Great Lakes - Cuyahoga Towpath Trail questions

Anyone been there? Is it wide enough for a Burley trailer (kid trailer)? Is there any place to rent a room overnight somewhere rechable from the trail.

which part of the topath? It runs from Cleveland pretty much the entire way to New Philly. It is all more then wide enough for a trailer, think rails to trails trail not singletrack.

Yes there are places to stay close to the trail but, it is one of my local trails so I have never had to use them.

In the Massilon area of the trail they have put in some primitive campsites for cyclists to use. One is close to Massilon about 1 mile north of Ernies bike shop and the other is south of center road in Clinton.

Trail surface is mostly fine crushed limestone with a couple of payved sections.

There's a hostel in Peninsula. Seems like a nice place.

As stated before, you'll be set with a Burley Trailer.

http://www.stanfordhostel.com/

Ok, what exactly is a hostel, the name sounds to me like some place thats not kid appropriate :)

Ok, what exactly is a hostel, the name sounds to me like some place thats not kid appropriate :)

http://www.hostelhandbook.com/whatare.htm

i don't think the wife and kids would sleep too well in a shared environment like that.
I see that the trail in the park is part of the ohio eire trail and goes into downtown I was just looking at the part in the NPS land.

There aren't a lot of lodgings directly off the towpath around the Cleveland area. There's close hotels near Rockside Trailhead, probably something in Peninsula, a lodge around Brandywine, and I'm sure in Akron.

I'd give a call to Century Cycles. They're directly on the towpath in Peninsula and have been riding that area for years.

http://centurycycles.com/page.cfm?pageID=288

Edited to add: There is also a scenic passenger train that runs the length of the path from Rockside Station to North Akron Station. Stops about every 5-8 miles along the towpath. $2.00 a head gets you and your bike anywhere you want. Pretty cool for kids. Schedule depends on time of year.

http://www.cvsr.com/

On the northern end look around Independence Ohio along rockside road, Brecksville ohio, look along rt 21, I know there is a holiday inn near Penninsula,Cuyahuga Falls my be your best shot for one close to the trail though, . Your biggest problem is the climbs you face to get out of the valley and get to the hotels. there are plenty out there just not easy to get to.

It looks like the trail goes almost to the zoo. I can follow it on the satalite maps but loose it somewhere around Harvard Ave and the zoo is just a little bit west of that. It looks like there is a bed and breackfast in brandywine, I might e-mail them and see if they are kid friendly.

A lot of things go missing @ Harvard ave.

enine, The B&B you are refering too is better reached off of the Summit Metro parks trail which is slightly east of the towpath and on top of the eastern rim pf the valley. To reach it from the tow path you will have to climb to get to it.

As for the northern section, anything north of rockside road is actually in the Cleveland Metro parks, very interesting section to be honest, I think the kids would get a kick out of the two bridges you have to cross!! It end in the middle of nowhere however on a very busy industrial street.

What you are probaly see is the path that winds through the local neighborhoods.

enine, BTW how long are you planning on being in the area? Is this mostly and out and back day trip kinda thing?

It looks like the trail goes almost to the zoo. I can follow it on the satalite maps but loose it somewhere around Harvard Ave and the zoo is just a little bit west of that. It looks like there is a bed and breackfast in brandywine, I might e-mail them and see if they are kid friendly.

The towpath pretty much ends at Harvard, you'll have to go on the roads from there to the flats/zoo/downtown.

To get to the Inn at Brandywine Falls, you'll want to jump off the towpath at Boston Mills Rd (eastbound), then take Stanford Rd to Brandywine Rd. If you go west on Brandywine to Brecksville Rd, you'll find 3 or 4 motels just to the north on Brecksville Rd.

If you jump off the towpath at Highland Rd, you can take Highland east up to the Shady Oaks B&B.

Further south, you'll need to detour on the road through downtown Akron and you'll find a few hotels there, as well as down in Massillon.

Further north you'll find hotels on Rockside/Brecksville/Granger Rds in Independence and of course quite a few hotels in downtown Cleveland.

Were planning our anniversary vacation around July 1. Didn't get to go anywhere this year since we were moving right about that time. We go different places. One year was Amish country, another year Mohican State park, a couple out of state trips, etc. Was looking for places to go and we may go to the zoo one day, the cleveland childrens museum another, the science center another, etc. Haven't decided on the whole agenda yet but will probably go down the trail and ride the train at least one day.
Hmm, I see Punderson state part not too far away with a resort lodge, wife liked Mohican, wonder if they have the indoor pool as well.
What I've tried to do it get us outdoors for things like vacations and such rather than go to some themed toruist trap where you buy a bunch of crap made in china that has the attraction logo on it to sit around and collect dust. We stayed in a cabin at a horse ranch one year and go to ride though the woods horseback there. Espically now with kids I try to find more outdoor activites so biking is one of them. We've been to several state parks and such. we've done three camping trips now on my parents farm land in WV

enine, you sound a lot like me and my family when my kids were younger. I think they were in more state parks before they were 5 then most kids in a life time!!

It looks like the trail goes almost to the zoo. I can follow it on the satalite maps but loose it somewhere around Harvard Ave and the zoo is just a little bit west of that. It looks like there is a bed and breackfast in brandywine, I might e-mail them and see if they are kid friendly.

My sister works there. She does not like having to clean after kids are there, so please, do me a HUGE favor and stay there. :D

enine, you sound a lot like me and my family when my kids were younger. I think they were in more state parks before they were 5 then most kids in a life time!!

Thats part of my intent. I hear about how kids now are more into computer games and movies and malls so I'm going to try and keep mine outdoors and healthy. My son had been in OH, PW, WV, MD, KY, and TN in the first year of his life.

There are 4 hotels in Stow at Steels Corners Rd and St. Rt 8. You will still have to climb a hill to get out of the valley, but you could use quick rd. it is not as steep, but longer, and a couple of places to stop for a nice break if needed. There are also several restaurants and fast food around them.

Looks like it goes from around 700ft to 900ft in about 1/2 a mile coming out of the valley from the tow path. That pretty close to the road up to my parents farm, I could take the bike and trailer down there and test it.
Anyone have Garmin Topo 2008 and Garmin National Parks 24k? Cuyahoga is on both but I don't have the 24k one, I'm wondering how much better it is.

Looks like it goes from around 700ft to 900ft in about 1/2 a mile coming out of the valley from the tow path. That pretty close to the road up to my parents farm, I could take the bike and trailer down there and test it.
Anyone have Garmin Topo 2008 and Garmin National Parks 24k? Cuyahoga is on both but I don't have the 24k one, I'm wondering how much better it is.

What road are you talking about? There are quite a few that go in and out of the valley. If you are talking about Steels Corners...fogetaboudit - Truxell is a much nicer ride.

No road in general, I was just looking at the topo map and measuring the height to where it leveled out.

Here's something recent: http://blog.cleveland.com/travel/2008/08/inns_along_ohios_towpath_trail.html

The hotels in the Steels Corners area in Cuyahoga Falls are probably more family friendly, but you may need to drive to the trail. Give the bike shop in Peninsula a call. http://centurycycles.com/

There we go, some good info on that blog
http://blog.cleveland.com/pdgraphics/2008/08/towpathmap.pdf
shows several places on the trail.

If anyone is interestedhere (http://picasaweb.google.com/home) are a few of the older places we've been. I had to remove several others as I ran out of space so there are only a few there, missing are alum creek, deer creek, ceaser creek, the smokey mountains national park, and several others.

I'm getting close to where we can throw a dart at a map and go there for a day or two. I've fixed up a truck into almost an RV so we have everything we need ready to go almost all the time.

Here's something recent: http://blog.cleveland.com/travel/2008/08/inns_along_ohios_towpath_trail.html

The hotels in the Steels Corners area in Cuyahoga Falls are probably more family friendly, but you may need to drive to the trail. Give the bike shop in Peninsula a call. http://centurycycles.com/

It's an easy ride from Steels Corners & Rt 8 down to the valley and the towpath. If he doesn't feel comfortable riding on the road with the traffic volume of Steels Corners, The Summit Hike and Bike trail can be picked up right there at Steels Corners near Rt 8, which can be taken to any number of lower traffic roads down into the valley, including Hines Hill, Boston Mills, Brandywine, Highland, the old Carriage trail, etc.

Brandywine doesn't go into the valley and Highland can be quite the screamer going down.

Brandywine doesn't go into the valley and Highland can be quite the screamer going down.

Part of the Summit Hike and Bike uses Brandywine and intersects with Stanford, which does go down. You can also continue on the Hike and Bike to Highland, or to Holtzhauser, which runs into the Carriage Trail connector to the towpath. ;)

I wouldn't go down Stanford with nothing less than a mountain bike. :twitchy:

That road hardly exists any more. And the carriage trail isn't that much better.

enine, I was out in the area you are interested in today and this may be of interest to you.
On rockside road off I-77 in Independence, Ohio is a Shereton and a Holiday Inn along with several lesser chains. They looked like large facilities, ie. indoor pools, and better amenities. Lot's of resturants and other typical shopping stuff, right there too.

This puts you less than one mile from the Valley view trail head and close to easy route to the other attractions in and around Cleveland.

DAN

Too bad there aren't any facilities in the national parks like there are the state parks, cabins, lodges, etc.

I wouldn't go down Stanford with nothing less than a mountain bike. :twitchy:

That road hardly exists any more. And the carriage trail isn't that much better.

I get through Stanford just fine on my old Bianchi xcross with 32s, but yeah I wouldn't want to do it on a nice road bike...anymore that I'd do the towpath on a nice road bike (though some muppets do).

The carriage trail isn't bad...except for that one hill that connects down to the towpath. Getting down isn't bad, but going back up I'd prefer fat tires and a very low gear.

I've spent many weekends up there and I'd not want to drag a trailer up Boston Mills Rd. I know there are quite a few places to stay right off the towpath in Stow. I wish I knew their names but I always stay w/ my buddie who lives on the path. Depending on how long of a ride you are looking for the Akron/Stow area is a great place to start. The Valley is georgious to ride just the hills can be a bear if you don't stay down or on top. The Tour Da Cure 100k route was up and down them. Millers and Boston Mills were the two I remember way to much pain.

There we go, some good info on that blog
http://blog.cleveland.com/pdgraphics/2008/08/towpathmap.pdf
shows several places on the trail.

If anyone is interestedhere (http://picasaweb.google.com/home) are a few of the older places we've been. I had to remove several others as I ran out of space so there are only a few there, missing are alum creek, deer creek, ceaser creek, the smokey mountains national park, and several others.

I'm getting close to where we can throw a dart at a map and go there for a day or two. I've fixed up a truck into almost an RV so we have everything we need ready to go almost all the time.

Hey "E",

I live, basically on the towpath:cleveland area, and the trek once you get into our area is very nice. There is a way to go all the way downtown without any major hills and it puts you into the flats. There is one hill there that might be rough, but it is less than a tenth of a mile and if you traverse it it leaves you downtown in the thick of things. Browns stadium, Great Lakes Science museum, Rock hall of fame, USS COD WWII submarine that you can actually go through and is still operating, Vonovich park, port authority,... all of these places can be pedaled into without much trouble and are very kid friendly. The rock hall of fame has a very nice skateboard park attached to it that is free.

As far as hotels, there are many in and near the towpath, and you do not have to climb rough hills to get to most. Also, the time you are coming is ripe for many festivals and if you stay for the 4th, the fireworks show is bicycle friendly. Actually the best way to see them, as we only go if biking. This too is by the stadium (browns). So much is available for little of nothing. If you want me to check as though I was staying on rooms, and other things, PM me and I will give my phone number. I am also a close friend of the guy that owns the Brownstone which is featured on the travel channel.:thumb:

There is a way to go all the way downtown without any major hills and it puts you into the flats.

Hey Stumps, if you don't mind, what's your preferred route into the flats? I've always wanted to try it, just not familiar enough with the area north of Harvard to figure it out.
Thanks.

Hey Stumps, if you don't mind, what's your preferred route into the flats? I've always wanted to try it, just not familiar enough with the area north of Harvard to figure it out.
Thanks.

Sorry for the long delay in answering;

I take a left which makes you pass by the truck terminal and a small bridge. Alcoa is on the right. stay on the road. I take it to the street light, which is steel commons road (I think it is called that). Take a right and follow it till you come to the steel commons mall area. As you approach you will see a sandy road, take it, it becomes the towpath again. It is paved and it slides behind the mall area. You will see Target, Home Depot, T-Mobil, and a replica of a train station. Keep following it. It will take you into a tunnel that dumps you on the hill that takes you to West 14th. Get off at the light at the foot of the hill and turn right. You will pass the Auto impound (ENgle road). Keep straight. You will be parellelling The steel mills and will be right alongside the trains that bring the supplies in and out of the mill. Stay on the road for about another mile. You will see a bridge on the right that is one that raises and falls when there is a large ship coming underneath, as you are now crossing the Cuyahoga river. Once across you will be in the flats on the East bank. You can take a left and a right after the curves and cross another bridge to the west bank. This will dump you by the commedy club, Mirage, Beer brewery, and all the west bank stuff. You can climb out and end up on west 25th and Detroit. Or instead of taking the left to the west bank you can take a right which will put you by the RTA flats stop. There you can take a right by the apartments and climb the one hill that puts you on west 3rd. Take a left there and you will dead end by Browns stadium, Rock Hall, Great Lake Science Museum. You can take the right in front of Browns stadium and this is Marginal road North. This will take you by the front of the stadium, Rock Hall, Navy Reserve Center, Burke airport, and following this will bring you to the east side; Many marina's, and if you just want to ride it will take you all the way to the PA border and east.

Email me at stumpsbmwm3@yahoo.com and I will send you some photos from the road.