Trail Focus:Trail Focus:
Adapted from the October-December 1998 North Star: The Magazine of the North Country Trail.
A recent visit to the Miami and Ohio Trail
south of St. Mary's, Ohio, brought a pleasant surprise: instead of the relatively vague pathway that had been expected,
there was a really nice, well-maintained trail, in active use by local walkers, and maintained by an active new
local group that has big plans for the future.
The Miami-Erie Canal Corridor Authority (MECCA), headquartered in St. Mary's is a local group that is working to preserve the traces of the Miami and Erie Canal in the area. Though a new organization -- established in 1996 -- they're very enthusiastic, and have accomplished a great deal in a short period. Over 600 people participated in the "Walk through Auglaize County" from Lock Two to 40-Acre Pond, sponsored in part by MECCA.
But there's more in the works -- a $300,000 project, funded by a federal ISTEA grant and local groups, will put a huge upgrade on the path between Minster and New Bremen, including a three-mile crushed limestone treadway, and several new bridges. This is an Auglaize County project, under a 15-year "management lease agreement" with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the owner of the land. In addition, a $1.7 million Canal Improvement Program, mostly funded by Ohio's "Nature Works" funding, is intended to repair and restore several parts of the canal between Spencerville and St. Mary's.
The canal, first under construction in the 1830s, operated until 1913. There are many places between Toledo and Cincinnati where traces of the canal can be seen, but it's still most complete between Delphos and Lockington, and the Miami and Erie Canal Trail covers much of the distance between the two. Along the route are many historic structures, bridges, aquaducts, cuts, and, of course, the canal itself, a marvel of engineering for work entirely done with muscle power. Though the canal lands are a very narrow patch of public ownership, they provide a route for the trail where little other opportunity exists. The 40-mile Miami and Erie Canal Trail was the first state recreational trail be be designated under the Ohio Trails Act, and is administered by the Ohio DNR, Division of Parks and Recreation. The canal towpath trail north of St. Mary's was discussed in the October-December 1997 North Star.
The route is blue-blazed throughout. Drinking canal water is not recommended, even with treatment; carry insect repellant in summer. MAPS AND OTHER INFORMATION: Buckeye Trail Delphos and St. Marys Section maps; also, the Hutchins Guide (all available from North Country Trail Store) cover the section from Delphos south as far as Lake Loramie. The map given here is probably sufficent for most users.
ST. MARYS, OH 45885 (Pop. 8414).
The Belle of St. Marys, a restored canal boat, is on display in Memorial Park. LODGING: Grand Lake St. Marys Bed
and Breakfast, 524 W. South St., (419) 394-1138. Two motels are also located on the west side of town. RESTAURANTS:
Several. GROCERIES: Full-service supermarkets, convenience stores. OTHER: Bank, laundromat, hardware, doctor, dentist,
hospital. NEARBY: Wapokeneta, OH, 12 miles east, is the boyhood home of Neil Armstrong, first man on the moon.
There is an air and space museum there. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact St. Mary's Chamber of Commerce, 301 E. Spring
St. (419) 394-6202, or Miami Erie Canal Corridor Authority, PO Box 722, St. Marys, OH 45885.
0.0 [0.0] CROSS MAIN ST. IN ST. MARYS: The route heads south, and generally follows the towpath, although there are a couple of points where the route has to climb up and follow sidewalks on city streets, the first at the Old St. Mary's Cotton Mill. The route follows the street one block south, crossing SR66 downtown, and continuing south through Geiger Park, and crosses Greenville Rd. South of that, the trail crosses the St. Mary's River on the on a bridge replacing the aquaduct that was built to carry the canal over the St. Mary's River.
0.9 [0.9] CROSS OVER AQUADUCT BRIDGE. The trail heads south through flat, open country. Two miles south of the aquaduct, the feeder canal from Grand Lake enters the canal. Grand Lake was dammed in 1840 to supply water to the canal. Nine miles long and three miles wide, covering nearly 19,000 acres, it still is the largest body of water in the world constructed without machinery. Construction took eight years by a crew of 1700, paid thirty cents and a jigger of whiskey a day. The total cost was $600,000; the whole canal cost $8,000,000, had 32 miles of feeders, 106 locks, 19 aquaducts and 3 reservoirs, including Grand Lake and Lake Loramie. Grand Lake has a State Park Campground, with 206 sites, flush toilets and a coin laundry. For information contact Grand Lake-St. Marys State Park, PO Box 308, St. Marys OH 45885 (419) 394-3611.
The route continues south past the feeder canal, passing an old lock (#8) with the gates missing, but otherwise one of the best preserved locks on the canal, to cross SR219 after 0.6 miles, and continues south on a shady path, occasionally penetrating woodsy areas, crossing Southland Rd. and CR 37, reaching the historic canal-era village of Lock Two (no services) 3.1 miles south of SR219. The towpath angles southwest, and 1.2 miles farther enters New Bremen, crossing SR274 (Monroe St.) downtown. The route leaves the canal and proceeds on sidewalks for a short distance where the canal continues underground.
NEW BREMEN, OH, 45869 (Pop. 2393) Limited services; grocery, convenience stores, restaurants.
7.9 [7.0] CONTINUE SOUTH ON TOWPATH Continuing south, the route goes across a footbridge of cast iron "bowstring" girders, built in 1864 and moved to this site in 1984, then passes through a city park, which has a swimming pool. The trail continueson a treelined bank, crossing Amsterdam Rd., then SR119, then continues south to North Corporation Rd. at the north edge of Minster. There is a park nearby with toilets and picnic tables, but no parking. A major upgrade of this trail section, mentioned above, is currently under way.
MINSTER, OH 45865 (Pop. 2557) Restaurants, stores.
10.5 [2.6] CROSS TO EAST SIDE OF CANAL;
CONTINUE SOUTH ON 4TH ST. The route follows Fourth Street to the south side of Minster. At Egypt Rd., the route
jogs back over the canal and turns south on Canal Rd., which sits astride the towpath.The route continues south
on Canal road, a narrow blacktop road. After one mile, the road changes its name to Friemering Rd. A short distance
to the south, the road turns west and the canal turns southeast. Enter Shelby County here.
11.5 [1.0] TURN SOUTHEAST ON TOWPATH The route heads southeast on the towpath, crossing SR66 after 1.1 mi. North Country Trail certification ends here.