Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park:
District of Columbia, Maryland
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Description:
The C&O Canal follows the route of the Potomac River for 184.5 miles from Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, MD. Hundreds of original structures, including locks, lockhouses and aqueducts, serve as reminders of the canal's role as a transportation system during the Canal Era. In addition, the canal's towpath provides a nearly level, continuous trail through the spectacular scenery of the Potomac River Valley.

Every year millions of visitors come to hike or bike the C&O Canal in order to enjoy the natural, cultural and recreational opportunities that are available here.

The peak season is from May through October. Weekends in the spring and fall are especially busy. Most of the annual visitation is concentrated in the first 14 miles of the canal -- from Georgetown to Great Falls. Solitude and quiet are easily found in the upper areas of the canal much of the year.
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Parking & Trail Access:
Various sections of the canal can be reached via Routes I-495, I-70, and I-68.

Please see a map of the park on the Trail Website or call the park's headquarters at 301-739-4200.

There is an entrance fee at the Great Falls area of the canal. It costs $4.00 per vehicle for a three day pass and $15.00 for an annual pass. Cyclists and walkers pay $2.00. Golden Age, Golden Eagle, and Golden Access passes are honored. Commercial vehicle fees are: 1-6 people-$25.00, 7-25 people-$40.00, over 25 people-$100.00.
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Reviews: [5 trail ratings]
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And Adventure of a Lifetime!
By joncott on August 13, 2010
We did the trail from DC to Cumberland and on to Pittsburgh early this summer. Lucked out in that it was unseasonably hot before and after our trip. The scenery was spectacular. Wish I could say the same for the trail surface. Something I heard repeatedly was the suggestion that the C&O assign sections to various outside groups to maintain, much the same as the GAP. I found myself longing for a full suspension the further we rode from DC. One cyclist claimed the bird watchers didn't want any more bicycles on the trail so they discouraged maintenance. I found that hard to believe. The biggest issue was not being able to enjoy the scenery as much as I would have liked because I was too busy dodging pot-holes. I was quite thankful we didn't encounter any rain while we were touring. Campsites are frequent and nice and over all it was enjoyable and quite the adventure, but the second leg of the trip on the GAP shed a bad light on the first leg. If you need any help on the trail, please shoot me an email!
Perfect ride
By llopresto on August 11, 2010
My family and I rode this trail at the end of July. We rode from Georgetown to the Great Falls of the Potomac. From our hotel in DuPont Circle it was approximately 30 miles round trip. My 10 and 8 year old sons rode the trail without any problems. The 8 year old only has 16 inch wheels on his bike-he peddled his heart out. The views were breath taking all the way along the path. Riding past the locks out to the falls was a great lesson in history. We missed riding the Capital Crescent trail on the way out but certainly caught in on the way back. It made it easier to finish the last few miles strong. As noted, the trail roughness is a 2-certainly not a path for slicks. We ran into trouble about 8 miles into the ride, my 10 year old son's chain froze. 2 passer-bys stopped to give us a hand. We didn't have any tools and thankfully one of the men had just what we needed to fix the chain. There are no stops to buy anything along the way so make sure you bring your tools and any food or drink you may want. The boathouse is so early on in the trip if you start in Georgetown, so that really doesn't count and the food and drink at the Falls isn't all that great. There is a bathroom and water fountain. The view of the Falls was breathtaking. I would love to see it full of rushing water. This is certainly a trip we will do again.
C&O Canal
By TopShelf on April 07, 2010
The C&O Canal is a great ride, but it's not for everyone. It's not a smooth, paved urban trail. It's a double-track dirt or gravel path over most of its length, and it can get muddy. But if you want to have an adventure beyond where the pavement ends - this is a great trail. For anyone contemplating doing this trail, be sure to check out the Bike Washington web site for the trail which lists campgrounds, hotels, restaurants, bike shops and a lot more for the 184.5 miles of the trail. As for being rough going after a rain - it can be. It shouldn't be attempted with a street bike. But it was not a problem with my trusty steed - a 1995 Schwinn Searcher Express with 700 x 38C tires.
Trail Facts
Trail End Points: Washington, DC (Georgetown) to Cumberland, MD
Counties: Allegany, Frederick, Montgomery, Washington
Trail Length: 184.5 miles
Trail Category: Canal
Trail Surfaces: Crushed Stone, Gravel, Dirt
Trail Activities: Bike, Wheelchair Accessible, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Walking, Cross Country Skiing
TrailLink ID: 6031394

Related Links
Guidebook: Learn more about other Mid-Atlantic rail-trails in RTC's Mid-Atlantic Guidebook.