Discover the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Park by walking, bicycling, or running on the Towpath Trail. You can travel the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal on the same path that mules walked to tow canal boats loaded with goods and passengers. From the trail, you can make connections to many natural and historic sites, as well as to Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR). Beyond the park, you can continue your journey on the Towpath Trail further along the Ohio & Erie Canalway.

Download the Towpath Trail map.

The Towpath Trail is open 24 hours, giving you the chance to explore after dark. Within the national park, the trail is level and hard-packed for people using wheelchairs, bicycles, or strollers.  To check for potential towpath trail closures, click here.

From April through October, you can bicycle one way and return by train for $2 using CVSR's Bike Aboard! service. You can catch the train at any boarding station and train staff will load your bike onto the train. Schedules are available at boarding stations, visitor centers, and online at www.cvsr.com.

The National Park Service does not plow the Towpath Trail in the winter to permit cross-country skiing.

Discovery Along the Trail
Features of the Ohio & Erie Canal abound along the trail. Look for locks that raised and lowered boats through elevation changes and markers that indicate mileage as measured historically. Enjoy indoor exhibits at the Canal and Boston Store visitor centers. As you become familiar with the canal, you will discover its importance as apart of 19th-century transportation infrastructure that connected Ohio to the rest of the settled United States.
Read more about Ohio's first infrastructure.

Trail Courtesy and Safety
The Towpath Trail is a shared trail open to walkers, bicyclists, and runners, and, in some sections, horseback riders. To ensure and enjoyable and safe trail experience, please observe the following:

• Travel at a safe speed and keep to the right except to pass. Give a clear warning before passing on the left. Travel single file and slow down when passing and being passed. Move off the trail when stopped.
  
• Follow safe practices for yielding to others. Bicyclists should yield to all users, and everyone should yield to horses. Horses can be started by sudden movements, so make sure the rider knows in advance that you are passing. Be aware that children on bicycles can swerve suddenly.
  
• Pets must be kept on a leash that is six feet or less and stay to the right.
  
• Bicycle helmets are highly recommended. Headlights are required if you are bicycling after dark.
  
• Avoid walking in cross-country ski tracks.