HomeOhioAkron › Towpath Trailhead at Manchester Rd

Towpath Trailhead at Manchester Rd

4.5 ★★★★★ 190 Google reviews · Running trail in Akron, Ohio · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Crushed gravel
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Towpath Trailhead at Manchester Rd's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Crushed gravelScenicFlat & fastWaterTrailhead parkingQuiet

Flat trail that traces the former Ohio & Erie Canal and is popular for hiking, fishing and biking.

What runners say about Towpath Trailhead at Manchester Rd

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (190 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“Beautiful could use a little more info on its rich history.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“Very peaceful trail follows the river both ways.”

Very nice section of the towpath walking toward 224 & waterloo road. I will go back to walk the other direction.

★★★★★ — Jm , Jul 2021

Very peaceful trail follows the river both ways. Very scenic one of my favorite trails

★★★★★ — Luvsharice , May 2021

Good place to get on the trail. Our first time on this section of the Ohio & Erie Towpath trail since it was opened. We rode south. There is a fairly long section of open canal due to starting by Nesmith Lake. Good shade in the early part of the day.

★★★★☆ — Harry , Aug 2021

Manchester trailhead offers a nice access point to the towpath trail and is close to Magic city brewery after a long ride on the trail to Akron or past Clinton and further south.

★★★★★ — Gregory , Sep 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 190 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 10 mentions

“Manchester trailhead offers a nice access point to the towpath trail and is close to Magic city brewery after a long ride on the trail to Akron or past Clinton and further south.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 5 mentions

“Beautiful could use a little more info on its rich history.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“Very peaceful trail follows the river both ways.”

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone 3 mentions

“I had to pull over to the gravel utility road to load my bike into my back seat since someone was parked beside me.”

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Flat & fast 2 mentions

“This part of the trail is flat and is about 4 miles long, so you can ride from the Manchester Trailhead to the Wolf Creek Trailhead and back again in about an hour.”

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🚰 Water fountains

“This section of the towpath is pretty nice if you're going north there is a couple water drinking fountains close by one at wilbeth rd and one at summit lake community center.”

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Plan your run at Towpath Trailhead at Manchester Rd

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceCrushed gravel — the rail-trail classic: softer than asphalt, still smooth enough for tempo work
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking, water — reported by runners

Hours

Monday 6 am–11 pm
Tuesday 6 am–11 pm
Wednesday 6 am–11 pm
Thursday 6 am–11 pm
Friday 6 am–11 pm
Saturday 6 am–11 pm
Sunday 6 am–11 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Towpath Trailhead at Manchester Rd

2740 Manchester Rd, Akron, OH 44314

Get directions

Running trails near Akron

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail - Wilbeth Road Trailhead

4.5 ★★★★★ 330 reviews

Akron, OH

MixedDog-friendly

Flat trail along the canal that takes hikers, bikers and runners to Summit Lake.

1.2 miles away

Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail

4.3 ★★★★☆ 15 reviews

Barberton, OH

2.2 miles away

Barberton Trailhead

4.3 ★★★★☆ 92 reviews

Barberton, OH

2.2 miles away

Summit Lake Trailhead

4.5 ★★★★★ 244 reviews

Akron, OH

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Park with a community center hosting various leagues, meetings, classes & events.

2.5 miles away

Summit Lake Trail (Akron, Ohio)

4.4 ★★★★☆ 53 reviews

Akron, OH

Boardwalk

Park with a public restroom and a trail around a lake suitable for families.

2.5 miles away

Barberton Trailhead

3 ★★★☆☆ 2 reviews

Barberton, OH

3.0 miles away

All running trails in Akron, OH →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.