Locations and Trailheads
Travel the path of the canal in this picturesque journey from Cleveland to Portsmouth

Canal Terminology
Learn just what all these terms refer to

My Canal Journal
Get updates on Canal related events and trail construction

Links
Internet sites relevant to the Ohio & Erie Canal

Resources and Recom-mendations
Some sources of information used on this website

Towpath Court Trailhead

Location: The Towpath Court Trailhead is located on Towpath Court in Massillon. It is accessible to travelers on the CanalWay Ohio National Scenic Byway by turning west on Towpath Court from First Street NW (Scenic Byway). There are currently no mile markers on this section of the Towpath but the trailhead would be between Stark County Mile Markers 10 and 11.

Lake Avenue Trailhead

Location: The Lake Avenue Trailhead is located on Lake Avenue in Massillon. It is accessible to travelers on the CanalWay Ohio National Scenic Byway by turning west on Lake Avenue from First Street (Scenic Byway). A canoe livery is located by the trailhead for navigation on the Tuscarawas River. There are also several eateries and a bike shop here.

Massillon Recreation Center

Location: The Massillon Recreation Center is located on Erie Avenue in downtown Massillon. It is accessible to travelers on the CanalWay Ohio National Scenic Byway (Erie Avenue). It is Massillon's downtown connector point for the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.

History: The first settlement in what is Massillon today was a little village called Kendall, founded by Thomas Rotch in 1812. But it was Captain James Duncan who would be considered the father of Massillon. He lobbied the State to build the canal through property he owned on the east bank of the Tuscarawas River. He platted the town of Massillon in 1826, two years before the canal was completed through town. Kendall was soon incorporated into Massillon. Another town known as West Massillon was platted on the west side of the river around the same time and was merged with Massillon in 1853.

Massillon became an important port on the canal, owing its early growth to the business created by canal traffic, much like Akron further north. In addition to numerous mills, many warehouses were constructed to store grain and wheat. Massillon became known as the "Wheat Capital of the West." The town also had its own boatyard for constructing canal boats. The town became so important that the first national road, the Lincoln Highway, was built through it. It is still known as Lincoln Way today.

The 69,000 square foot recreation center was officially opened in 2002. It serves as downtown Massillon's access point to the Towpath Trail. However, the trail is partly incomplete south of the trailhead. County planners are trying to find a way to route the trail under existing railroad tracks south of the trailhead. There are very few remnants of the canal in Massillon today. The current Towpath Trail follows the flood levy that protects the city from Tuscarawas River flooding. A mural (pictured above) on the wall of a building downtown depicts what the canal looked like in Massillon. The smaller picture above is of a canal boat docked in Massillon during the canal era.

Today, Massillon has been eclipsed by Canton as the largest city in Stark County. Locally, it is known as the home of the Massillon Tigers, one of the most successful high school football programs in the state. In Massillon, high school football isn't just a sport, it's a way of life.

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Historic picture of the canal boat in Massillon courtesy of Dave Meyer.