Ohio Humanities has put together a series of trails highlighting points of interest to illustrate topics such as Historic Farms and Civil War Presidents. These curated trails offer opportunities to sample national history locally made.

Ohio & Erie Canal Southern Descent Heritage Trail

For hours of operation and admission fees, click on the individual sites’ visitor information.

• Buckeye Lake
• Millersport Canal Channel
• Deep Cut and Millersport Cemetery
• Ohio Historical Marker – The Ohio & Erie Canal and the Twin Cities (side A) and The Ohio & Erie Canal Dry Dock (side B)
• Ohio & Erie Canal Bibler Lock (Lock 8)
• Ohio Historical Marker – Junction of the Ohio & Erie and Lancaster Lateral Canals
• Lockville Canal Park, Locks 11, 12, 13
• Canal Winchester, Ohio: Ohio Historical Marker – Canal Winchester and the Ohio & Erie Canal
• Canal Winchester, Ohio Historical Marker – Interurban Depot
• Groveport, Ohio: Ohio Historical Marker – Historic Groveport
• Ohio Historical Marker – Ohio & Erie Canal in Groveport/Scioto Valley Interurban
• Ohio & Erie Canal Lock 22
• Groveport – Sharp’s Landing
• Locks 26 and 27, Lockbourne Vicinity
• Lockbourne: Locks 29 and 30 and Locke Meadow Park
• Ohio Historical Marker – Historic Lockbourne; Pearl Nye, Canal Boat Captain and Folklorist
• Ohio Historical Marker – Ohio & Erie Canal and Locks/Columbus Feeder Canal
• Circleville Canal Park
• Circleville Towpath Trail
• Hopewell Culture National Heritage Park
• Chillicothe – Water Street
• Chillicothe – Historic Canal Warehouse
• Waverly Canal Park
• Canal Lock 48
• Canal Lock 50
• Flood Wall Murals

The Ohio & Erie Canal Southern Descent Heritage Trail extends from Buckeye Lake to the Ohio River at Portsmouth, passing through six counties in South Central Ohio. Buckeye Lake, which is the oldest state park in Ohio, is a man-made lake designed to provide a steady supply of water as the canal descended to the Ohio River.

The canal was one of two built by the State of Ohio between the 1820s and the 1850s. Both connected Lake Erie with the Ohio River and, along with several other publicly- and privately-built canals, helped make Ohio a major agricultural and industrial state. In the 1850s, however, a new transportation technology – the railroad – quickly supplanted the slow and seasonal canal boats as both freight and passenger carriers. Even so, parts of the canals remained in use into the early 20th century, in part because they provided water power in the era before electrification of industry. Final abandonment of the canals came after the floods of 1913, but even today many canal features survive in various states of preservation. Some portions still contain water and serve practical uses such as boat anchorages, industrial water supply, and a state fish hatchery.

The trail consists of at least 20 suggested places to visit (more will be added as the trail expands) to learn the story of this important historic transportation route. The canal linked Lake Erie and the Ohio River and had a significant impact on the state’s economy as well as playing a role in the vitality of the communities through which it passed. The trail goes through historic communities and scenic landscapes. You can spend a few hours or several days in exploration. Enjoy!

This trail is dedicated to the memory of Cathy Nelson. Her work was truly indispensable to the completion of this project.