Many people refer to the towpath, but what is it exactly? The towpath is the dirt and stone path that runs 184.5 miles along the C&O Canal, where visitors can walk, run, or bike the distance between Georgetown, D.C. and Cumberland, MD. It was originally built for the canal mules to walk beside the canal as they “towed” the canal boats through the waterway. Today, it is a popular recreational trail for the millions who visit each year.

Beyond the towpath, the park offers plentiful opportunities for exploration and learning. Once a lifeline for commerce fueling America’s growth, today the C&O Canal is a place of refuge, recreation, and discovery for millions of annual visitors — a landscape shaped by nearly two centuries of stories, and still offering new ones every day.

The towpath is highlighted below in blue or you can click here to see a more detailed map. You can visit our Plan Your Visit website to learn more about the C&O Canal National Historical Park and the many access points to the Park and the towpath.

From the roaring beauty of Great Falls to the quiet towpath lined with wildflowers, the C&O Canal National Historical Park, season after season, inspires a love of nature and appreciation of our shared history all over again. Stay in a historic lockhouse, hike the Billy Goat Trail, or visit a Canal Town and be a part of our vibrant and growing canal community.

Stay in a Lockhouse

The award-winning Canal Quarters interpretive program is a unique opportunity for visitors to the C&O Canal to experience life like a lockkeeper while spending the night in a historic structure in the park. Seven lockhouses have been rehabilitated to date, and each lockhouse has been rehabilitated and furnished to interpret a different time period, and each tells a unique story about the development of the C&O Canal.

Photo credit: ACB PRECISION FOCUS PHOTOGRAPHY

Plan Your Visit

With over 200 rare and threatened species of plants and animals, over 1,000 historic structures, and a rich history of native cultures, transportation growth, and Civil War conflict, the Park has something to offer everyone! This history is highlighted through Canal Towns, vibrant hubs of recreation, commerce, and tourism along the Park. Visit one today and explore the region’s local charm.

Photo credit: Janelle Muletz

Join a Program

Every year, the Trust hosts Canal Community Days, a public volunteer program that brings people into the park for beautification and trash removal projects. The Trust also offers volunteer opportunities for individuals and corporate partners. Volunteer engagement provides critical stewardship of the park, with over 14,000 volunteers contributing nearly $2 million of in-kind support since 2007. 

Photo credit: Trust Staff

Support the Park

The C&O Canal National Historical Park one of the nation’s most popular parks, and the C&O Canal Trust is dedicated to preserving it, not just for your enjoyment today, but for the benefit of future generations as well. We work closely with the National Park Service to fund preservation, conservation, and maintenance projects that increase visitors’ enjoyment of the park’s historical, cultural, and recreational resource.

Photo credit: Leigh Scott