Brochure

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior National Historical Park Maryland / Washington, DC / West Virginia Cargo boat on the canal at Darby Mill in Williamsport, MD, about 1895 NPS The Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal began as a dream of passage to wealth in the West. Operating for nearly 100 years, it was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market. Today the canal endures as a pathway for discovering historical, natural, and recreational treasures. Historic Waterway to the West The goal was ambitious: to improve on nature with a navigable waterway from tidewater at Georgetown in Washington, DC, to the Ohio River. In 1828, amid Fourth of July fanfare and canal fever across the nation, ground was broken for the C&O Canal. While in operation, the C&O Canal witnessed a race west by transportation giants, the growth and decline of communities and businesses along the banks of the Potomac River, fierce battles between a divided nation, and technological improvements that eventually made business on the canal obsolete. In the span of a lifetime, canals faded from beacons of a dawning age to quaint reminders of a bygone era. From 1828 to 1850 thousands of immigrants found work—and hope for a new life— building the canal. Families worked and Enjoy the Towpath and Canal lived on the long, narrow boats, and children often tended the mules. The C&O Canal closed in 1924. It sat mostly unused for 30 years, its physical features surviving, until it became a national historical park in 1971. Eventually the canal took on a new role, serving as a window to the past and witness to the resilience of nature. Today the nearly level towpath runs 184.5 miles along the Potomac River and serves as the spine of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. Hikers, campers, bikers, and others can experience the history, wildlife, and geology of the Potomac valley. In sections with water, the canal accommodates paddlers, boaters, and anglers. Explore canal history on ranger- and volunteer-led programs. The C&O Canal runs along the Potomac River from the mouth of Rock Creek at George­town in Washington, DC, to Cumberland, MD. Its 74 lift locks raised canal boats from near sea level to 605 feet of elevation at Cumberland. The towpath, built 12 feet wide as a mule path, is now a nearly level byway where hikers and bikers can enjoy the canal’s quiet beauty. Hiking and Biking  Brown mileposts mark every mile along the towpath. Bikers must observe these regulations: Do not exceed 15 mph. Sound your bell or horn approaching others. Ride single-file. Stay to the right. Yield to pedestrians, horses, and mules. Wear a helmet, as required by law. Walk bikes across aqueducts. Ranger-Led Programs  The park offers talks, walks, and other programs in multiple locations. For information and schedules check the park website or the official NPS App. Camping  Camp only in designated sites. Reservations are required for sites reachable by car and for group campsites; reserve at www.recreation.gov. Hiker-biker tent sites along the towpath every 5–7 miles are free; first-come, first-served; and limited to one night. Pack out all trash. For more information check the park website. To stay overnight in a historic lockhouse, visit www.canaltrust.org/quarters. On the Canal  Paddling and non-motorized boating are possible in sections of the canal with water from Georgetown to Milepost 22 and for short stretches above that. You must carry watercraft around each lock. Motorized craft are generally prohibited. Swimming and wading in the canal are prohibited. Follow state or Washington, DC, fishing regulations. The Potomac River is always ex­tremely dangerous. Currents are very strong, deceptive, and un­pre­dict­able. Do not swim in the river. Leisure boat on the canal exits the downstream portal of the Paw Paw Tunnel. NPS Visitor Centers Canal information and history are available at visitor cen­ters and seasonal contact stations (maps at right and on other side). Hours and days vary by season; for schedules check the park website or call 301-739-4200. Georgetown Visitor Center  1057 Thomas Jefferson St. NW, Washing­ton, DC. Located in an urban canal setting. Exhibits on canal history. Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center  11710 MacArthur Blvd., Potomac, MD. Originally a lockkeeper’s house and later ex­panded. Exhibits on canal and area history. Brunswick Visitor Center  40 W. Poto­mac St., Brunswick, MD. Exhibits highlight the town’s transportation history from early ferry service to the canal and the railroad. Williamsport Visitor Center  205 W. Potomac St., Williamsport, MD. Explore this canal town’s history at the Cushwa warehouse and basin. Exhibits on canal and area history. Cumberland Visitor Center  Western Maryland Railway Station, 13 Ca­nal St., Cumberland, MD. Exhibits on the canal and its western terminus. Other Facilities  Park staff and partners open historic buildings to the public on occasion. Contact the park for a seasonal schedule. Accessibility  We strive to make facilities, services, and programs accessible to all. For information go to a visitor center, ask a ranger, call, or check the park website. Regulations  Federal laws protect all natural and cultural features in the park. Hunting, trapping, metal detectors, and relic hunting are prohibited. Check the park website for firearms, drones, and other regulations. This is a trash-free park. Take your trash with you when you leave. More Information Chesa­peake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park 142 W. Potomac St. Williamsport, MD 21795 301-739-4200 www.nps.gov/choh Follow us on social media. Use the official NPS App to guide your visit; select ”save this park” to use offline. Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Na­tional His­torical Park is one of over 425 parks in the National Park System. Learn more at www.nps.gov. Join the park community. www.nationalparks.org IGPO:2024—427-086/84067 Last updated 2024 Georgetown to Swains Lock Chesapeake and Ohio Canal