Historic Canal Experience

Step back in time at the Canal Experience and get a taste of life on the Miami and Erie Canal in 1876. Providence Metropark is located in what was once the canal town of Providence, Ohio. Today, the Metropark has one of the greatest concentrations of canal era features in the country, including:

• The Volunteer, a reproduction of a mule-drawn canal boat
• The Isaac Ludwig Mill, a working water-powered saw and gristmill
• More than a mile of the original Miami and Erie Canal and towpath
• Lock #44, one of the last functioning 19th century limestone locks
• Scenic Providence Dam, constructed across the Maumee River to maintain water levels in the canal
• Characters in period attire welcoming visitors to a time gone by.
• Visit the Heritage Center to view The Volunteer and Lock 44 in action.

Visit Providence Metropark May 2 through October 27 (Last day for boat is Sunday, October 27). Group reservations for tours of the Isaac Ludwig Mill welcome.

Parking, ticket booth, and amenities are available at 13205 S. River Rd, Grand Rapids, OH 43522.

For information call 419.407.9741

Purchase Tickets Online

For groups of 10 or more Request a Program

2024 Ticket Prices

• Adults $10
• Seniors $8 (60 and over)
• Metroparks Members $6
• Children $6 (ages 3 – 12)
• Children 2 and under are free

2024 Hours of Operation

• May Canal Boat Times
  • Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m.
  • Saturday 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
  • NOTE: 12:30 Boat Trip for Saturday, May 25 has been delayed to 1 p.m. starting time.
  • Mother’s Day 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m. (Mom's Ride Free - Sunday, May 12)
• May Isaac Ludwig Mill Hours
  • Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• May Special Programming
  • May 4, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Science Saturday: May Mammals 
• June - August Canal Boat Times
  • Wednesday through Sunday 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
  • Father's Day 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. 3:30 p.m. (Dad's Ride Free - Sunday, June 16)
  • The 12:30 Boat Trip on Thursday, August 1 is full 
• June - August Isaac Ludwig Mill Hours
  • Wednesday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• June Special Programming
  • June 1, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Science Saturday: June Blooms
  • June 8 Music on the Canal all three trips; standard ticket price
  • June 9, 10 a.m. trip Sounds of the Canal (Additional Fees Apply) CANCELLED
  • June 22, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Blacksmithing 101 (Additional Fees Apply) 
• July Special Programming
  • July 4 A Canal Kind of Fourth 
  • July 10 - CLOSED due to weather
  • July 13, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Science Saturday: July Skies (Free)
  • July 20, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Blacksmithing 101, Fee: $25
  • July 20, 11 a.m. -  Ice Cream Float (Additional Fees Apply) - Celebrating National Ice Cream Month, Fee: $15 adults, $10 seniors and $8 kids CANCELLED
• August Special Programming
  • August 3, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Science Saturday: Aquatic August 
  • August 10, 11 a.m. - Food on the Canal: (Additional Fees Apply) CANCELLED
  • August 24, 5:30 p.m. -  Sounds of the Canal (Additional Fees Apply) CANCELLED

• September Canal Boat Times
  • Thursday through Friday 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m.
    • September 12, 11 a.m. Boat Trip SOLD OUT
    • September 27, 12:30 and 2 p.m. Boat Trips CANCELLED 
  • Saturday and Sunday 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
• September Isaac Ludwig Mill Hours
  • Thursday through Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• September Special Programming
  • September 7 – 8 Canal Experience 30th Anniversary [DETAILS] [FLYER]
  • September 14, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Science Saturday: Rept-tember
  • September 28, 7 p.m. - Characters of the Canal: lantern tour (Additional Fees Apply) CANCELLED
• October Canal Boat Times
  • Wednesday through Friday 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m.
  • Saturday through Sunday 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
  • Last Day: October 27
• October Isaac Ludwig Mill Hours
  • Wednesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Last Day for Tours: TBD
• October Special Programming
  • October 5, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Science Saturday: Rocktober - no reservations required
  • October 5, 6 p.m. - Murder Mystery on the Boat (Additional Fees Apply) [REGISTER]
  • October 12, 7 p.m. - Our Haunted Lock (Additional Fees Apply) [REGISTER]
  • October 18 – 19 Ghosts of Providence (Additional Fees Apply) [DETAILS/REGISTER]
• November Special Programming
  • November 23, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Holiday at the Mill 

Please Note: Pets are not permitted on the boat.