Delaware Canal Towpath
0.8 mile in the park | Easiest hiking | Point-to-point trail | No blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, biking
Trailhead amenities: non-flush restrooms
The 60-mile long Delaware Canal State Park towpath runs from Easton to Bristol with a five-mile section that connects the lower and upper portions of Washington Crossing Historic Park. The towpath is part of the D&L Trail, the foundation of the 165-mile Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.
Once trod by mule teams pulling cargo-laden boats along the canal, the towpath is used today by walkers, joggers, bicyclists, cross-country skiers, and bird watchers.
It can be accessed from Washington Crossing Historic Park at SR 532 in the lower section or at the Thompson-Neely House of the upper section.
Trail Definitions
Difficulty Ratings
Easiest -- For beginner trail users. Grade is gentle with few obstacles.
More Difficult -- For the majority of trail users. Grade is steeper and trails narrower with embedded rocks or roots on the trail surface.
Most Difficult -- For trail users with advanced skills. Grade is steep and provides a definite physical challenge. Routes may not be well marked. Elevation gain or loss is severe.
Trail Route Type
Loop -- Start and end at the same location and follow a single trail to form a loop.
Out-and-back -- Start and end at a trailhead and follow a single trail to an endpoint or specific point of interest, then return along the same route.
Point-to-point -- Trails are generally longer in distance and parks may often contain only a portion of the trail within their boundary. Hiker starts and ends in different locations, often requiring a shuttle.
Connector -- Begin and end in connection with another trail or trails but do not terminate at a trailhead.