About The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath
The towpath is the spine of Akron. Mules once pulled canal boats along this corridor; today it's a mostly flat, mostly paved trail running from downtown Akron through Cuyahoga Valley National Park all the way to Cleveland — about 87 miles end to end.
The classic Akron start is Lock 3 Park on Main Street, next to Canal Park. From there the trail heads north past the restored locks of Cascade Locks Park, under the All-America Bridge, and into the valley. Heading south, it passes the Mustill Store and the Summit Lake neighborhood.
You don't need to commit to a long ride — the two-mile stretch from Lock 3 to Cascade Locks is the most historic, with interpretive signs, canal ruins and skyline views the whole way.
Local tips
- The Lock 3 to Cascade Locks stretch is the best short walk — about two miles round trip.
- The trail is shared with bikes; keep right and listen for passing calls.
- Mustill Store, just south of downtown, is a small free museum about the canal era.
- In winter the trail stays open but is not always plowed — dress for it.
