Valley View: Canal History and Trails on the Towpath Trail
Accommodation in Valley View
Valley View connects the history of the Ohio & Erie Canal with exhibits and trails along the historic canal route. This makes the area interesting for travelers who want to include culture and outdoor activity in their trip. Canal history, the Frazee House, and walks give Valley View its distinctive character. You can choose which of these options shapes your day based on the interests of your travel group.
Canal History and Historic Homes
The Canal Exploration Center in Valley View is part of the Ohio & Erie National Historic Landmark. It features hands-on exhibits about the history of the canal. Those interested in canal history will find a specific cultural highlight here. The area around the Canal Exploration Center is also designated as the Ohio & Erie Canal District, Ohio and Erie Canalway National Heritage Area, Ohio to Erie Trail, and Industrial Heartland Trail Network.
Another glimpse into history awaits at the Frazee House. It is one of the two oldest homes in the Cuyahoga Valley and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The two-story Federal-style building overlooks the Ohio & Erie Canal. Together with the exhibits at the Canal Exploration Center, it offers two different ways to explore the historic theme: canal history presented through hands-on exhibits, and a historic home with its own architecture and location along the canal.
Walks and Trail Sections
A short walk begins at the Canal Exploration Center and heads south along the Towpath Trail to the Tinkers Creek Aqueduct. The Towpath Trail runs through Valley View and connects the historic canal route in the Ohio & Erie Canalway Reservation with Cuyahoga Valley National Park. When planning your day, you can choose between a walk to a named destination and a longer section of the trail.
The trail section from the Frazee House to Station Road Bridge is 2.5 miles long and takes about 1.25 hours. Its surface is firm, level, and made of water-bound gravel. This section is wheelchair accessible from a starting point on Canal Road in Valley View. The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail is nearly level and accessible to all visitors; an accessible section is located at the Canal Exploration Center. This information can help you choose a trail section that fits your plans for the day without confusing the different starting points and routes.
The Sagamore Bridle Trail also begins at the foot of the driveway to the Frazee House and can be followed north from there. Another point of reference for an outing is a footbridge on the other side of the parking lot that leads to a Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad station. If you would first like to focus on a walk, consider the short route from the Canal Exploration Center to the Tinkers Creek Aqueduct. For a more precisely measured route, the section from the Frazee House to Station Road Bridge provides a specific distance and approximate duration for planning.
The selection of canal history, historic buildings, and trails gives you several reasons to consider Valley View as a destination. When choosing a vacation rental, you can start by deciding what you would most like to focus on: Would you rather explore the history of the canal or spend time on one of the trails described here?
More local pages: Fairview Park, Bay Village, Cleveland, Beachwood, Richmond Heights, Lakewood, Strongsville, Solon.
For the broader travel overview: Cuyahoga County.
