Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail
The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in Barberton, OH is a scenic trail ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and dog owners. It offers wheelchair accessible parking and is great for kids and dogs. The trail passes through wooded areas, providing a natural and adventurous experience, though visitors should be prepared for mosquitoes and poison ivy. While well-loved for hiking, biking, and running, recent concerns include litter, presence of homeless camps, and some trail etiquette issues with e-bikers. The park values nature and active lifestyles but could benefit from better maintenance and cleanup efforts.
Reviews
Great place to visit. However, the city needs to clean up all the litter, and the people around the area need to be more respectful of nature and stop littering themselves. It would also be nice to see the city do something about all the people living in the woods. There is so much trash, clothes and other things everywhere it’s ridiculous!!!!
I’ve hiked and biked the entire Ohio and Erie Canal towpath (90ish miles) multiple times. You can also link up with other trails north and south for a longer journey. The Barberton section was my daily run or ride for many many years. It was always well maintained, until recently I came back to town and it looks TRASHED in some areas between the Akron (Manchester) and Barberton “Magic Mile” trailheads. Homebum camps have sprung up everywhere. The amount of trash I find everyday is more than I can packout. The park system needs to work with the local government and organize another cleanup day.
Awesome trail. As one reviewer pointed out there are folks living in the woods out here. That is primarily from the Bridge in Barberton and heading toward Akron. As you make your way to Clinton, Canal Fulton ext. that isn’t the case. I haven’t had any issues and I even ride very late at night. Always other people on the trail riding even at night.
The towpath used to be a full of people working on their fitness enjoy nature now it’s a bunch of e-bikes and most of the e-bike riders have zero trail etiquette or skill they should be outright banned
This trail is so beautiful and close to wear I live. My friends and I often walk to paths through the woods in serve of adventure. We always find it along with a ton of poison Ivy and Mosquitoes. So make sure to soak yourselves with bug spray, and be prepared for an adventure. Definitely a must see.