Trails will be temporarily closed between Red Lock Trailhead and Brandywine Creek from Monday, March 3, to Friday, May 2, 2025 for installation of a new Brandywine Creek culvert. No detour is available.
More
Discover the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Park by bicycling, running, or strolling on the Towpath Trail. Here you can travel the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal on the same path that mules walked to tow canal boats loaded with goods and passengers. From the trail, you can make connections to many natural and historic sites, as well as to Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Beyond the park, you can continue your journey on the Towpath Trail further along the Ohio & Erie Canalway.
Towpath Safety and Etiquette
The Towpath Trail is a shared recreational trail. It is open to walkers, joggers, bicyclists, and (in some sections) horse riders. To ensure an enjoyable trail experience for all users, please observe some basic trail courtesy.
Travel at a safe speed and keep to the right except to pass others. The speed limit for bicycles is 15 mph.
Bicyclists yield to ALL users.
Don't risk a head injury. Always wear a helmet when cycling.
EVERYONE yields to horses. Horses can be startled by sudden movements, so use caution. Make sure the rider knows in advance that you are passing.
Give a clear warning before passing on the left.
Travel single file when passing and being passed.
Pets must be kept on a leash which is six feet or less. We recommend a shorter leash to prevent bike accidents. Keep you and your pet on the right side of the trail.
Avoid walking in cross-country ski tracks.
Move off the trail when stopped.
Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are allowed on the Towpath Trail within the national park. Other motorized vehicles are not permitted as stated in the Superintendent's Compendium.
History of the Towpath
The Towpath Trail follows the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal. Before the canal was built (1825-1832), Ohio was part of America's frontier. Travel was difficult and getting crops to market was nearly impossible. The canal provided a successful transportation route across the state, connecting the Ohio River at Portsmouth and Lake Erie at Cleveland. The canal opened up Ohio to the rest of the eastern United States. Learn more about the Towpath Trail at Ohio & Erie Canalway.
Shuttle by Train
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad offers one-way shuttle service for Towpath bikers, hikers, and runners. Purchase single Explorer tickets at the baggage car. For frequent users, we recommend buying a seasonal Explorer pass. Arrive 10 minutes before departure and flag down the train by waving both arms over your head. Cash is preferred; exact change is appreciated. Make sure to have trailers detached and all items removed from bikes before boarding. Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad has a 40-pound weight limit for bicycles.
Check the train's Explorer page for the current days of operations, prices, and schedule. The page also has a map and answers to frequently asked questions.
Distance Between Points
The following table lists the distances in miles between national park trailheads and other points of interest along the Towpath Trail. For distances outside the national park, visit Ohio & Erie Canalway.
Lock 39
Canal Expl. Ctr.
Frazee
Station Rd.
Red Lock
Boston
Peninsula
Hunt House
Beaver Marsh
Ira
Botzum
Lock 39 Trailhead
-
1.8
3.6
6.3
8.8
10.7
13.1
16.4
17.5
17.8
19.8
Canal Exploration Center
1.8
-
1.8
4.5
7.0
8.9
11.3
14.6
15.7
16.0
18.0
Frazee House
3.6
1.8
-
2.7
5.2
7.1
9.5
12.8
13.9
14.2
16.2
Station Road Bridge Trailhead
6.3
4.5
2.7
-
2.5
4.4
6.8
10.1
11.2
11.5
13.5
Red Lock Trailhead
8.8
7.0
5.2
2.5
-
1.9
4.3
7.6
8.7
9.0
11.0
Boston Trailhead
10.7
8.9
7.1
4.4
1.9
-
2.4
5.7
6.8
7.1
9.1
Peninsula: Lock 29 Trailhead
13.1
11.3
9.5
6.8
4.3
2.4
-
3.3
4.4
4.7
6.7
Hunt House
16.4
14.6
12.8
10.1
7.6
5.7
3.3
-
1.1
1.4
3.4
Beaver Marsh Viewing Area
17.5
15.7
13.9
11.2
8.7
6.8
4.4
1.1
-
0.3
2.3
Ira Trailhead
17.8
16.0
14.2
11.5
9.0
7.1
4.7
1.4
0.3
-
2.0
Botzum Trailhead
19.8
18.0
16.2
13.5
11.0
9.1
6.7
3.4
2.3
2.0
-
Bike Rentals
Several local businesses offer bicycle rentals along this section of the Towpath Trail, including:
These short walks along the Towpath Trail explore many highlights of the valley’s lowlands. They are recommended for people who have mobility disabilities, are visiting with children, or have limited time.
This is the northernmost trailhead within Cuyahoga Valley. From here, visitors can explore the Towpath Trail south into the national park or north into Cleveland Metroparks. Across the parking lot is an access point for the Cuyahoga River Water Trail and a pedestrian bridge to Rockside Station.
Brecksville Station was once a loading point for outgoing milk and lumber on the Valley Railway. Now this area is a crossroads for rail passengers, hikers, cyclists, runners, paddlers, and horse riders. Here, Station Road Bridge Trailhead provides ample parking and access to the Towpath Trail, Cuyahoga River Water Trail, and Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. In spring and summer, this is a hotspot for birders who flock to see cerulean and yellow-throated warblers.
The Red Lock Trailhead area is a place to observe how nature is reclaiming old industrial sites and canal ruins. The small trailhead provides access to the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, Valley Trail, and Cuyahoga River Water Trail. The area is a hotspot for birding, especially during spring migration. About a half-mile south on the towpath is the site of the Jaite Paper Mill, once a large employer in Cuyahoga Valley.
The Village of Boston is a crossroads for hikers, cyclists, runners, paddlers, and horse riders. Boston Trailhead provides parking for the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath, Valley, and Buckeye trails. Paddlers may park their vehicles at the trailhead after unloading equipment at the Cuyahoga River Water Trail drop-off. Horse trailers are permitted. However, the parking lot was not designed to accommodate them, and it can be a challenge to navigate.
The Village of Boston grew up alongside a canal on the east side of the Cuyahoga River and a railroad on the west side of the river. Boston Store Trailhead provides limited mobility parking on the east side. Use it to access the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail and refreshments at Boston Store. This small trailhead does not accommodate over-sized vehicles.
The Ohio & Erie Canal made Peninsula a busy industrial town and popular overnight stop for canal travelers. Today visitors can stroll through the historic downtown, shop, and dine. Lock 29 Trailhead is a popular, often crowded access point for the village, Towpath Trail, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, and Cuyahoga River Water Trail. On the towpath, travel 2.3 miles north to the village of Boston. About a mile south is Deep Lock and connecting trails to old stone quarries.
Hunt House is in the Village of Everett, a type of rural crossroads community that was once common across America. Family-friendly exhibits at Hunt House explore village life and the lives of wild plants and animals. From Hunt House continue a quarter mile north to Lock 27 for another peek into the crossroads community. Beaver Marsh, popular for wildlife watching, is three-quarters of a mile south.
This trailhead is popular for accessing the Beaver Marsh, located a half mile to the north on the Towpath Trail. The story of the Beaver Marsh has many chapters: a dairy farm, an auto salvage yard, and now a popular spot for viewing the wildlife, plants, and scenery of a recovering marshland.
