--- CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL ---

Where can you take a 184.5 mile hike or bike ride, and not meet a motorvehicle? The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. This dear passageway beganas a dream of George Washington, took 22 years to build, beingcontinually battered by flooding, resisting becoming a paved highway, andending up as a national historical park. This is a pathway to nature,recreation, and history. And it is absolutely free.

The Canal parallels the Potomac River from Georgetown, D. C. toCumberland. Coupling the Canal with the river gives you a wide range ofoutdoor activities. There are numerous neighboring towns along the way forfood and lodging. You can hike, bike, run, horseback ride, and the like onthe Canal’s tow-path, which was used by the mules to tow the canalboats. The towpath is level with a crushed stone surface and with bumpyspots courtesy of flooding. Flooding has been part of the Canal historybecause by design it was constructed in a flood plan. Access to thetowpath is easy. If you can find the river, you have found the Canal. Thebusiest sections are from Washington (Mile 1-23) and near Harpers Ferry(Mile 60). The more isolated sections are from Shepherdstown to Dam4(Miles 70-85), and from Hancock to 6 miles east of Cumberland (Mile125-180).

For most of the length of the Canal, the bed of the Canal is populated bytrees. However there are watered sections. The longest is fromGeorgetown to Violettes Lock (Mile 22), a short section between Big Pooland Little Pool near Hancock, and a 4.5 mile stretch between Town Creekand Old Town below Cumberland. There are no hazards, so enjoy theplacid, flat water with your paddle or fishing pole.

Gas powerboats are not permitted in the Canal, however there arenumerous fee-free boat ramps maintained by the Park Service, giving riveraccess. Beavers build dams to provide water for their activities. The Canalengineers did the same. They built seven dams on the Potomac to supplywater for the Canal. Two of those dams are still maintained and providedeep water for power boating. For water skiing, it’s absolute great to ski ina mountain setting. Dam 4 above Sharpsburg has an 11 to 13 mileimpoundment, with Dam 5 below Hancock having a 5 mile impoundment.There are other boating areas on the river, such as Dam 3 above HarpersFerry, but you need to know the river. For campers there are 30 hiker-bikercampsites (tents only) spaced 5 miles apart between Swains Lock aboveGreat Falls and Evitts Creek in Cumberland with water and pit toilets. Drivein camping is available at Paw Paw, McCoys Ferry, Fifteen Mile Creek,Spring Gap, and Antietam Creek, with water and pit toilet and noelectricity. The campsite toilets and water are available to all towpathusers.

Many of our national parks have special areas which epitomizes the park.With the C&O Canal, this area would be Great Falls, located a shortdistance from the Capital Beltway. It is popular, often crowded, and it is“great”. The Canal is fully watered with a visitor’s center in the historicGreat Falls Tavern. Here you can see the “Great Falls” of the Potomaccascading through canyons and over rocks. The river unnavigable. You canclearly see why George Washington wanted a canal.

Great Falls has several hiking trails, the most notable being the Gold MineLoop and the Billy Goat Trails. Section A of the Billy Goat Trail isphysically demanding as you climb rocks and boulders, to be are rewardedwith spectacular views of Mather George and the river (1.7 miles).

Interpretative canal boat rides are usually available at Great Falls, but theymay not operate this season. The Georgetown boat ride is operating. Callfirst: Great Falls at 301-767-3714, Georgetown: at 202-653-5190.

Rock climbing is popular in the Great Falls area and various spots alongthe Canal because of the bordering cliffs. From Harpers Ferry west, thereare limestone cliffs with explorable caves. My favorite is Dam 4 Cave at(Mile 83), less than ½ mile below the dam. Bring a flashlight and “streamwalking shoes”. Follow the stream into the cave, watch your head as you explore 200 feet of cave.

For summer activities, the Canal provides shade, and because of itsproximity to the river, the temperature is lower.

The C&O Canal is one of a kind. It is ours. Enjoy its entire length. For agood comprehensive guide to the Canal see The C&O Canal Companion,by Mike High, The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1-800-537-5487.

Contact: C&O National Historical Park 301-739-4200, www.nps.gov/choh