Walking through History
Walking along the towpath is the best way to experience the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. Running along with the Potomac River for most of it's 184.5 mile journey from Washington DC to Cumberland MD, the towpath takes you through miles of history, wildlife and solitude.
In no other single place does so much of our nation's history come together. The C&O Canal is the preserved remains of what was left behind during the race to the west.
You don't need to ask why hundreds of people everyday walk alone the C&O towpath. All you have to do is take a walk for yourself. It doesn't matter what section or when you go. It doesn't matter if you walk the whole towpath or just a few hundred yards. It only takes a few minutes before the C&O takes its hold. And when you leave, you will understand. The C&O Canal is a place lost in time.
Although to me anywhere on the towpath is great, there are a few place that deserve special attention and consideration. Below I have put together a list of great places to take walks on the towpath and it's side trails. These are some of my personal favorites and I'm sure you will enjoy each one. So try them all!
Click on the location to see a list of features in the area.
Click on the starting mile (below location name) to see a park map of the area.
Location |
Distance |
Rating |
Description |
1.4 miles |
Easy |
Starting at the C&O Canal Historic plaque, walk upstream to the Francis Scott Key Bridge and return.
This is a nice walk past working lift locks. There is also a working canal boat during the summer, which allows you to see the lift locks in action. There is a C&O Visitor Center near Lock-3 that has a lot of canal information and artifacts to check out. The river view is pretty good as well. |
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Location |
Distance |
Rating |
Description |
3.8 miles |
Easy 1 2 3 4 5 Tough |
From the parking lot at Old Anglers Inn, walk downstream .3 miles to the Billy Goat Trail. This trail follows the river edge around Bear Island returning to the towpath near mile 13.3 The Billy Goat Trail has some really great river views. Keep your eyes up and you may see a Bald Eagle from Conn Island. |
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Location |
Distance |
Rating |
Description |
1.4 Miles |
Easy 1 2 3 4 5 Tough |
From the parking lot of Great Falls Tavern, walk down-stream .2 miles to the Olmsted Island Bridge Trail. This trail takes you past the fish ladder and across several wood bridges that cross the Olmsted Island sanctuary There are many unusual plants along the sides of Mather Gorge where the river squeezes through the many small inlands and large rocks. At the end of the trail you can see Great Falls. |
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Location |
Distance |
Rating |
Description |
3 miles |
Easy 1 2 3 4 5 Tough |
From the parking lot of Great Falls Tavern, walk behind the tavern and follow the path upstream .2 miles to the Maryland Gold mine trail. This trail loops up past the Maryland Gold mine and back to the tavern. Watch out for deer, fox, and an assortment of bird life including some eagle sightings. They say there is a ghost named Chuck up there who died in 1906 during an explosion in the mine. |
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Location |
Distance |
Rating |
Description |
4 miles |
Easy 1 2 3 4 5 Tough |
From the parking lot of Great Falls Tavern, walk upstream along the towpath past Conn island and up to Bealls Island (16 Mile Marker) and return. This is a great late winter/ early spring walk past Conn island where a pair of nesting Bald Eagles make their home. You can see the nest easily but I recommend taking binoculars for a better look. During late fall eggs will be in the nest so you are sure to get a look at the parents as they take turns guarding the nest and hunting. |
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Location |
Distance |
Rating |
Description |
4.8 miles |
Easy 1 2 3 4 5 Tough |
From the parking lot at Monocacy River Aqueduct walk upstream to Nolands's Ferry and return. This section of the towpath crosses the Monocacy River Aqueduct. The aqueduct was completely renovated over the last 9 years and was finished last fall. The rest of the walk is very quiet and relaxing. |
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Location |
Distance |
Rating |
Description |
| 5 miles | Easy 1 2 3 4 5 Tough |
From the Parking lot on RT. 180 in Weverton follow the towpath to Harper's Ferry and return. The first 1.5 miles of this section of towpath is also part of the famous Appalachian Trail which runs from Georgia to Maine. There is a foot bridge that will carry you across the Potomac and into the Historic town of Harper's Ferry. Harper's Ferry is the disputed location of the first shot fired during the civil war when John Brown took control of the federal armory located here. |
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Location |
Distance |
Rating |
Description |
| 6 miles | Easy 1 2 3 4 5 Tough |
This is an extremely tough hike. For maps and description CLICK HERE |
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Location |
Distance |
Rating |
Description |
| 6.8 Miles | Easy 1 2 3 4 5 Tough |
From the parking area of Big Slack Water Family Picnic Area walk along the towpath to Lift Lock 41 (Mile 88.9) and return. This part of the C&O used a section of the Potomac River known as Big Slack Water in place of the canal saving 3.3 miles of canal construction. There are large rocks and rough trail along this area after flooding wiped out the towpath. There's also a small cave on the stone wall to check out. You can't miss it. |
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Location |
Distance |
Rating |
Description |
| 2.6 Miles | Easy 1 2 3 4 5 Tough |
From Williamsport Town Park follow the towpath upstream to the Hagerstown Municipal Park and return. This section of Canal crosses the Conococheague Creek via the Conococheague Creek Aqueduct. A canal boat fell into the Conococheague Creek after a Parapet collapsed in 1920. During construction of the aqueduct here was a clan related labor dispute which claimed the lives of several workers. Federal troops were sent to stop the unrest. |
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Location |
Distance |
Rating |
Description |
| 8 miles | Easy 1 2 3 4 5 Tough |
From the parking lot of Little Tonoloway Creek Picnic Area walk along the towpath to Roundtop Pump house and return. This is a nice walk past the roundtop cement mill and Devil's eyebrow. |
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Location |
Distance |
Rating |
Description |
| 2.5 miles | Easy 1 2 3 4 5 Tough |
From the Paw Paw Tunnel campsite walk along the towpath to lock 62 and return This section of Canal travels under a mountain via the 3,118' Paw Paw tunnel and through the hollow. A long wooden walkway has been build over the flood damaged area in the hollow. |