towpath bike

Running along the old Ohio/Erie canal the towpath was exactly what it sounds like. The river barges would be towed up and down the canal by horses who walked the path. Therefore it is a very flat relatively straight path that runs many miles from Akron to the southern part of Cleveland. Along the way you will see the remains of the old locks and other historical ruins that are marked with plaques with a brief description of what you are seeing. There are parking and access areas periodically along the trail with restrooms and maps. It is maintained by the National Park Service so it is pristine and very safe.My favorite section of the path runs from the Ira Rd access up to the Boston Store on Boston Mills Rd. That ride is about 6 miles each way, and a very easy 12 mile round trip that I have made with my children of 8 and 11 many times. Szalay's farm market is right on the path and worth a stop for a fresh fruit sundae, lemonade or a plum or peach. Next stop you can make is in the town of Peninsula. Century Cycles is a great little bike shop, and the Winking Lizard bar/restaurant is a great place to grab a beer (they have hundreds of varieties), and something to eat. A couple more miles north and you'll get to the Boston Store which isn't a store and never was a store. Today it's a museum chronicling the canal. Great photos, relics and even a model of the aft end of a canal barge.Further north of here and you head into a more wooded area and eventually meet up with the Cleveland metro parks system of trails.I should mention that if you don't have a bike or are traveling through without your bike, you can rent one from Century Cycles in Peninsula. I believe they also have kid trailers and third wheels available as well.

My wife and I never miss an opportunity to hike, bike, or stroll this gorgeous path when visiting family in the Cleveland Akron area. Great no matter what season of the year. With a bit of luck, you may even see a Great Blue Heron standing watch in the rapids.

You can take this at your own pace , several different areas and locations to start and end from, many locks to see, lots of signs marking the area, nature and wildlife to be observed in the canal, trains passing by often. bikers and walkers use this path together. the beaver marsh area is one a nice place to stop and relax and look for wildlife on the boardwalk.

We did the bike aboard with the train and biked about 7 miles of the northern part of the towpath. It was very beautiful but crowded with bikers, walkers, and runners. Bring water because places to get food and drink are pretty spread out.

Love the towpath bike path! Growing up as a family, we always went on bike rides here together and were always so happy! Recently I went with my boyfriend and we rode our bikes until we worked up an appetite! Once grabbing lunch in Peninsula, we were too stuffed & tired to ride back- when we noticed that we could take the train back....WITH OUR BIKES. What an amazing offer to do. The train ride back to our vehicle seemed to have multiple stops which is nice to know that we could park in different areas and still be able to catch the train. Also- if you go early enough...the wildlife is AMAZING!

Our daughter talked us into doing this and are we ever glad she did. We are seniors and not experienced bikers but this path was very enjoyable. We took the train with our grandchildren to Indigo Lake and rode back to town. Beautiful scenery and a level path made it fun for all.

There are places to stop along the way, a museum about the canal, there are several canal stops, restrooms along the way, icecream...fun ride and you can choose to ride the train back.

My grown daughter and I just returned from a ride on the towpath trail from Akron to Boston Mills. We ate at Pninsula and found it to be just perfect. The trail is great, with lots of room and plenty to look at. There are information boards all along the trail, giving you history of the area. There are plenty of places to stop and restrooms. We bicycle a lot and not being from this area, havent vistited here before, but we will definitely come back. We took the train back to Mustill Store.

This is a long modified trail you can ride a road bike on it is wide so it can accommodate both hikers and bikers at the same time. Though many people walk dogs here they are usualy friendly and not a problem. This is a lovely trail with much in nature to look at both plant and animail and a lot of it runs next to the old canal where mules towed barges from Akron to Cleveland and back..

I like the deer, the birds, the river on one side, the canal on the other, sometimes with breackish water, the locks and info, the mile marker, the people enjoying the path, walking or biking--never a crowd, sometimes you're alone for miles.

For several years, I enjoyed taking my Trek to this bike trail on weekends and riding different segments. It's a very pleasant trail - very easy and well maintained. There's history and wildlife all along the trail. Early mornings are a great time to ride - you'll encounter fewer people. It was always to meet friends at the Winking Lizard after my bike rides. Now that I live in KS, I truly miss this trail and all it offered.

So much to see on here. Great interpretive displays on the canal and industrialization of the area. Locks, aqueducts, historic buildings, massive bridges, and trains. Wildlife galore. Saw too many deer to count, turkeys, herons, bald eagles, raccoons. All along a trail that has hardly any grade to it. My favorite thing about the Cleveland area.

From Cleveland to Akron, enjoy a path of varied surfaces made for bicycles - small cinders along the canal to wooden bridges over marshy areas- peaceful woodland scenery along the way. Stop in Peninsula for lunch and you're on your way again! Enjoy our Cuyahoga Valley National Park linking into the Cleveland and Akron Metro Park systems.

We bike this path all the time. We start in Elyria and take it to Oberlin. Have lunch or a snack and return its path is paved and you cross over a few roads.

Rented bicyles in Peninsula Depot and road the trail to Botzum Trailhead. Ride was shortened due to storm. Easy ride with along the canal with interesting historical markers along the way. Enjoyable.