Preserving America's colorful Canal era and transportation history, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park is 184.5 miles of adventure. Originally,the C&O Canal was a lifeline for communities and businesses along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, grain and other agricultural products floated down the canal to market. Today millions of visitors hike or bike the C&O Canal each year to enjoy the natural, cultural and recreational opportunities available.
The Basics
Hours:
The park is open during daylight hours.
Address:
1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100
Hagerstown, MD 21740-6620
Phone:
301-739-4200
Phone:
301-739-4200
Fax:
301-739-5275
Climate
Summers are generally hot and humid. Winters are generally cold with variable precipitation. Layers of clothing, especially in spring and fall, and good walking shoes are recommended.
Some of the park's six visitor centers operate on a seasonal schedule.
Fees
Vehicle Fees - $5.00 Cyclist/Walker Fees - $3.00
Hiking
Hiking and biking along the towpath are excellent ways to see the park. Hiker-Biker Campsites are located from Swain's Lock to Seneca. Several park areas have interpretive trails and other hiking opportunities.
Bicycle riding is permited only on the towpath. The surface of the towpath is for the most part an even hard-packed dirt trail. The towpath can be very muddy following heavy rain. Bicyclists should carry tools for repairs.
Please follow these basic biking regulations:
15 MPH maximum speed limit on towpath
Ride single file
Stay to the right except when passing
Yield right of way to all pedestrians, horses and mules
Walk bikes over aqueducts
Sound devices (bell, horn, etc.) are required and should be sounded within 100' of approaching others
Helmets required in accordance with county ordinances. Children under the age of 16 required to wear helmets.
Several short and widely separated sections of the canal have been rewatered and offer boating opportunities. Boats need to be carried around lift locks, as follows:
Mile 0 to 22 Georgetown to Violettes Lock
Mile 99.8 to 99.30 Williamsport to Lock 44
Mile 112 to 113 Big Pool
Mile 120 to 121 Little Pool
Mile 124.1 to 124.7 Hancock
Mile 162- to 167 Oldtown to Town Creek
Use of electric motorized vessels is allowed only at Big Pool, Little Pool, and canal waters from Lock 68 to Town Creek Aqueduct. Gasoline and propane motorized vessels are prohibited within the park. Personal floatation devices should be used as required by the state of Maryland. Use special care if boating on the Potomac River. Canoeing on the Potomac should be done under the direct supervision of an experienced adult canoeist.
Warning: the following areas of the Potomac River are extremely dangerous:
Canoeing is not advisable between Great Falls and Chain Bridge, an area where many have drowned.
Dam 2 at Seneca (low dam)
Dam 3 above Harpers Ferry (low dam) Canoeing is not recommended between Dam 3 and the U.S. 340 bridge downstream of Sandy Hook
Dam 4 near Downsville (portage on Maryland side)
Low water dam at North Branch. Canoeists should put in at Spring Gap.
Power company dam at Williamsport (portage on West Virginia side)
Dam 5 above Williamsport (high dam, must portage on either side)
Laws in whitewater areas require personal floatation devices. Don't just carry your PFD in the boat. Please wear your life jacket- properly buckled, zipped, tied, or clipped.
Fishing
Fishing regulations conform to the license requirements of the respective state where the canal and Potomac River are located. The District of Columbia requires a license for persons 16-65. In Maryland, a person 16 years of age or older must have a valid license to fish that state's non-tidal waters. Virginia requires a license for persons 16 and older. West Virginia requires a license for ages 15-65.
Horseback riding is a unique way to enjoy the canal. Groups must obtain approval in writing for all club rides and trips lasting more than one day. Write to the park Superintendent, C&O Canal NHP, 1850 Dual Highway Suite 100, Hagerstown, MD 21740-6620. Include an itinerary with dates and locations.
Please follow these regulations:
Horseback riding is not allowed between Georgetown (mile 0) and Swains Lock (mile 16.6) or from Offutt Street (mile 181.8) to the canal terminus (mile 184.5). Horses are not allowed in the Paw Paw Tunnel. Riders must take the tunnel hill trail that goes over the tunnel instead.
Riders may not exceed the speed of a slow trot.
Riders must dismount and walk their horses across aqueducts. Horses may not cross wooden footbridges, which are not designed to carry their weight.
Trail riders are responsible for hauling manure away. No grazing is permitted in the park. Bring in feed for horses. Do not water, clean, or tether horses near park wells. Hikers and bikers must yield the right of way on the towpath to horses. Access from private property is prohibited. Horses are not allowed in drive-in campgrounds, picnic areas, or adjacent parking lots. Riders may camp at hiker-biker campgrounds but must tether horses at least 50 feet from the area's boundaries for sanitary and safety reasons. Owners must prevent horses from damaging trees or undergrowth.
Hiking and biking along the towpath are excellent ways to see the park. Hiker-biker Campsites are located from Swain's Lock to Seneca. Several park areas have interpretive trails and other hiking opportunities.
Bicycle riding is permitted only on the towpath. The surface of the towpath is for the most part an even hard-packed dirt trail. The towpath can be very muddy following heavy rain. Bicyclists should carry tools for repairs.
Please follow these basic biking regulations:
15 mph maximum speed limit on towpath
Ride single file
Stay to the right except when passing
Yield right of way to all pedestrians, horses and mules
Walk bikes over aqueducts
Sound devices (bell, horn, etc.) are required and should be sounded within 100' of approaching others
Helmets required in accordance with county ordinances. Children under the age of 16 required to wear helmets.
