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Activities

Summit County Section

Welcome to the Canalway

— Summit County Section

Hand-feeding birds at F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, sight-seeing in historic Akron, finding natural beauty at eight Metro Parks, serving Summit County locations, or exploring the Towpath Trail & Scenic Rail running through our Top 10 National Park — the Summit County section offers an amazing array of cultural, historical, recreational and natural fun!

Take a look below and head over to the Canalway activity of your choice — Bicycling, Hiking, Questing, Birdwatching and so much more!

Not quite sure where to start? Pick a Canalway Sampler and be on your way. Each Sampler shares a favorite Canalway outing from one of our local experts! 

Traveling in the Canalway


  • The Towpath Trail offers fun travels by bike and on foot – 81+ miles in all! The Trail is open 24-hours-a-day in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
  • Have you heard about Bike Aboard! This popular Scenic Rail & National Park program lets you bike the Towpath Trail one way and ride back on the train the other – for $3. Don’t worry — volunteers lift and load the bikes for you! Head to Bicycling and learn more.
  • Driving through the Canalway is made easier by following the signed America’s Byway route to key Canalway locations. Find the Bath Road Heronry and other wonders. 
 

Things To Do - Start your adventures!


Bicycling
Towpath travels in this section take you through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, through the sights and sounds of Akron, across the floating Towpath over Summit Lake and so much more ...

Questing Try our new outdoor adventure series. Seventeen Quests are available in this section – in National Park and Metro Parks, serving Summit County locations. It’s a great way to spend a day – or many of them!

Photography A day starting with scenic views just outside the Mustill Store – the site of an original 1850’s canal era building – might be just the thing. Keep a look out for the long-necked turtles sunning themselves on the rocks below.

Bird Watching & Wildlife Area Naturalists have highlighted seven of our area’s favorite spots for you to discover.

Family Outings Look it’s a bird, and another bird and there’s a beaver! Outings are naturally fun in the Canalway - whether taking in wildlife along the Towpath or at the Akron Zoo.

Heritage From our canal-era history through industrial roots – learn about these and more at the Canal Visitor Center in the National Park and the Mustill Store along the Towpath Trail in Cascade Lakes Metro Park. Turn to cultural roots at the beautiful Hower House, or under the cloud and star-covered “sky” at the Akron Civic Theater.

On Foot Whether seeing history come to life on “Towpath Tuesday” tours starting at the Richard Howe House in downtown Akron or taking in a “last Wednesday” concert on the Mustill Store porch along the Towpath Trail – there’s so much waiting for you ...

Rails The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s Akron station offers journeys north to Cleveland and South to Canton. On the northern run, check out the popular “Bike Aboard” journey that lets you bike the Towpath one way and ride the rail the other – for $3.

Byway Driving Through Summit County, follow the America’s Byway from the National Park, through the heart of Akron and to climes south. Look for the Bath Road Heronry, just east of the Byway (Riverview Road at this point), for an up close view of Great Blue Herons and a true Canalway Moment of Discovery.

Winter Activities Check back – we have plenty of ways to make winter fun.

Peninsula Depot Train Station

Peninsula Depot Train Station

Did You Know? See All »

  • A Towpath was a Towing Path

    A Towpath was a Towing Path Bicyclists and walkers on the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail today follow the same path that in the 1800s was used by mules and mule-drivers to pull canal boats—with some exceptions. Canal Fever , KSU Press, 2009 More »

Events in Summit See All »

Century Cycles "All Hail the Ale!" Night Ride on the Towpath Trail for Cleveland Beer Week

more details >>
Oct 20 Sat.
10/20/2012 - 10/20/2012
8:00 PM
1621 Main Street (State Route 303), Peninsula, OH 44264

Century Cycles Night Ride on the Towpath Trail

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Sep 29 Sat.
9/29/2012 - 9/29/2012
8:00 PM
1621 Main Street (State Route 303), Peninsula, OH 44264

Century Cycles Night Ride on the Towpath Trail

more details >>
Sep 15 Sat.
9/15/2012 - 9/15/2012
8:00 PM
1621 Main Street (State Route 303), Peninsula, OH 44264

Century Cycles Night Ride on the Towpath Trail

more details >>
Aug 10 Fri.
8/10/2012 - 8/10/2012
8:00 PM
1621 Main Street (State Route 303), Peninsula, OH 44264

Century Cycles Night Ride on the Towpath Trail - NiteRider Headlight Demo Night

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Jul 21 Sat.
7/21/2012 - 7/21/2012
8:00 PM
1621 Main Street (State Route 303), Peninsula, OH 44264

Canoe Adventure

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Jul 14 Sat.
7/14/2012 - 7/14/2012
8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | $30 for non-members, $20 members, $10 for children under 12
47 W. Exchange St., Akron, Ohio 44308

Century Cycles Night Ride on the Towpath Trail

more details >>
Jul 06 Fri.
7/6/2012 - 7/6/2012
8:00 PM
1621 Main Street (State Route 303), Peninsula, OH 44264

Century Cycles Night Ride on the Towpath Trail

more details >>
Jun 23 Sat.
6/23/2012 - 6/23/2012
8:00 PM
1621 Main Street (State Route 303), Peninsula, OH 44264

Captain's Ball

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Jun 06 Wed.
6/6/2012 - 6/6/2012
6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
200 N. Wheaton Rd., Akron, Ohio 44313

Annual Free Anna Dean Farm Walking Tour

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May 20 Sun.
5/20/2012 - 5/20/2012
1:30 PM
360 E. Robinson Ave, Barberton, OH 44203
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