Biking Ohio’s Towpath trail and returning by rail
Hey, unshakable … bikers. Did you know biking can improve balance when you have Parkinson’s disease? There’s a national park in Ohio with a historic bike trail that you can pedal going one way, then take a train ride back to the place you started. It’s like two great rides in one.
Parkinson’s biking tip
There are many benefits to biking with Parkinson’s disease! Research has shown that many Parkinson’s people who bike regularly see improvements in overall movement, rigidity, balance, tremors and aerobic capacity.
The place is Cuyahoga Valley National Park, just south of Cleveland. The Towpath Trail follows a canal that in the 1800s was used as mules towed freight northward to Lake Erie for transport to the eastern U.S.
Today the path is used by visitors and locals alike, for biking, running, and walking.

Of course, you can go both directions by bike, but for a mere 5 bucks a ticket, there’s some lovely scenery to behold from the windows of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Rail while chillin’ after your 14-mile bike ride. (Is it obvious I’m recommending the train option?)
After parking at the Akron Northside Station, Mr. Unshakable (my partner in adventure) and I donned our helmets, secured our water bottles and got on bikes that we had brought with us on our road trip to Ohio.
There are several nearby places to rent bikes from. I saw many people riding bikes from Century Cycles.

Parkinson’s biking tip
For those who worry about their ability to balance on a bike, a tandem bicycle with a trusted partner would work well on this trail. Sadly, the nearby bike shops I called no longer rent them. You’d have to bring your own. But some do rent adult-size three-wheelers.

Going north, we followed a paved path that descended a hill before flattening out. The path turned into finely crushed limestone and stayed that way for much of the ride

Parkinson’s tip
While the benefits of biking with Parkinson’s are many, there’s good reason to use this trail if you’re not able to bike. The path is wheelchair accessible and makes for a beautiful excursion. It can be entered from many points in the Akron area for an out-and-back stroll.
We were surrounded by lush foliage as the path snaked along next to the canal. Mr. Unshakable was amazed at the fragrant scents; I had to trust him on that, as my Parkinson’s brain isn’t picking up smells like it used to.

For some short stretches, we found ourselves biking next to roads, reminding us that the Cuyahoga park is set within a largely developed area between Cleveland and Akron.
The path became a boardwalk at times. Here, the path took us over a stunning swamp area.

As the day went on, the Towpath Trail grew a little more crowded. Bikers always yield to walkers; shouting an “on your left!” warning to them is crucial for everyone’s safety.
Our route took us past two more train stations before the end of our ride: Botzum and Indigo Lake. They are easy to miss, but it’s OK if you do.

But don’t miss the third station, in the town of Peninsula. Mile marker 25 lets you know you have about a mile left before the Peninsula station exit off the path.
We left the trail and crossed a parking lot to the train station, where we waited for the last train of the day to bring us back to the Akron station.
The rail line volunteers at the station had some interesting stories. Jim, who has been helping out for 12 years, said he’s seen people visit from all over the world, including Taiwan, Europe, and China.
Recently a group of “foamers” (a word I learned means train fanatics) came from Nova Scotia, he said.
Parkinson’s biking tip
Climbing onto a passenger train requires taking some tall steps. The rail staff helps by using portable stepstools, but if large steps are a problem, ask for help.


We had enough time for a treat, and the volunteers told us where to get Mitchell’s ice cream. Mmmm, sea salt caramel. It was a delicious suggestion.
Bike info
Note: Due to rail repairs, the Cuyahoga rail line is open only to the four stations mentioned. Rail officials said the entire train route will reopen by the end of 2024. Be sure to check online. But the entire Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail, which spans 101 miles, is open now.
Distance: 14 miles one way
Elevation change: 135 feet
Trailhead location: 27 Ridge Street in Akron, Ohio
Bathrooms: At trailhead and various points along the way
Emergency support: within 5 miles
Costs: $5 for train ticket, plus bike rental if needed. National park entry is free.
Road access: free parking at Akron station
Insider tip:
This is a long bike ride. Fatigue may be an issue when biking with Parkinson’s this far. If you fear getting too tired, take the slightly downhill route. Start biking where we did (at the Akron station) and go north. If you rent bikes in Peninsula, you could take the train first, then bike back to Peninsula going downhill. Here is the schedule.
Looks so fun!