While cycling, Manayunk can be a destination or an excellent resting point on the Philadelphia-to-Valley Forge section of the Schuylkill River Trail. A portion of the trail incorporates the Manayunk Towpath, which parallels the Canal and the Schuylkill River. Along the Towpath, visitors will find historical signage about the industrial heritage of Manayunk and its Canal.

The Towpath is accessible from Fairmount Park to the East and from the Schuylkill River Trail to the West. As the Towpath runs through heavy industry and rural-like settings, its surface varies between boardwalk, gravel, and hard ground. This makes the Towpath practical for jogging, walking, hiking, and off-road cycling. For your convenience, rental bikes are available in Manayunk. Fishing is also a favorite past time.

Visible along the Towpath are rail lines, old canal locks, ruins of the lock tender’s house and sluice house, old textile mills, and wildlife. Take time to enjoy historical Manayunk’s “back door”. The Manayunk Development Corporation is currently organizing a full restoration of the Manayunk Canal. Once the restoration is complete, it will be possible for canoes and small boats to sail through the Canal as they make their way down the Schuylkill River.

Traveling along the Manayunk Towpath is one of the best ways to learn about the neighborhood’s past, experience the present, and envision the future.