Summit Lake

A natural, glacial lake and the high point along the Ohio & Erie Canal, Summit Lake has a long and fascinating history. Surrounded by a tamarack swamp prior to 1800, this lake was part of the original route used by Indigenous populations to portage between the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas Rivers. The lake was then transformed for use by the Ohio & Erie Canal, then as an amusement, and by the early 20th century, as a dumping ground for factory waste. Since then, the lake has rebounded, with wildlife and recreational opportunities aplenty. Learn more about this beautiful lake's past with a walk or bicycle ride along the water, and see the wildlife up close with a kayak trip around the lake. 

Summit Lake is home to a Towpath Trailhead.