Things to do nearBilly Goat Trail

Billy Goat Trail sits within the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, a 184-mile corridor that traces the old canal towpath from Washington, D.C., to Cumberland, Maryland. The trail itself is divided into three sections, each offering a distinct character. Section A, the most celebrated, hugs the Maryland shore of the Potomac River along a stretch called Bear Island, guiding hikers over dramatic quartzite ridges formed hundreds of millions of years ago. The geology here is genuinely striking, with pale, striated rock faces angled toward the river and deep channels carved by centuries of floodwater. Hikers routinely use hands and feet to navigate the steeper scrambles, making this one of the more physically engaging trails in the mid-Atlantic region.

Section B follows a gentler path through river floodplain forest, where sycamore and river birch lean over gravel bars and the pace slows considerably. Section C offers a similarly wooded and less trafficked experience for those seeking solitude.

The surrounding park preserves remnants of the historic C and O Canal itself, including intact lock structures and the flat, packed-dirt towpath that parallels the entire route. The Potomac River gorge visible from the trail is one of the widest and most ecologically diverse stretches of the river, drawing birdwatchers and nature photographers throughout the year. For a place so close to a major metropolitan area, Billy Goat Trail delivers a sense of genuine wildness that makes it one of the most rewarding day hikes in the Washington region.