Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail

 

Riding the Towpath Trail.

NPS / DJR

Discover the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Park by bicycling, running, or strolling on the Towpath Trail. Here you can travel the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal on the same path that mules walked to tow canal boats loaded with goods and passengers. From the trail, you can make connections to many natural and historic sites, as well as to Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Beyond the park, you can continue your journey on the Towpath Trail further along the Ohio & Erie Canalway.

 

Things to know

• Map of the Towpath Trail
• The trail is open 24 hours
• Multiple access points (See below)
• Wheelchair, bike, and stroller accessible
• Level compacted crushed limestone surface
• 20 miles long (CVNP section)
• Please note: If you planning a multi-day Towpath Trail ride, please contact our Communications Center at 440-546-5945 to inform staff where you parked your vehicle. This will ensure our law enforcement rangers do not tag your vehicle as "abandoned".

To check for potential towpath trail closures visit our Alerts page.

 

History of the Towpath

The Towpath Trail follows the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal. Before the canal was built, Ohio was a sparsely settled wilderness where travel was difficult and getting crops to market was nearly impossible. The canal, built between 1825 and 1832, provided a successful transportation route from Cleveland, on Lake Erie, to Portsmouth, on the Ohio River. The canal opened up Ohio to the rest of the settled eastern United States. To learn more about the Towpath visit Ohio & Erie Canalway.

Bike and Hike Aboard

A ride on Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is a unique way to experience the national park. The train offers roundtrip excursions as well as a one-way shuttle service for bikers, hikers, and paddlers.The Explorer shuttle program is $5 one-way for bikers/hikers/runners and $10 for single-seater kayaks/$15 for double-seater kayaks. Arrive 10 minutes before departure and flag down the train by waving both arms over your head. Pay when boarding the train. Cash is preferred; exact change is appreciated. Make sure to have trailers detached and all items removed from bikes or kayaks before boarding.

Find detailed trip planning information and purchase tickets on the CVSR website.

For bicycle rentals in and near the park check out Century Cycles.

 

Safety on the Trail

The Towpath Trail is a shared recreational trail. This means it is open to walkers, joggers, and bicyclists, and in some sections, horse riders. To ensure an enjoyable trail experience for all users, please observe some basic trail courtesy.

• Travel at a safe speed and keep to the right except to pass others; the speed limit for bicycles is 15 mph.

• Bicyclists yield to ALL users.

• Don't risk a head injury. Always wear a helmet when cycling.

• EVERYONE yields to horses. Horses can be startled by sudden movements, so use caution. Make sure the rider knows in advance that you are passing.

• Give a clear warning before passing on the left.

• Travel single file when passing and being passed.

• Pets must be kept on a leash; please use a short leash and keep pets on the right side of the trail.

• Please avoid walking in cross country ski tracks.

• Move off the trail when stopped.

 

Distance Along the Trail

The following table lists the approximate distance (in miles) between trailheads and other points of interest along the Towpath Trail in the park.

Approximate distance (in miles) between points of interest along the Towpath Trail in the park.

	Lock 39	Canal Expl. Ctr.	Frazee	Station Rd.	Red Lock	Boston	Peninsula	Hunt House	Beaver Marsh	Ira	Botzum
Lock 39 Trailhead	-	1.8	3.6	6.3	8.8	10.7	13.1	16.4	17.5	17.8	19.8
Canal Exploration Center	1.8	-	1.8	4.5	7.0	8.9	11.3	14.6	15.7	16.0	18.0
Frazee House	3.6	1.8	-	2.7	5.2	7.1	9.5	12.8	13.9	14.2	16.2
Station Road Bridge Trailhead	6.3	4.5	2.7	-	2.5	4.4	6.8	10.1	11.2	11.5	13.5
Red Lock Trailhead	8.8	7.0	5.2	2.5	-	1.9	4.3	7.6	8.7	9.0	11.0
Boston Trailhead	10.7	8.9	7.1	4.4	1.9	-	2.4	5.7	6.8	7.1	9.1
Peninsula: Lock 29 Trailhead	13.1	11.3	9.5	6.8	4.3	2.4	-	3.3	4.4	4.7	6.7
Hunt House	16.4	14.6	12.8	10.1	7.6	5.7	3.3	-	1.1	1.4	3.4
Beaver Marsh Viewing Area	17.5	15.7	13.9	11.2	8.7	6.8	4.4	1.1	-	0.3	2.3
Ira Trailhead	17.8	16.0	14.2	11.5	9.0	7.1	4.7	1.4	0.3	-	2.0
Botzum Trailhead	19.8	18.0	16.2	13.5	11.0	9.1	6.7	3.4	2.3	2.0	-