Biking the C&O Canal

    The towpath is a great family biking trail that is appropriate for experienced riders of all age groups. It is 8’ wide and is made up of stone, clay, sand and dirt. Because maintenance and park ranger vehicles drive on the towpath, it looks like a single lane dirt road for the most part. Although the towpath climbs 605 feet on it’s way to Cumberland, 95% of the 185-mile ride is actually level. The towpath goes through a series of built-up earthen ramps located near each lift lock. Each ramp is 50’ to 100’ long and raises the towpath only 8’ so they’re not steep at all. Modern outhouses, water wells, and picnic tables are located every 3 to 5 miles. There are many ways to enjoy biking along the C&O throughout the year. Select a section link below for faster navigation.

Safety First
     People get hurt along the towpath almost everyday with injuries ranging from minor scraps and bruises to broken bones and even death. Most accidents could be avoided with a little common since.
Drinking and Biking
     Riding a bike on the towpath while under the influence of alcohol (besides being illegal) is a great way to die on the towpath. Not only does the towpath have a canal beside it, the Potomac River flanks most of the towpath. With shear drops of 50’ to 70’ down to the water it’s not a good place to loose control of your bike.
Side Trails
     Stay off of all side trails while riding. Most of the side trails you see alone the towpath lead to views of the river and usually dead end over cliffs. If you really want to look, either park your bike or walk it.

Bikers Etiquette
     Being a responsible towpath biker requires little more then common since and courtesy. Here are some dos and don’ts you will want to remember.
1. Don’t block the towpath. There is plenty of room to park bikes off to the side and out of the way.
2. Yield to all people and animals. Bikers NEVER have right-of-way on the towpath.
3. Sound a warning when passing from behind. This is a park requirement.
4. Take out ALL of your trash.
5. Report or remove any trash you see on the towpath.

Biker Requirements
     Bike laws pertaining to the C&O are determined from county to county in Maryland.
1. Bikes can not be equipped with a motor of any type (Mopeds/scooters) even if you are only using the pedals.
2. Bikes must have a device (Bell, Buzzer or horn) capable of producing a warning sound that can be heard at a distance of 100’.
3. All persons over the age of 16 must carry an ID unless that person is under the age of 18 and is accompanied by a parent or guardian.
4. All riders under the age of 18 must wear a safety helmet at all times.
5. Alcohol is not permitted in the park

Biker recommendations
     Here are a few items you should carry with you when riding on the towpath.
1. Water or other drink
Those energy drinks are not necessary unless you plan to ride the entire towpath in one day. Water is the best thing.
2. A small First-aid kit.
If you are susceptible to insect bites or stings, an adrenaline injection kit or pills should be included.
3. Air pump and tire patches.
Even if you have the tube protectors. There are thorns as tough as nails that can go right through some protectors. One boy in our scout troop had 6 flat tires during a thirty mile ride near Paw Paw tunnel.
4. Biker glasses (similar to modern safety glasses) to keep dirt and bugs out of your eyes.
5. Common Since. Keep alert at all times. If it looks dangerous, stop and go back.

The Bike

Design | Frames | Brakes | Towage

Design
     My bike is designed with the C&O in mind but any kind type of mountain bike will do well on the C&O. There are areas that are as smooth as a paved road and others that are rough and muddy. Road bikes with the thin tires will get bogged down in sand and dirt and don’t do well at all in any kind of mud. Medium or wide tires are best.

Bike Frames
     Because I carry a lot of weight when I go bike camping, I wanted a strong frame. I also needed the frame to be as light as possible. I started out with a 27” Ricochet mountain bike frame and removed the front shocks. I install a handlebar shock set which does the same thing but is much lighter. The frame came with a Shimano 21-speed derailer but I replaced the grip shifters with a Shimano QuickTrigger shifter set. I like a steady grip and the QuickTriggers let me keep my hands on the grips as well.

Brakes
     Brakes are very important and must work well. Many new bikes now have linear brake systems. These brakes are designed to transfer more power to the pads for faster stops. The system works well. Maybe too well in fact. While riding my son’s Mongoose mountain bike I snapped the arm off the front linear brake. My son broke another one later that same summer while riding to school. I replaced them with a set of cantilever brakes. Cantilever brakes (Also known as Center Pull brakes) are an older design and work in the same fashion as linear brakes but the arms are short and slightly thicker. I’ve never had a failure with cantilever brakes.

Towage
     There are two basic ways to carry things with a bike.
Racks
I installed aluminum racks on both the front and rear of my bike because I need the extra room for bike camping. You should have at least one rack on your bike. A well-made carry rack is inexpensive, very light and will be needed to enjoy many of the activities the park has to offer.
Trailers
I have a removable towing ball and utility trailer I use to carry the extra equipment needed whenever there are young children in the group. It can handle about 100lbs and is relatively easy to pull. I built it from a pull behind child carrier I no longer had use for.

Things to do

All-In-One | Day Trip | Exercise | Picnics | Fishing

The All-in-One
     More and more people are now attempting to ride the entire towpath in a single day. Few make it. The main reason people fail to complete the ride is bike failure. Broken forks, wheels and chains top the list. Flat tires are also a big problem if you don’t have protector shields in your tires to keep out the thorns.
The ride is physically demanding and should only be attempted by people who are in good shape. You might want to visit you doctor before planning this type of ride. You will need to carry very little with you, as most everything is available along the way. This is the only time I recommend energy drinks over water on the C&O. You will need 2 liters of fluid for the trip on an average spring day. More during the summer. You can buy it alone the way. Remember that drinking too much fluid can be very bad for you too so don’t over do it.
Most people who are biking the entire towpath in a single day like to start in Cumberland and go “downhill” to have the ramp advantage on their side. I’ve gone both ways and found that I made better time going up hill. I think I worked harder because my brain keeps thinking about the “hill climb” of 605’ to Cumberland. Back in those day you could go as fast as you wanted, but not today. There is now a speed limit of 15mph on the towpath. I can understand a limit in some congested areas but it is in effect throughout the park. A little of the fun has been taken out of it. You can no longer try to break the official record of 11 hours 26minutes 40seconds with an average speed of 16.1mph set by Eric Todler on March 23rd 1975. By law the fastest you can make the trip is a little over 12 hours.

Family Day trip
     The C&O Canal is an outstanding place for family fun and biking is no exception. You can easily plan a family bike ride or just park and go. Either way, you won’t find a better place to ride. What makes the C&O so great is its 31 hiker/biker camp and picnic areas scattered throughout the park. You can literally park at any access point along the canal and be within a few miles riding of a picnic area. Each picnic area has grill, table and restrooms. Here are a few great suggestions for great family bike rides.

Exercise
     Bike riding is one of the best Exercises you can do for your heart, lungs and legs without undue stress. The C&O Canal towpath is one of the best places you will ever ride. Nothing like the sounds, sites and smells of a ride in the country.

Picnics
     Pack a cooler and tie it on the bike rack and your family picnic is ready to go. You can pack a ready-to-eat meal or you can cook it on the grill right there.

Fishing
     The Potomac offers some of the best fishing in the state of Maryland. Brown Trout, Bass, Walleye, and Tiger Muskey are but a few of the game fish found along the C&O. Rainbow Trout are stocked in several areas of the river each spring and there’s even reserved areas for fly fishing during season. A Maryland, Virginia or West Virginia fishing license is required to fish in the Potomac. You will also need to buy a Trout Stamp if you plan to fish for trout.