Support the Towpath Trail with a Donation

An Invitation
I would like to personally invite you to become part of a growing cadre of very special park visitors who show their support for the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail by obtaining a Towpath Tag. The Towpath Tag is an annual, voluntary donation program which makes it possible for Towpath Trail users like yourself to join with the National Park Service and thousands of others in contributing to the maintenance and operation of the Towpath Trail.

Visitors have donated more than $130,000 toward this effort since the program's inception in 1997. Perhaps you have seen other trail users proudly displaying their Towpath Tags. We hope you will join them this year.

If you would like to know more about the Towpath Trail and this program, take a moment to look at the information below. To join the many Towpath Trail supporters, simply follow the instructions on the Towpath Trail Donation Page. We will send you this year's Towpath Tag as our way of saying thanks.

Enjoy the trail,

John P. Debo, Jr.
Superintendent

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Towpath Facts

• The Towpath Trail is a piece of history. This segment of the Towpath was originally constructed from 1825 to 1827 as part of the Ohio & Erie Canal.

• It served as the path that mules and horses walked to pull canal boats.

• Today, routine maintenance costs about $200,000 annually or $10,000 per mile along the 20-mile trail. This includes mowing, grading, and repairing minor washouts.

• The Towpath Trail lies in a flood plain between the canal and the Cuyahoga River. Erosion damage from the river and large storms make more expensive repairs occasionally necessary.

• The Towpath Trail is patrolled by park rangers and volunteer Trailblazers. They are available to share information and assist with emergencies. This service costs about $100,000 annually.

• The Towpath Trail is popular, receiving over 1.6 million visits each year.

• The Towpath Trail is maintained and operated by the National Park Service. We want to keep the trail safe and in the best condition possible. By making a donation for a Towpath Tag, you can help the National Park Service meet this goal.

• All donations will be used solely for the operations and maintenance of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.

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To make a Towpath Tag donation simply complete and send our online donation form.

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