Relive the canal days of 1876.

Canal boats once carried goods and people 249 miles between Toledo and Cincinnati, linking Lake Erie and the Ohio River. At Providence, you can get a sense of what canal travel was like along an original section of the Miami and Erie Canal, complete with Lock #44.

A replica of an authentic canal boat, The Volunteer, and historic Isaac Ludwig Mill preserve features of mid-1800s Ohio in a charming setting just across the river from the canal town of Grand Rapids.

Special note for 2021 season
Visit Providence Metropark Friday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m., Memorial Day through Labor Day to experience the Isaac Ludwig Mill and board the docked canal boat. Group reservations for tours of the Isaac Ludwig Mill welcome. Masks required.

The Providence Dam, just upriver from another attraction, the Isaac Ludwig Mill, was originally constructed to keep the canal filled with water. The canal boat and mill are open May through October.

Kimble’s Landing, on SR295 just before the bridge to Grand Rapids, has river access for launching a kayak on the Maumee River Water Trail.

Providence offers access for, fishing, indoor and picnic facilities, a playground and historic WPA buildings and bridges.

The Towpath Trail

The Towpath Trail, which is part of the Buckeye Trail (marked with blue blazes), follows the remains of the Miami and Erie Canal along the old towpath where mules once towed flat-bottom boats along the waterway. The 8-mile trail connects Providence, Bend View and Farnsworth Metroparks.