Ohio & Erie Canalway

Ohio and Erie Canalway. 110 Miles, Endless Possibilities. , The Ohio and Erie Canalway celebrates the first 110 miles of a waterway that helped the nation grow., Dug by hand from 1825 to 1832, the Ohio and Erie Canal was the first canal west of the Appalachian Mountains. It connected Lake Erie to the Ohio River, providing a key link in a cross-continental shipping route., Upon its completion, people and products flowed across America - from New York City to New Orleans. Canal towns became major commercial centers. Ohio grew in population and wealth and fueled the nation's westward expansion., The canal hasn't been used for commercial traffic since 1913. However, today, you can explore the lasting impact of this historic public works project., It is a place to experience trails, trains, and scenic byways. Explore canal towns and ethnic neighborhoods; working rivers and Great Lakes; industrial landscapes and greenspaces. Here you can connect the past, present, and promising futures. This is the Ohio and Erie Canalway National Heritage Area., Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad , The railroad offers scenic tours, events, programs, and bike-train combination trips between Independence and Akron., Towpath Trail , In the 1800s, mules walked this path to pull canal boats. Today, you can run, hike, cross-country ski, and bike from Cleveland south to Tuscarawas County., America's Byway , Take a scenic drive along this 110-mile nationally designated route. Follow the signs through historic communities with canal-era roots.