Ohio: Ohio & Erie Towpath Canal
My Experiences along the Ohio & Erie Towpath
Years ago, covering a story for The Repository, I photographed the Army Corp of Engineers working on a section of the Ohio & Erie Towpath near Canal Fulton, Ohio. I was escorted in a military Humvee - we rode back to a section of a rough path that was being excavated and prepped for the up and coming trail. At the time, they were just beginning to make this a viable walking, riding and biking path. Later that year, I then rode horseback on a section from Massillon to New Philadelphia which took 8 hours. Not only did my sides hurt from my cameras smacking me as I rode, I learned how my legs would become jello after a lengthy horseback ride.
For 5 years I covered the news in the area; I got to ride the train, I walked the villages, photographed the Lantern Ghost tour, documented ski lessons, photographed fishing competitions, tunnel dedications and hiked trails.
Prior to that; In college I would drive through the Boston Mills area looking for photographs. I spent multiple nights singing and dancing at Blossom Music Center to various artists, hiked multiple trails for waterfalls and even rode the historic St. Helena as a kid. I also learned how to churn butter in Zoar.
Weirdly none of this registered as a continuous and connected aspect of the Ohio & Erie Trail. The canalway that once brought supplies south from Lake Erie and ran through towns, and cities I frequented is a part of my history (and I have some vintage footage to prove it).
Over the last 20+ years the State of Ohio has partnered with Cleveland Metroparks, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Summit Metro Parks, Stark Parks, and the Tuscarawas County Park District and transformed the 110 miles into an amazing outdoor recreational must do!
I plan on touring multiple aspects of the Ohio & Erie towpath over the course of the next few months. I will be showing different aspects on Youtube in a 4 part series of videos.
Since Ohio has 4 seasons (really 3) - Summer, Fall, Winter and Final Winter many locations do not really open until June and close around October.
I began my journey in Cleveland, actually Akron but most of the area was closed. Spring in Cleveland is the right time to visit. Prior to getting overly muggy (which it will) or buggy (which it does), the first few warm sunny days are really the right time to visit.
During summers Cleveland was the spot to head to on weekends. The Flats, named after the low lying typography, was a vibrant bar lined section of streets with multiple taverns, places to eat and shuttle boats that took you from one side of the river to the other. It had an odd metallic fish smell (not like the fish markets of Seattle or NY but you knew you were near water).
While the construction of the new Cleveland Indians stadium briefly saw a decline in the area, during my drive in May 2021, the area seems to once again be bouncing back and becoming a mix of live music, restaurants, biking paths, cafes and industrial businesses.
It’s not always had the best reputation and nights can be a hit or miss, but that’s for any nightlife area in any city across the US. My recommendation, stay a week - plan a flexible trip that will allow you to explore the outdoors on sunny days. (Post Covid) I recommend attending an Indians game or Browns game. Stopping at one of the many beaches or fishing spots along the shore. Not only will you have multiple foodie locations, there are shows and museums worth the trip.
How the 1969 Cuyahoga River Fire helped establish the EPA.
Cuyahoga River Fire Nov. 3, 1952. Courtesy of Cleveland Press Collection at Cleveland State University Library.
Whiskey Island which is the mouth from Lake Erie to the Cuyahoga River (known as the Crooked River), weaves its way through the flats and industrial area of downtown Cleveland. This same section caught fire on June 22, 1969. In fact this area of the river had previously caught fire 12 times starting in 1868, the final fire raised an awareness regarding pollution levels and multiple laws were created to prevent this from happening again. The legislature passed the National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) on January 1, 1970. This act helped establish the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which was to manage environmental risks and regulate various sanitation - specific policies.
It’s not a history Cleveland likes to remember but it is something that changed how we react to pollution throughout the US. While not the best way to remember Cleveland, it’s the silver lining. Unfortunately, we as humans don’t actually take steps to change until often it’s too late.
Since the 1969 fire, $3.5 billion has been invested for the purification of the river. The river has now become a vital regrowth of the love of the outdoors.
More Information: http://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Cuyahoga_River_Fire
Exploring the Ohio & Erie Towpath and Canal
I have explored multiple sections of the trail throughout my life. Most notably, the Cuyahoga National Park. At the time it was not a national park. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park was established in 2000. Prior to that, in 1974 it was known as a national recreation area.
Cleveland, a town most known for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Indians and The Browns. It seems to be a city on the verge of realizing that it could be great. Areas I drove by abandoned, yet made of solid brick. Buildings that could be amazing but lacked owners. Small sections of overgrown industrial businesses that once thrived, mixed with hipster cafes and trendy restaurants. It’s literally like dropping multiple timestamps with neighborhoods locked in eras. Some forgotten, some made into amazing outdoor venues and places to hang on a Thursday night.
I think I could spend a month exploring sections of Cleveland. One of my favorite Cleveland drives is Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd which winds its way south of Lake Erie. This road is dotted with bricked layed bridge arches, surrounded by lush green gardens of cultural displays from multiple regions and ethnicities and seems to end at the Cleveland Art Museum. It’s a beautiful section of the city. While not a part of the towpath trail, it’s an area that is worth a drive.
I began my visit at Wendy Park on Whiskey Island. The trail which starts on the Lake follows the river and weaves its path through Tremont. If I could say it properly, I wanted to say “Treymont” - in the voice of James Spader from Pretty in Pink. It’s trendy, adorable and I loved the area.
Finding one of the Cleveland Script signs which overlooks downtown, I headed south and discovered the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation, tucked off 77, this section of the path leads to a marsh, called the Blue Heron Boardwalk. It’s a lush gorgeous area that I recommend exploring (with plenty of bug spray) towards the morning or evening hours. Not only was it a pleasant surprise, the footage and photos I captured are my favorites for 2021.
In my future, I plan on tackling the entirety of the Ohio & Erie trail via bike. It's something I need to work up to, personally my knee (less than a year old) is not quite ready. I would like to spend 3-4 days riding this trail, staying at locations along the path and biking the entire 110 miles. #healthgoals
If you have the ability - I HIGHLY recommend adding this path to your bucket-list of places to see, explore and tackle.
Don’t sleep on Ohio, we have some fantastic spots, food that will fuel you and keep your mouth watering, bike shops, liveries and enough outdoor adventures to make you want more.
For more ways to explore the Towpath trail, you can head to https://www.ohioanderiecanalway.com/, which provides more detailed maps and places to explore on and around the trail.
When they say Ohio is Beautiful, this is one of the many reasons why!
#ohioerietowpath #clevelandrocks #ohioisbeautiful #exploreyourbackyard #bikingpath #cuyahogavalleyNPS
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