding this path for 25 years we have seen many wonderful things including the eagles, beavers, herons, turtles, deer, baby owls just to name a few. Once caution I have, we have seen 3 accidents over the years and 2 of them were very bad accidents. It is not a super wide path so sometimes it can get crowded, especially on weekend mornings and afternoons. When walkers, joggers, slow bike riders and fast bike riders come to the same spot it can be a bit tricky. We didn't let our kids ride on the path alone until they were 10 years old because of the safety concerns with accidents. They rode in bike seats and on tag alongs until that point and we were able to keep them safe. It is very hard for kids to react quickly enough to the fast riders and to the people that forget or don't understand the courtesy of signaling when they pass. I am hoping that some day that the Cuyahoga Valley administration will place signs somewhere to explain how to signal when passing. It is our place of escape and we are so blessed to have it near our home.
Written July 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Frances C
Cleveland, OH18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2016
The Towpath trail is free of debris and the scenery is great any time if the year. Some of the bicyclists forget to let you know they are passing and can oftentimes give you a scare if you don't hear them coming up on you.
Written April 28, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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