A towpath is a road or trail on the bank of a river, canal, or other inland waterway. The purpose of a towpath is to allow a land vehicle, beasts of burden, or a team of human pullers to tow a boat, often a barge. This mode of transport was common where sailing was impractical due to rapid current, tunnels and bridges, or unfavourable winds.

After the Industrial Revolution, towing became obsolete when engines were fitted on boats and when railway transportation superseded the slow towing method. Since then, many of these towpaths have been converted to multi-use trails. They are still named towpaths although they are not used to tow boats anymore.

Towpaths are popular with cyclists and equestrians (riders and drivers) because they are mostly flat and long. In snowy winters they are popular with cross-country skiers and snowmobile users.

Although historically not designed or used as towpaths, acequia ditch banks also are popular recreational trails.

List of towpaths

• Illinois and Michigan Canal
• Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail
• Forth to Firth Canal Pathway along route of the Falkirk Wheel.
• D&R Canal Trail
• Thames Path
• Erie Canal
• Central Canal Towpath, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Louisville Loop

See also

• Horse-drawn boat
• Flatboat
• Flyboat
• Narrowboat
• The Volunteer (replica canal boat at LaSalle, Illinois)
• Number ones - a canal narrow boat owned and run by an individual and a canal carrying company. I.e. it's their No. 1 narrowboat.
• Trekschuit - horse-drawn boat used in the Netherlands
• Burlak - Russian name for a person hauling barges