Doggin' America's Historic Canals

From earliest Colonial times, ambitious entrepreneurs dreamed of connecting America's waterways to ease travel and promote commerce. George Washington was one of the first. He chartered the Patowmack Company in 1784 to construct a series of five canals along the Potomac River to reach into the virgin territory of the Ohio Valley.

The American Canal Age lasted approximately from 1790 until 1855. Many of the great projects were still under construction when the rise of the railroads made them obsolete and unprofitable. Most canals were privately funded and limped along financially until the early 1900s.

Some abandoned canals were filled in; others drained and returned to nature. Old canals were naturals to be converted into parks and are great places to take your dog for a hike. Towpaths are often left in their natural state or covered with gravel - not paved over like most abandoned railroads. The hiking is always easy on wide, flat towpaths once trod by horses and mules and there is usually plenty of swimming for your dog.

When you're out traveling, look for a canal park to enjoy with your dog. Here are a few to consider:

Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Just 15 minutes south of Cleveland is the dog-friendly Cuyahoga Valley National Park along the twisting Cuyahoga River. There are 1000 miles of canals in Ohio and a navigable water link between Lake Erie and the Ohio River was the first priority. In 1832 the Ohio & Erie Canal became a reality.

The main trail to hike with your dog through the park is the nearly 20 miles of the Towpath Trail along the route of the historic canal. Ten trailheads make it easy to hike the crushed limestone path in biscuit-size chunks. The trail is a mix of meadows and forests and the remnants of locks and villages.

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park: A canal that could connect the Potomac River to the Ohio River 460 miles away in Pittsburgh would provide a continuous water link from New Orleans to the Cheasapeake Bay. The C&O Canal, dubbed the "Great National Project" by President John Quincy Adams, was finally started on July 4, 1828. It would take 22 years to complete - actually construction just stopped since the canal route never made it out of Maryland with only 184.5 miles dug - and was obsolete before it opened. The ditch survived filling in through the efforts of Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas who championed the canal as "a long stretch of quiet and piece."

The national park service has maintained the towpath for almost 200 miles. There are several excellent places to experience this canine hike - Great Falls Tavern near Rockville, Maryland, Harpers Ferry in West Virginia and the terminus in Cumberland, Maryland are just three. On the Virginia side of the Potomac River you can hike with your dog through the remains of George Washington's Patowmack Canal in Great Falls Park.

Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park: When canal building fever swept America in the early 1800s it didn't take much imagination to dream of a water route between New York and Philadelphia across central New Jersey. Ships could navigate up the Delaware River to Bordentown and to New Brunswick in the east so all that was required was to dig a ditch between the two villages. Construction began in 1830 and by 1834 the canal was open. The main artery - 75 feet wide and seven feet deep and all hand dug - stretched 44 miles and another feeder line ran down the Delaware River to Trenton for 22 miles.

The Delaware and Raritan was one of America's busiest canals and staved off competition from the railroads at a profit until almost 1900. It remained open until 1932 until the last coal barge was grounded. The State of New Jersey took over the property as a water supply system and today the canal remains virtually intact. The state park is a 70-mile linear park connecting fields and forests along its route.

Canine hiking along the old towpath uses natural and crushed gravel surfaces. Several mill buildings, wooden bridges and canal structures are reminders of the bustling times that were once routine here. The canal still brims with activity today - almost any time you can count on sharing the trail with joggers, fishermen, cyclists, horseback riders - and other dogs. The canal towpath can be accessed many places; the canal office is at 145 Mapleton Road in Princeton.

Doggin' Northeast Ohio's Ledges

Northeast Ohio is a place that doesn't off bubble to the top of lists of vacation hot spots but if you have an active trail dog, you'll want to consider it. The main attraction are "ledges," limestone that has weathered, eroded and cracked into massive jumbles of SUV-sized blocks. You are actually hiking on the floor of an ancient seabed that once covered Ohio. Millions of years later retreating glaciers covered most of the limestone with scraped soil but some areas were left exposed to the mercy of wind and water that have created fanciful rock formations. While you'll marvel at the scenic wonder of these ledges your dog will love poking in, racing around and romping on top of the rocks. One advantage of visiting ledges in the summer is that these hikes tend to be many degrees cooler than the posted high temperature for the day. Here are some of the best Northeast Ohio parks to experience ledges:

Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park (Garrettsville, SR 282)

You'll get right into it at this small park. A series of ledges run north-south for about one mile, bracketed by waterfalls at either end. Separate trails run to the top (white-blazed and easy), across the front (blue-blazed and the best way to view the mossy rocks) and down and through the massive, scrambled rocks (red-blazed and difficult). You may chuckle when you see names on the Red Trail such as Fat Man's Peril, the Squeeze and the Devil's Icebox but it won't be a laughing matter on the hike when watch your dog's wagging tail race ahead as you stare at a seemingly impossible passage through the rocks.

Hinckley Reservation (Hinckley, Bellus Road)

Hinckley is famous for the return of buzzards, turkey vultures actually, from the south every March 15. Two separate sets of ledges and cliffs are in the park for your dog's exploration, each reached by a trail about one mile long. A short climb to one of the highest points in Northeast Ohio will bring you to the base of Whipp's Ledges where your dog can easily scale the 50-foot high rock cliffs. Keep control of your dog as you cross the top of the ledges that feature sheer, unportected drop-offs. In the the southern end of the reservation are the mossy Wordens Ledges that feature rock carvings of religious symbols.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Peninsula, SR 303)

The highlight of the trail system at Happy Days Visitor Center is a band of 30-foot high ledges that run for the better part of a mile. The Ledges Trail circles the rock formations that don't require the crazy passages emblematic of some of its area cousins, making this trail suitable for any level of canine hiker. Spur trails will take your dog to the nooks and crannies and the top of the ledges. Still, there are dropoffs here to be aware of.

Gorge Metro Park (Cuyahoga Falls, Front Street)

The Cuyahoga River Gorge has been luring adventurous hikers since 1882 when it was the site of the High Bridge Glens amusement park. One hundred and twenty five years earlier, 10-year old Mary Campbell was taken from her Pennsylvania frontier home by Delaware Indians and brought to a cave in the gorge, becoming the first white child in America to reach Ohio. The Gorge Trail today is a 1.8-mile loop whose highlight comes when you dog has to pick her way through a maze of jumbled rock ledges. Trail signs label this stretch as "difficult" and a bypass is offered but there is nothing here your dog can't handle. In fact, some stone steps have been cut into the most troublesome passages.

The West Woods (Russell Township, SR 87)

These dark woods and sheltered rock outcroppings have long propogated rumors. Runaway slaves were hidden here on th eUnderground Railroad. Civil War soldiers took refuge under the ledges. Bootleggers operated illegal stills in the hollows. The destination of a 1.5-mile trail in this Geauga County showcase park is Ansel's Cave, named for an early settler from Massachusetts who may have squatted here. This journey is conducted completely under tall, straight hardwoods on wide, paw-friendly compacted stone paths.

South Chagrin Reservation (Chagrin Falls, Hawthorne Parkway)

The Chagrin River that dominates this Cleveland Metropark was designated a State scenic River in 1979. On the east side of the river the Squirrel Loop Trail slips cautiously above the water under rock ledge sentinels. This is a hike for calm, Well-behaved dogs are just as steep slopes, it is not fenced. Across the river you can rock paintings of Henry Church, a blacksmith and self-taught, death was celebrated as a folk artist in his primary.

Northeast Doggin 'Ledges Ohio

Northeast Ohio is a place that does not bubble to the top of the list of "hot spots" of vacation, but if you have an active dog so, we want to control. The main attraction are "bar", limestone, has weathered and cracked, eroded in massive jumbles of blocks of size SUV. They are actually walking on the floor of an ancient sea bed that once covered Ohio. Millions of years later, the retreating glaciers covered most of the limestone is scraped bottom, but some areas were exposedhave created the mercy of wind and water, the fantastic rock formations. While you're at the scenic wonders of this miracle Do your dogs love digging in the run and go wild on the rock. One advantage of the visit last summer is that these tours are many degrees cooler than the high temperature for the day written prone. Here are some of the best parks in Northeast Ohio at the bar experience:

Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park (Garrettsville, RS 282)

You getright into this small park, a series of north-south strips for about a mile walk, falls in brackets at both ends. Separate Ways to run the top (white-blazed and easy), across the front (blue and burnt, and the best way to see moss rocks) and down and through the solid rock scrambled eggs (red-burning and heavy ). You can smile when you see the name on the red route Peril as Fat Man, the Devil's Icebox and narrow, but it is no laughing matter for the excursion, ifWatch your dog's tail game of racing before, how to deal with a seemingly impossible to look through the rock.

Hinckley Reservation (Hinckley, Bellus Road)

Hinckley is the return of the famous turkey buzzards vultures actually from the South every March 15th. Two separate groups of bars and stones in the park for your dog exploration, each reached by a trail about a mile long. A short climb to the highest point in Northeast Ohio will take you behind the Whipp'sProjections that can easily scale the dog, cliff 50 meters high. Take control of your dog as you cross the top of the bar, the sheer drop-off unportected functionality. In the southern part of the book are the moss Worden's Ledges this feature cave paintings of religious symbols.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Peninsula, RS 303)

The highlight of the trail system at Happy Days Visitor Center is a band of 30-foot high strips that turn for the better part of a mile.The strips Trail circles the rock formations, no symbol for some crazy steps of his cousins area, so in this way for each level of canine hiker. Spur Trails is to take the dog on the angles and corners and the top of the bars. However, there has to be aware of drop off here.

Gorge Metro Park (Cuyahoga Falls, Front Street)

The Cuyahoga River Gorge has attracted adventurous hikers since 1882, when he was lifted, the site ofBridge Glens Amusement Park. One hundred and 25 years before, 10 years, Mary Campbell from its border with Pennsylvania to Delaware Indians at home and was taken to a cave in the gorge which is the first white child in America to get to Ohio. The gorge is now a loop trail of 1.8 km, the highlight comes when the dog has to pick his way through a maze of mixed rock outcrops. Trail marks the path label as "difficult" and a by-pass is available, but there's nothing your dogcan not handle. In fact, some stone steps in the most difficult passages are reduced.

The West Woods (Township Russell, SR 87)

These dark forests and protected entries projections have long advocated. runaway slaves were hidden here on th eUnderground Railroad. Civil War soldiers who fled last. Smugglers operated illegal stills in the hollows. The goal of 1.5 miles of track in the window is Geauga County Park Ansel's Cave, named for early settlersof Massachusetts, can get busy. This trip is completely under high wooden straight off, paw-friendly trails compacted stone executed.

South Chagrin Reservation (Chagrin Falls, Hawthorne Parkway)

The Chagrin River that dominates this Cleveland Metro Park in 1979, designated a state scenic river on the east side of the river, the trail around squirrel glides over water in the ledge guards carefully. This is a walk for peaceWell-behaved dogs are just as steep slopes, it is not fenced. Across the river you can rock paintings of Henry Church, a blacksmith and self-taught, death was celebrated as a folk artist in his primary.