An Inquisitive Visitor's Guide to the
Ohio & Erie Canal and Towpath Trail

Home
 

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

 

 

 

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

 

Pinery Narrows

 

South of the Frazee House, the canal enters an area known as the Pinery Narrows. It derives its name from the fact that there are a number of pine trees in the narrow valley that was only large enough for the canal and its towpath, the Cuyahoga River, and the Valley Railroad, now operated by the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. This section of the canal is very beautiful and often attracts many local photographers. It is a quiet area that is perfect for watching wildlife in their natural habitats. Recently, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park welcomed its newest residents to this area - a family of bald eagles, the first in the park's history. This is also the final section of the canal that is watered until it reaches Akron. A photo from Jack Gieck's A Photo Album of Ohio's Canal Era, 1825-1913 can be seen here.

In the above picture, the Cuyahoga River can be seen on the left (west). Next to it on the east is a section of the towpath that runs on the bank between the river and the canal feeder, seen to the right of the trail. The original towpath is on the right side of the picture and the dried up canal bed is at the extreme right. The Cuyahoga Valley Railroad is off the picture to the left. The picture above was taken from the bridge seen in the picture to the right.

 

Galley Run Mudcatcher

 


The mudcatcher looking east from the Towpath Trail

 

About the Structure: A mudcatcher is a structure seldom seen on the Ohio & Erie Canal today. This one is just north of the Brecksville Feeder and Lock 36. Sometimes when a stream was allowed to enter the canal as a water source, a mudcatcher was constructed to keep soil and debris from entering the canal prism. When the canal was shut down for the winter months, the area behind the mudcatcher would be dug out to allow room for more deposits the next season. The current version here at Galley Run was constructed of concrete in 1908, replacing an earlier version in the same location.

 

Brecksville

 

Lock 36 North (Portage Summit Level) - 17 Mile Lock - Brecksville Lock - Pinery Lock

 


Bridge over the canal at the remaining wing wall of Lock 36

 

About the Lock: Not much of this lock remains today as it is mostly buried. It is part of the area that supplies the canal with water for the industries in Cleveland to use for cooling purposes. The National Park changed the way this area looks compared to canal times when they put in the new Towpath Trail. I also know little of the history surrounding the lock, but it was more than likely residential and not one of industry. The spillway passed on the east of the lock and part of the tumble is still intact. The Brecksville Feeder entered the canal just north of the lock. A basin was located on the east side of the canal just south of the lock.

 

State of the lock Mostly buried with one wing wall visible as well as part of the spillway tumble
Lift of the lock 7'
GPS Coordinates N41 19.382 W81 35.186
Accessibility Via the Towpath Trail

 

Brecksville Dam and Feeder

 


Gate from the Cuyahoga River of the Brecksville Feeder

 

About the Structure: The water supply for the canal on its northernmost section comes from the Brecksville Feeder. A dam was built on the Cuyahoga River just west of the above picture. The impounded water flows into a feeder channel through the gate pictured above and enters the canal just north of the location of Lock 36. There were several feeders of this variety on the northern section of the canal, two on the Cuyahoga River. This is the only one that remains functional but the structures of the other at Lock 30 are still visible.

 

State of the feeder and dam Fully functional
GPS Coordinates N41 19.234 W81 35.226
Accessibility Via the Towpath Trail

 

Station Road Bridge Trailhead

 

Location: The Station Road Bridge Trailhead is located off of Riverview Road in Brecksville. It is accessible to motorists traveling on the CanalWay Ohio National Scenic Byway (Riverview Road). It is just south of Mile Marker 17 on the Towpath Trail.

 

History: The trailhead sits south of the actual Station Road Bridge, an iron bridge that was built in 1881 and restored by the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The bridge was once a vital link between Summit and Cuyahoga Counties before the much larger Rt. 82 bridge was built in 1931 (see picture at top of page). Although the trailhead itself is located in Cuyahoga County, the canal and Towpath Trail are in Summit County as the Cuyahoga River serves as the boundary of the two counties. The Trailhead is also one of the main depot locations for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

 

Distance from Frazee House 2.7 miles
Distance to Red Lock 2.6 miles
Facilities at the Trailhead Parking, restrooms
Attractions near the Trailhead ◊ CVSR - Brecksville Station
Towpath surface south of the Trailhead Crushed limestone with intermittent asphalt

 

Thanks to Mark Behrendt for his help with some of the information on this page.

 

<< Continue North | Continue South >>