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

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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

 

Ira

 

Lock 26 North (Portage Summit Level) - Pancake Lock

 

Lock 26 looking south

 

About the Lock: During the same spring storm that caused canal boats to be grounded at Lock 27, additional travelers were stranded at Lock 26. But the main food supply at Lock 26 was flour which was made into pancakes for the people to eat and Lock 26 became known as Pancake Lock. The towpath was on the east side as it is today. A rather long spillway ran to the west of the lock. Because of the damming of the canal by beavers, the lock is filled with standing water. The lift of this lock was only 5', meaning boats could navigate this lock rather quickly as compared to other locks that raised boats by twice as much or more.

 

State of the lock Walls intact and watered with standing water
Lift of the lock 5'
GPS Coordinates N41 11.127 W81 34.866
Accessibility Via the Towpath Trail

 

Ira Trailhead

 

Location:  The Ira Trailhead is located on Riverview Road just north of Ira Road. It is accessible to motorists traveling on the CanalWay Ohio National Scenic Byway (Riverview Road). It is located just south of Lock 26 on the Towpath Trail.

 

History:  Ira was once another small village that sprung up around the canal as it passed through the Cuyahoga Valley. Ira was a community of farms and residences and had little industry of its own. There was a cheese factory near Lock 26 at one time as well as a dairy farm. The name of the area was derived from the Valley Railway depot in the area which was named Hawkins for Ira Hawkins whose farm the railway bisected, but changed to Ira to avoid confusion with another station on the line called Haskins.

 

Distance from Hunt Farm 1.5 miles
Distance to Botzum 1.9 miles
Facilities at the Trailhead Parking, restrooms, picnic tables
Attractions near the Trailhead ◊ Hale Farm and Village
◊ CVSR - Indigo Lake
◊ Beaver Marsh
◊ Blossom Music Center
Towpath surface south of the Trailhead Crushed limestone with intermittent asphalt

 

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