Akron Section

Akron Section Description:

Despite being one of the most populated sections of the Buckeye Trail, the Akron Section is quite remote. It is one of three sections in which the trail is largely off-road. Akron Section’s companions are Loveland Section and Troy Section of which all include urban centers. Resupply possibilities are never far away. Because so many services are available, the section map does not keep track of them.

Geologically, the Akron Section lies entirely within the expanse of the glaciated Allegheny plateau. In the northern half, the trail traverses highly dissected segments of the plateau. In this region, trails are either on the upper portion of the plateau or in lowlands, either of which may be quite flat. However, in the transition zones, expect about half of the altitude change to be steep, often up to 30%. In its dissected segments, expect significant climbs and descents with a maximum relief of about 120’. Even in the northern region, the trail on the dissected plateau is interspersed with segments on or close to what remains from the towpath of the Ohio and Erie Canal. Since canals by their nature must stay near their source of water, expect trail on the towpath to be quite flat. That is not to say that the altitude of the towpath does not vary but the variation is slow and one directional. These segments become ever more frequent, and longer, as you go further south. Indeed, the whole southern half of the trail is on the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail. 

The political divisions along the way are many. Beginning with the counties, the section begins in Cuyahoga County, traverses Summit County and ends in Stark County. Starting again from the north, the trail begins within the Brecksville City Limits within Brecksville Reservation, which is owned and managed by Cleveland Metroparks (CMP). Here, you are also within the legal confines of Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP). Leaving Brecksville Reservation, you will enter property owned and managed by CVNP. A little later, you will traverse a property owned by Summit Metro Parks (SMP) and managed as a game preserve. Further south, you will pass through a population center in Boston Township, the Village of Peninsula, the ghost town of Ira, O’Neil Woods Metro Park (SMP) and the ghost town of Botzum. Shortly, you exit the legal boundary of the CVNP and cross the Akron City Limits. Soon, you enter Sand Run Metro Park (SMP) and the Cascade Valley Metro Park (SMP). Thereafter, you climb and cross the northern continental divide near downtown Akron. After leaving Akron, you enter the City of Barberton, cross a former superfund site and enter the smaller cities of Clinton and Canal Fulton. In Canal Fulton, you can purchase a ride on the St Helena III, a boat similar in size and shape to the original canal boat, and/or visit the Canal Fulton Heritage Society museum. This section ends a little further south in Crystal Springs where the Buckeye Trail enters the Massillon Section.