Bike the Parks

Parks / Ohio

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Ride the canal towpath one way and take the train back.

5/5
Destination ride

Twenty flat miles of the Towpath Trail, a train that carries your bike back, and purpose-built mountain bike trails.

Riding here

Cuyahoga Valley might be the most bike-friendly national park in the country. The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail runs 20 of its 101 miles through the park, flat and car-free along the river, and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad runs a seasonal bike shuttle so you can ride one way and take the train back. The East Rim trails add purpose-built mountain biking, and paved metro-park trails connect on both sides.

Where you can ride

Bikes may use the Towpath Trail, the East Rim mountain bike trails, the Hemlock Creek Trail, park roads, and the connecting Cleveland Metroparks and Summit Metro Parks trails.

Where you can't

Hiking-only trails are closed to bikes; check the Superintendent's Compendium for specifics.

Rides

  • Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail

    • Gravel
    • 20 mi within the park (101 miles total)
    • Crushed stone and paved
    • Easy

    Flat, car-free riding past locks, wetlands and villages, shared with walkers, runners and horses. Mind the speed limit.

    Start: Boston Mill, Peninsula or any trailhead

  • East Rim Trails

    • Mountain bike
    • Four trails
    • Singletrack
    • Moderate

    Four purpose-built intermediate mountain bike trails on the valley's east side.

    Start: Bike & Hike Trail / East Rim trailhead

  • Summit Metro Parks Bike & Hike Trail

    • Paved path
    • 33.5 mi total
    • Paved
    • Easy

    A paved trail bordering the park to the east, connecting to the Towpath.

    Start: Along the park's eastern edge

  • Hemlock Creek Trail

    • Paved path
    • 1.7 mi one way
    • Paved
    • Moderate

    A short, steep, scenic paved trail joining the Towpath.

    Start: Near Stone Road

Shuttles and bikes

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad runs a seasonal one-way bike shuttle; only some trailheads have stations, so plan your ride around them.

When to go

May to October; autumn color peaks in mid-October.

Safety

The Towpath is busy on weekends: slow down and announce yourself.

E-bikes

Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are allowed on the Towpath and other places regular bikes go; only Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on the East Rim trails.

Fees

No entrance fee.

Rentals, tours and shuttles

  • Your bike shop hereSample listing

    This spot is for one rental shop, guide service or shuttle near Cuyahoga Valley: your name, what you offer, and a link straight to your booking page, at the top of this section.

    Feature your shop on this page, free until spring 2027

  • Century Cycles

    Towpath bike rental, Peninsula, OH. Website

Shops listed without a badge are businesses we found near the park; we don't take payment for those. Run a shop near Cuyahoga Valley? Add it here.

Sources

Checked November 2026 against these sources. Rules, closures and fees change; confirm with the park before you ride.

  1. Biking — Cuyahoga Valley National Park (NPS)

Edited by David Bussell. Spot something out of date? Tell us.

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