Canal Corridor

This corridor in the western section of the county encompasses the historic canal route, next to the Tuscarawas River. It passes through the towns of Canal Fulton, Massillon, and Navarre and the Townships of Lawrence, Jackson, Perry and Bethlehem. The canal lands, river channel and riparian buffers provide a continuous north-south greenway through the county. The central spine of the greenway is a multi-purpose trail. Seeded along this greenway trail is a series of activity centers that serve as trail heads and visitor service centers. Primarily these are associated with existing developments within the towns and at major crossroads. Two routes have been identified to provide east-west connections from the Canal Corridor to the population centers on the eastern portion of the county; (see Sippo Lake and Jackson Connectors descriptions). Additional opportunities have been identified that extend east from the corridor at Canal Fulton in the north and from Bolivar in the south. A trail and greenway currently extends along an abandoned rail right of way west out of Massillon to Dalton in Wayne County. A bike route using rural roadways is identified to provide a connection west from Navarre to The Wilderness Center, a regionally recognized environmental education center outside Wilmot.

The Stark County stretch of the Canal Corridor represents a 25-mile section of the overall 110 miles of National Heritage Corridor.  The Corridor has been the focus of much attention and enthusiasm over recent years with considerable grass roots and public efforts underway to preserve it as a national heritage area and to enhance its significant cultural and natural resources.  The Stark County section is a  vital piece in this regional effort, providing recreation and open space opportunities for its local communities, as well as a framework for regional preservation and economic development efforts.

Stark County is blessed with a diversity of cultural landscapes that range from rural agricultural and small towns to industrial and commercial urban centers.   The Corridor weaves its way through this diversity with a wealth of historical and ecological points of interest, generally along the floodplain of the Tuscarawas River Valley.  Wildlife in the Corridor includes beaver, coyote and white-tailed deer.   Migratory birds, such as great blue herons, are returning to the Corridor as water quality and habitat is preserved. 

Copies of our Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail Guides are available by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Stark County Park District, 5300 Tyner Avenue NW, Canton, Ohio  44708.  Trail Guides may also be obtained from the following locations:

Among the existing features are a Canal Boat Ride provided by the Canal Fulton Heritage Society. Rides originate at Canal Fulton Community Park on weekend afternoons May - September or by request. Picnic facilities, grills and fishing are available at Lock 4 Park just south of Canal Fulton off Erie Avenue. 

ESTIMATED MILEAGE FOR OHIO & ERIE CANAL TOWPATH TRAIL & USAGE
P=Pedestrians(walkers, hikers, runners) / B=Bicycles / E=Equestrians