This proved advantageous for the Indians and early settlers as navigation from Lake Erie to the Ohio was possible with only an eight-mile portage.

[2] There is an unincorporated community named Portage Lakes in Summit County, near 41°00′26″N 081°31′37″W / 41.00722°N 81.52694°W / 41.00722; -81.52694 Elevation: 1,053 feet (321 m),[3] in the area.

[2] The city of Akron was laid out in 1825 and was first settled by Irish laborers and others working on the Ohio and Erie Canal.

[2] Several of the Portage Lakes were built as feeder reservoirs for the canals to maintain the required depth of 4 feet (1.2 m).

[2] The Ohio Department of Public Works maintained the canal lands for recreational purposes until 1949 when the Portage Lakes were transferred to the newly formed Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation.