Guide Sections
Use Lock System's guide sections to understand how this stop fits into the larger park plan.
Lock System Details
Difficulty
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
Region
Learn About the Park
Built between 1826 and 1831 to connect Lake Erie and the Ohio River, the Ohio & Erie Canal ran the length of the Cuyahoga Valley. The 308-mile canal system gained more than 1,200 feet of elevation thanks to a system of 146 lift locks working in conjunction with five feeder canals. Six additional locks controlled these feeder canals, which brought additional water into the main canal from other sources. After a few decades of prosperity, the canal's business was overtaken by the railroads and the lock system, along with the rest of the canal, fell into neglect. Floods and financial problems caused most of the canal south of Akron to be abandoned, but some northern sections survived into the early 20th century before a massive flood in 1913 delivered a death blow to the canal. The remnants of the canal were later given historic-landmark designation and incorporated into Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Visitors to the park's Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail have the opportunity to see more than a dozen of the canal's original locks, some of which have been restored to demonstrate their original function.
