Ohio

Right outside of the sort-of bustling, sort-of metropolis, Cleveland, OH, is a pleasant strip of land that serves as a reminder of all the history behind the development of our cities.

The park is centered around the Ohio and Erie Canal, which was completed in 1833 as a means to improve transportation from the East Coast into Ohio.  After completion of the canal, it became much easier to transport goods from Lake Erie to the Ohio River, and the cost of shipping dropped drastically.  Towards the end of the 1800s, the advantages of Railroads began to outweigh those of canals, and canals slowly became replaced.

One of the many locks along the canal

Cuyahoga National Park allows you to explore the history of both the canals AND the railroads that replaced them.  A bike ride or stroll down the Towpath Trail is a perfect way to follow and enjoy the canal, while nearby, you can also hop on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and see it all from a different angle.  From April-October, the Railroad offers a “Bike Aboard!” program, which allows you to ride the length of the Towpath Trail and return via train.  Cost is only $2.

The Towpath Trail

Fastforward workout:

I parked in the Canal Visitor Center because there’s free parking and restrooms.  You can also access the Cuyahoga Scenic Railroad from there and explore the history of the park and canal in the Visitor Center.  You can use the towpath for free, or you can purchase a Towpath Tag in the Visitor’s Centers for only $5, and help support trail maintenance.  Wearing the tag while you ride lets everyone know that you’re doing your part.

I rode South on the towpath.  The trail is mostly hard-packed dirt, so a road bike works fine, but mountain or hybrid bikes work well, too.  The path within the park is about 11 or 12 miles long, but extends on both ends for a total of 81 miles!  The park consists of, roughly, miles 11-22 (mileage runs North to South), so heading South allows you more options.

View from one bridge to another

I only had an hour and a half, so I explored the section within the park.  The path follows the canal and allows views of the canal locks, bridges and beautiful scenery.  As a history junkie, I thought it was awesome to ride along on the exact path that the mules used to use as they pulled the barges along the canal.

After my ride, I used the public restroom near the Canal to change, popped over for a quick look at the train station, and headed out.