Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Travel | Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

The Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal towpath covers 184.5 miles along the Potomac River. There are 74 lift locks and many lock houses along the canal. I love having easy access to the towpath in Maryland and Washington, D.C. Walking along the canal is a favorite morning and evening activity for me. I frequently visit the Great Falls area.

Recommended Hikes

Hiking and biking are two popular activities for the C&O Canal areas. Below are my favorite hikes, as well as a few I plan to explore in the near future.

• Berma Road - an easy, 1.5 mile trail offering views of Widewater.

• Billy Goat Trail Section A - deemed one of the most strenuous hiking trails in the east. You will scramble over steep cliffs, rocks and boulders. Four hours is recommended to complete this 3.7 mile loop trail, due to the level of difficultly and climbing involved.

• Billy Goat Trail Section B - a moderate, 1.4 mile alternative to the section A trail. This trail requires some rock scrambling and travels through the floodplain region with access to the river.

• Ford Mine Trail - a 2.1 mile moderate hike into the hills. You will also pass the remains of the Ford Mine.

• Olmsted Island Bridges - an easy quarter mile (one way) trail over a series of bridges, ending at the Great Falls Overlook. The elevated bridges take you across the floodplain region of the park.

• Overlook Trail - a scenic mile trail with an overlook of the Potomac River, just shy of a mile in length.

• Paw Paw Tunnel - the largest structure along the canal, located at milepost 155.2 near the town of Paw Paw, West Virginia.

• Williamsport Walking Tour - a scenic walking tour through Williamsport, visiting the remaining buildings and sites on the canal.