Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail: Beautiful Biking in Cuyahoga County
The amazing Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath stretches over 80 miles through Cuyahoga, Stark, Summit, and Tuscarawas Counties in Ohio. The trail follows the old Ohio & Erie Canal. This popular biking/walking/jogging path is one of the longest in the state. When fully completed, it will run over 100 miles from Cleveland to New Philadelphia.
We did not have time to complete a really large section of the path due to time constraints. However, we were able to fit in a decent workout: 15 miles of scenic views along the Cuyahoga County portion of the trail. The path was desolate, scenic, and flat: the perfect riding conditions!
There are several scenic bridges along the route for taking pictures. Check out a few of them below.
One of the best aspects of this path was the ease of the trail. Besides a few small hills, the Cuyahoga portion of the path was really flat and easy to ride. We had the entire path to ourselves as we only passed a handful of people the entire way. I can’t stand overly crowded bike paths which are more about swerving out of the way then enjoying the ride. This ride allowed us to enjoy nature and the quiet, which is ideal for any bike riding trip.
Your bike will be loaded onto the train for your convenience. You will be able to flag down the train at any of the boarding stations, so don’t feel like you have to complete the entire 20 mile section. You can take the train back at any of the stations. Check out this map of the stations. This is a fantastic deal, especially if you enjoy biking. You can in a great workout and actually get rewarded with a cheaper train ticket! Sounds great to me!
I imagine this train ride would be a nice treat after several hours of biking. Relaxing and enjoying the beautiful views on your return route back to your car would be the ideal reward for your hard work. Unfortunately, this program only operates on Wednesdays-Sundays, and therefore, we were unable to take the ride. If we are ever back in the area, we are definitely taking advantage of this fantastic deal.
Parking information: Several free large lots are located near the start of the trail. We parked at the Rockside Station lot located at 7900 Rockside Road Independence, OH. Visit the Ohio & Erie Canalway Website for more information on trailhead parking lots and mileage maps.
Bike rental information: Century Cycles in Peninsula rents bicycles at their Cuyahoga Valley National Park store at the rate of $9 per hour. Visit the Century Cycles website for more information.
Tips
*Bring with a camera. The trail is very scenic with plenty of photo opportunities, especially if planning for a stop at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
*Bring with enough water. I usually put a bottle in my bike holder and also carry 2 additional in a small backpack. Don’t forget a few small snacks as well.
*Check the operating schedule for the train ride. If you plan on taking the scenic ride back, be aware of the limited dates and hours. It runs from April-October on Wednesdays-Sundays only. Check the full scenic train schedule for departure times.
*Plan your mileage based on your fitness level. Decide in advance how much of the 80+ mileage you intend to complete so you can judge how much food/water to carry with you. Check out this mileage map to create your itinerary.
*Check the towpath alerts before scheduling a ride. You want to make sure that all sections of the path are open.