184.5 Cumberland Groceries/ Restaurants
(Western Maryland Station Center, 301-722-8226)
BEGIN TRIP
181.8 Candoc - Rewatered section of the canal .
181.7 Wiley Ford Bridge - MD 28 to Ridgely WV.
180.7 Evitts Creek Aqueduct
180.1 Evitts Creek Camping
179.0 Mexico Farms
178.8 Road crossing leads to MD 51
178.3 Western Maryland Railroad Bridge
176.0 Pumphouse of Pittsburgh Plate Glass Plant.
175.6 Lock 75
175.5 North Branch Picnic Area - Lock 74
175.4 Irons Mountain Camping - Lock 73
174.4 Lock 72 CAUTION - Beware of quicksand.
173.3 Spring Gap Camping Groceries/Restaurants Picnic Area
169.1 Pigman's Ferry Camping
167.0 Lock 71 - Begin rewatered section of canal.
166.7 Battie-Mixon (Oldtown) Picnic Area - Lock 70.
This area was once an Indian village, and was a trading post during the French and Indian War. County
road crosses canal and leads grocery store (north) and Green Spring, WV.
166.5 Lock 69
164.8 Potomac Forks Camping - Lock 68. Mouth of South Branch of the Potomac on opposite side of
river.
162.3 Town Creek Aqueduct - End rewatered section.
162.1 Town Creek Camping - End rewatered section.
161.8 Lock 67 - An Indian trail crossed the river in this area, following the ridges north and south.
157.4 Purslane Run Camping - A canal workers cemetery in this vicinity.
156.8 Paw Paw, MD. MD 51 bridge crosses river to Paw Paw, WV where stores and a restaurant are
available. Canoe rentals available.
156.5 Section House - The frame house between the river and canal was the residence of the manager of
this segment of the canal.
156.3 The canal underpasses MD 51.
156.0 Paw Paw Tunnel Groceries/Restaurants # Picnic Area
155.8 Begin Paw Paw Tunnel - CAUTION: Do not ride bikes through the tunnel. Headlights or
flashlights are strongly recommended. This tunnel took more than fourteen years to build. It connects a
bend in the river, and eliminated a need for six additional miles of canal.
155.2 End Paw Paw Tunnel
154.7 Lock 66
154.6 Lock 64 - The original design of the canal included Lock 65. In an attempt to save money, the
canal company never built this lock.
154.5 Lock 63
154.1 Sorrel Ridge Camping - Lock 62
153.4 Outdoor Club Road - Dirt road leads to MD 51
153.1 Lock 61
151.2 Western Maryland Railway trestle
149.7 Lock 60
149.4 Stickpile Hill Camping
147.0 Western Maryland Railway trestle
146.8 Devils Alley Camping
146.6 Lock 59
144.0 Lock 58
143.4 Western Maryland Railway trestle
140.9 Little Orleans Camping Groceries/Restaurants - Fifteen Mile Creek Aqueduct
CAMP DAY 1
139.2 Indigo Neck Camping - Lock 57
138.1 Western Maryland Railway Indigo Tunnel east portal
136.6 Sideling Hill Creek Aqueduct
136.6 Camp Strauss, B.S.A. Camping Reservations Required
Baltimore Area Council, 301-338-1700
136.2 Lock 56
134.1 Feeder Dam 6, Guard Lock 6, Lock 55
134.0 Lock 54
133.6 Cacapon Junction Camping
131.3 Cohill Station
130.0 Lock 53
129.9 Leopards Mill Camping
127.7 Roundtop Cement Mill
126.5 White Rock Camping
124.4 Little Tonoloway Picnic Area
124.3 Little Tonoloway Creek
124.0 Hancock Groceries/Restaurants US 522 overpasses canal.
Hancock Visitors Center, 301-678-5463
122.9 Tonoloway Creek Aqueduct, Lock 52
122.6 Lock 51
122.0 I-70 parallels canal closely beginning at this point.
120.9 Begin Little Pool area
120.6 Little Pool Camping
120.1 End Little Pool area
119.3 Millstone Point, a Civil War encampment.
116.0 Licking Creek Camping Licking Creek Aqueduct. I-70 no longer close to the canal
114.3 Begin Big Pool area
113.8 Big Pool Groceries/Restaurants
112.4 Fort Frederick State Park Groceries/Restaurants - The fort was involved in the French and Indian
War, the American Revolution, and the Civil War. Park campground, historic fort area, row boat rentals.
End Big Pool area.
Park Office, 301-824-2155
110.4 McCoy's Ferry Camping Picnic Area NOTE: No water available at campground. This was an
important river crossing area. J.E.B. Stuart entered Maryland here on his way to Pennsylvania, October,
1862.
110.0 North Mountain Camping Picnic Area
109.2 Begin Four Locks area. Locks 50, 49, 48, 47. The canal does not follow the river at this point as it
cuts across a bend at Praether's Neck, eliminating a five mile loop.
109.0 Four Locks Picnic Area
108.6 End Four Locks area
107.4 Two Locks area. Lock 46
107.3 Lock 45
106.8 Feeder Dam 5, Guard lock 5
101.2 Jordan Junction Camping
101.0 Hagerstown Municipal Water Works
99.8 Williamsport Groceries/Restaurants - Conococheague Creek Aqueduct. Begin Williamsport
Town Park. Overnight camping (free, no facilities) by permit from town hall. Stores, a laundromat,
churches, a bus station and motels are available.
Williamsport Town Hall, 301-223-7711 Safari Campground , 800-558-2954, 301-223-7117. Follow MD
68, 2 miles south from town square (full service campground) $3.00/person. NOTE: During periods of
heavy rain or high water the trail may be submerged or very muddy between this point and 88.1. Alternative
detour - follow MD 68 to MD 63 (southeast). Follow signs to Downstown. Turn right on Dam No. 4
Road. Follow this road to MP 84.5 on the canal. (Detour about 10 miles)
CAMP DAY 2
99.3 Lock 44 End Williamsport Town Park. This site was inspected by George Washington as a
possible location for a new national capital. General Braddock crossed here on his way to Fort Pitt in 1755;
the main body of the Confederate Army crossed in June 1863 on their way to Gettysburg.
97.9 Pennsylvania Railroad trestle
95.2 Cumberland Valley Camping
94.4 Falling Waters Lee's defeated army held off Union attacks for eight days in July 1863 as his
engineers built a bridge across a swollen Potomac. The remains of his entire army were able to escape to
Virginia.
93.9 Potomac Fish and Game Club. Pay phone available at the pavilion.
93.0 Lock 43
92.5 Midpoint of the C&O Canal
90.9 Opequon Junction Camping
90.2 Begin Dellinger Widewater CAUTION: The towpath may be submerged during high water.
Following periods of high water the towpath will be extremely muddy for several days. Proceed with
extreme caution.
89.6 End Dellinger Widewater
89.0 Lock 42
88.9 Lock 41 Begin Big Slackwater
88.1 Charles Mill (McMahons Mill) Groceries/Restaurants NOTE: The next 3.6 miles of canal towpath
are closed to bikes. Hikers are strongly encouraged to follow the detour as well especially during high
water. DETOUR: Go 0.7 miles north on Charles Mill Road (go up hill at the mill). Go east (turn right) and
travel 0.5 miles on Dellinger Road. Turn east (right) and proceed 3.8 miles on Dam No. 4 Road until it
meets the canal.
85.6 Guard Lock 4 End Big Slackwater area. Begin rewatered section of the canal.
85.5 Big Slackwater Picnic Area
84.5 Dam 4 NOTE: The detour route rejoins the canal here.
82.7 Big Woods Camping
80.9 Taylor's Landing (Mercersville) Trailside store, refreshments, bike rentals, bike repairs.
80.3 Mondell Road Go 0.8 miles east to begin tour of Antietam Battlefield.
79.7 Horseshoe Bend Camping
79.4 End rewatered section
78.4 Lock 40
76.6 Snyder's Landing Groceries/Restaurants Barron's C&O Canal Museum and Country Store.
Refreshments, bike rentals, public phone.
75.8 Killiansburg Cave Women and children took refuge here during the Civil War Battle of Antietam.
CAUTION: These caves are dangerous. Explore only when properly equipped. An experienced guide is
strongly recommended.
75.2 Killiansburg Cave Camping
74.0 Lock 39
72.8 Lock 38
72.7 Shepherdstown Groceries/Restaurants Shepardstown River Lock - Barge traffic from the
Potomac entered the canal at this point. Shepherdstown, WV directly across the river and is accessible by
crossing the bridge. A full range of businesses are available. Sharpsburg, MD is east 2.5 miles on MD
34. Sharpsburg offers a variety of businesses and is the center of the Antietam Battle area.
Superintendent, C&O National Historical Park, PO Box 4, Sharpsburg, MD 21782
301-739-4200
71.8 Pack Horse Ford This was a major crossing for pioneers as early as 1720. During the Civil War the
river was crossed here by both Union and Confederate forces on numerous occasions. Lee's entire army
retreated via this ford after the Battle of Antietam.
70.8 Turning Basin Miller's Sawmill Antietam Battlefield accessible 1.6 miles northeast on Miller's
Sawmill Road.
69.4 Antietam Creek Aqueduct
69.3 Antietam Creek Camping
Antietam Creek Ranger Station, 301-739-4200, 301-739-6179
67.0 Lock 37
64.9 Dargan Bend Picnic Area
62.9 Huckleberry Hill Camping
62.3 Lock 36, 35. Feeder Dam 3, Guard Lock 3
Fort Duncan - The road behind Lock 36 leads to this fort built by Union forces to defend Harper's Ferry.
61.6 Lock 34
60.8 Harper's Ferry Groceries/Restaurants This historic community is accessible via the walkway on the
railroad bridge. Cycling is prohibited on the bridge. This is the main passage way through the Blue Ridge
Mountains. John Brown unsuccessfully attempted to capture the Government Arsenal here in October of
1859. The community offers a wide range of services and is the site of the Harper's Ferry National
Historical Park.
60.7 Lock 33
60.6 Shenandoah River Lock - Barges from this area of the Potomac entered the canal at his point.
60.2 Lock 32
59.6 US 340 overpasses canal. The Appalachian Trail joins the towpath at this point. On the opposite
river bank is the West Virginia, Virginia border.
58.1 The Appalachian Trail turns north at this point.
58.0 Lock 31, Weverton.
55.0 Brunswick Groceries/Restaurants Lock 30 This community offers a wide range of services. MD
79 crosses the Potomac at this point. Historically, this was an important crossing point for the Union Army.
They crossed into Virginia following both Antietam and Gettysburg. The town was known as Berlin until
1890.
54.0 Brunswick Riverside Park Camping Flush toilets, showers.
Brunswick Camp Site, 301-834-8050, 301-834-7500 $1.50/person.
CAMP DAY 3
51.5 Catoctin Creek Aqueduct
50.9 Lock 29
49.9 Bald Eagle Island Camping
48.9 Lock 28
48.2 Point of Rocks Groceries/Restaurants Shores Campground on trail (301-874-2446 $6.00/tent)
47.6 Calico Rocks Camping
44.6 Noland's Ferry Picnic Area This was a common fording area in the mid 1700's. Confederate troops
crossed here on the way to Antietam.
42.5 Indian Flats Camping
42.2 Monocacy River Aqueduct Picnic Area
41.5 Lock 27
40.0 White's Ford Important early crossing area. Confederate Troops crossed several times, including
Lee's army on the way to Antietam.
39.4 Lock 26
38.2 Marble Quarry Camping
35.5 White's Ferry Groceries/Restaurants Bike Repair Restaurant, store, and public phone. Free camping
for youth groups (reservation required 301-349-5200) Flush toilets, no showers. This in the only operating
ferry along the canal route. The ferry services cars, pedestrians, and bikers. It provides access to VA 15
and the historic town of Leesburg, VA about 5 miles to the west. Leesburg provides a wide range of
services. The W&OD Trail, a 45 mile paved trail between Purcellville and Alexandria, can be accessed in
Leesburg.
34.8 Battle of Balls Bluff This battle took place on the Virginia side of the river on October 21, 1861.
34.4 Turtle Run Camping
31.9 Broad Run Trunk A wooden trunk carries the canal across Broad Run.
30.8 Edward's Ferry Lock 25 Union troops crossed here on their way to Balls Bluff in 1861, and in June
of 1863 as they moved north to Gettysburg.
30.6 Goose Creek Lock This lock allowed access boats access to the Potomac River, and Goose Creek,
VA.
30.5 Chisel Branch Camping
27.2 Sycamore Landing
26.1 Horsepen Branch Camping
22.8 Seneca Creek Aqueduct Groceries/Restaurants CAUTION: This is generally the beginning of
extreme trail congestion. Be aware of children, walkers, and pets. The congestion increases as you continue
toward Georgetown, and is especially heavy between 16.6 and 11.0.
22.1 Lock 23, Feeder Dam 2, Guard Lock 2 The entire canal is restored from this point to 0.0
19.6 Lock 22
16.6 Swains Lock Camping Groceries/Restaurants Lock 21
CAMP DAY 4
14.3 Great Falls Picnic Area Begin Six Locks Area. CAUTION: Extreme trail congestion. This is a
tourist area with refreshments, a museum, and functioning canal boats and locks. Locks 20 - 15 are in the
next 1.1 mile area.
Great Falls Tavern, 301-299-3613
13.8 Billy Goat Trail This trail branches off.the tow path at this point.
13.4 End Six Locks Area
12.5 Billy Goat Trail The trail returns to the towpath.
12.2 Widewater This natural 2 mile area is 500 feet wide and 40 feet deep. CAUTION: The towpath is in
poor condition due to erosion. Bikes must be carried in some places.
11.0 Marsden Tract Camping Reservation required.
301-299-3613
10.5 Carderock Picnic Area
9.5 Begin Seven Locks Area Locks 14 - 8 are in the next 1.2 mile area. The Capital Beltway (I-495)
overpasses the canal.
8.3 End Seven Locks Area
7.0 Lock 7
>
5.6 Dam 1
5.5 Lock 6
5.0 Lock 5, Guard Lock 1
4.7 District of Columbia - Maryland border
3.1 Fletcher's Boathouse Groceries/Restaurants Bike Repair Picnic Area
202-244-0461
1.1 Alexandria Aqueduct The Alexandria Canal crossed the Potomac at this point via a 1,100 foot
aqueduct. Several of the piers are all that remain.
0.6 Locks 4 - 1 These locks are located in the fashionable Georgetown section of Washington, DC
0.5 Thompson Boat Center Bike Repair
202-333-9711
0.0 Tidewater Lock The canal started at the mouth of Rock Creek, allowing access to the Potomac
River. The Georgetown offers a full array of services.
END OF BIKE TRIP
CAMP DAY 5 ANACOSTIA NAVAL AIR STATION RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. (Master Chief
Kenline 202-433-3068)
PLAN FOR A THREE WEEKEND TRIP
FIRST WEEKEND:
Start at Cumberland 184.5
Camp at Little Orleans 140.9
End Fort Frederick 112.4
SECOND WEEKEND
Start at Fort Frederick 112.4
Camp at Antietam Creek 69.3
End Brunswick Riverside Park 54.0
THIRD WEEKEND
Start Brunswick Riverside Park 54.0
Camp at Swains' Lock 16.6
End Georgetown 0.0