Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Towpath

The 308-mile Ohio and Erie Canal was constructed between 1825 and 1832, creating a route from Lake Erie at Cleveland to the Ohio River at Portsmouth.  Utilizing a towpath along one side of the canal, teams of mules were used to pull canal boats.  Over 80 miles of the towpath in northeast Ohio has been preserved and restored as a trail, with 20 miles in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.  We decided to explore the towpath on bicycles.  Century Cycles in Peninsula has a rental fleet and is conveniently located adjacent to the train depot.  Looking at the map, we realized we could catch the train from Peninsula to Rockside Road in Independence and then bike back to Peninsula.  That would still leave us with about a third of the towpath south of Peninsula.  Since the trains wouldn't run until Wednesday, we decided to use the southern section as a trial run to determine if we could bike the thirteen mile northern section.  I thought we had reached the southern end of the park when we came to the entrance sign pictured above at Bath Road, so we turned around and headed back to Peninsula.  The pictures below are geographically from north to south.

Towpath bridge over Cuyahoga River in Peninsula

Lock 28 - "Deep Lock" with a 17 foot lift

Lock 27 - "Johnnycakes Lock"

Foundation for aqueduct over Furnace Run

Cuyahoga River

Boardwalk through the Beaver Marsh

Lock 26

Remains of Lock 25 wall - "Mudcatcher Lock"

Lock 24 wall and wasteway

After our return to Peninsula, we consulted with bike shop employees and determined that we had ridden about 13 miles for the day.  The park actually continues south of the entrance sign about another one-half mile.  

Since we had no ill effects from the ride, we decided to take advantage of the "Bike Aboard!" program a couple of days later.  We again rented bicycles from Century Cycles and boarded the first northbound train to Rockside Road Station.  The train was pulled by locomotive 6777, a Montreal Locomotive Works diesel-electric model FPA-4 that was originally built for the Canadian National Railway.  The towpath was not immediately visible from the station, so it took us a few minutes to realize that we had to cross the river via Old Rockside Road.  A couple of strategically placed signs would be helpful.  The pictures below are also arranged geographically from north to south.

Looking north down West Canal Street with Towpath on the right

Lock 39

Numerous sturdy benches have been constructed along the towpath

2010 Aqueduct over Tinkers Creek

Lock 37

Alexander's Mill in operation since 1855
and operated as Wilson's Feed Mill since 1900

Frazee House 1826

Pinery diversion dam and Chippewa Road Bridge

Lock 35 - "Whiskey Lock"

Remains of the Jaite paper mill fourdrinier machine

Cuyahoga River - "Crooked RIver"

Typical condition of the Towpath Trail

Towpath leading to Boston Store

Cuyahoga River flowing under I-271

Towpath boardwalk through "Stumpy Basin"

Lock 31 - "Lonesome Lock" showing the concrete refurbishment of 1900

One of two "tunnels" for the towpath to pass under the railroad

Northern end of Lock 29

Southern end of Lock 29 with abutments for aqueduct over the Cuyahoga River

The towpath is a wonderful resource that provides the key feature of the park.  There are about a dozen trailheads for easy access to any section.  Since the Century Cycles contract limits the route to the Ohio & Erie Canal towpath, I would recommend bringing your own bike to take advantage of the myriad combination (bike and hike) trails in the area.

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/cuva/index.htm.  
The towpath website is http://www.ohioanderiecanalway.com/Main/Home.aspx.