Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail

This is the great equalizer of national park trails — nearly twenty miles of dead-flat, crushed limestone following the route of the old Ohio & Erie Canal through the heart of Cuyahoga Valley. The elevation gain across the entire stretch is barely enough to notice, making this less of a hike and more of a long, meditative walk through Ohio history. You'll pass through thick hardwood forest, cross wooden bridges over the Cuyahoga River, and walk alongside remnants of the original canal locks that once moved goods from Lake Erie to the Ohio River. The trail threads through wetlands where great blue herons stand motionless, past restored farmsteads, and through small towns where you can grab a coffee mid-hike. Ten trailheads mean you can bite off whatever distance suits you. This trail is built for anyone who wants to cover ground without suffering — distance runners, families with strollers, cyclists, and anyone who believes flat ground is underrated.