OHIO RIVER TRAIL COUNCIL

Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail — Bolivar, Ohio to Massillon, Ohio

Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail 30-mile Bike Ride

Come out for a ride! This is part of a trail ride series sponsored by the Ohio River Trail Council (ORTC) intended to bring awareness to the wonderful trails in our quad-state region (Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia). All cyclists are welcome for this rails-to-trails, moderate-paced ride!

Join us, as we visit the Regula Towpath Trail portion of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.  The ride departs the Route 212 Trailhead just west of downtown Bolivar, Ohio and follows the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail 15-miles to the Massillon, Ohio for a rountrip of 30-miles.  

Trailhead

Congressman Ralph Regula Towpath Trail Park encompasses the 25-mile Stark County portion of the 110-mile Ohio and Erie National Heritage Canalway which extends north to Cleveland and south to New Philadelphia. The trail and bordering parklands follow the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal through deciduous forests and rural and urban landscapes. The park and towpath trail extend through what once were three thriving canal villages, now the cities of Canal Fulton and Massillon and the Village of Navarre. The shady, flat terrain parallels the Tuscarawas River. In many areas the old canal is visible. In the Canal Fulton area, the canal has been preserved, allowing for rides on a replica canal boat, the St. Helena III, during spring and summer. South of Canal Fulton is Lock 4 trailhead with areas for picnicking and fishing.

The Ohio & Erie Canalway Towpath Trail follows the historic canal where mules once pulled boats from 1827 to 1913. To date, about 80 miles of the trail are complete from Cleveland south to Bolivar.  Plans exist to extend the trail to New Philadelphia, for a total of 110 miles.  Most of the route is level and well-shaded making for a pleasant trip.  The trail also parallels the Cuyahoga River, which provides habitat for a variety of aquatic wildlife. Birds include herons, geese, ducks and kingfishers. Frogs and salamanders mate and lay eggs in the pools that collect in the flood plains. Water-loving native and non-native trees and shrubs dominate the area. Native species include cottonwood, sycamore, elm and silver maple; their chewed stumps signal beaver activity. Wildflowers abound along the sunny, shrub-less sections of the trail.

Social

During or following the ride a social gathering and dinner will be held at a local restaurant. 

Map

Attachments:

Ohio_and_Erie_Canal_Towpath_Trail_Map_2015.pdf	[ ]
Ohio_and_Erie_Canal_Towpath_Trail_Mileage_Safety_Map.pdf	[ ]