Things to do nearChesapeake and Ohio Canal
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Maryland traces 184.5 miles of historic waterway, offering scenic hiking, cycling, and a window into 19th-century American commerce.
Authorized in 1828 and completed to Cumberland by 1850, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was built to connect the tidal Potomac with the Ohio River valley. Mule teams walked the towpath pulling loaded canal boats through a system of 74 lift locks, raising vessels nearly 605 feet over the full length of the route.
Today the canal is a National Historical Park managed by the National Park Service. Visitors explore the towpath on foot or by bike, passing lockhouses, aqueducts, and tunnels that remain largely intact. The Paw Paw Tunnel, nearly 3,200 feet long, is a highlight of the western section.
Wildlife is abundant along the corridor. Great blue herons wade in the shallows, white-tailed deer graze at dawn, and river otters have returned to parts of the Potomac. Birdwatchers find the riparian forest particularly rewarding during spring migration.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal offers a rare combination of living history and natural beauty that rewards casual day visitors and long-distance trail travelers alike.
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Tips for visiting Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Visit during mid-October when the tree canopy along the towpath turns gold and rust, making it one of the most scenic stretches in the mid-Atlantic.
Rent a bicycle in Georgetown or Brunswick to cover longer sections of the flat towpath at a comfortable pace.
Bring water and sunscreen for summer outings, as shade thins in open stretches near Harpers Ferry.
Stop at Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center to see a working lock demonstration and learn about the canal's 19th-century operations.
Camp at one of the hiker-biker campsites spaced roughly five miles apart along the towpath for an overnight trail experience.
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