Completed
in 1850, the towpath along the 184.5
mile C&O Canal parallels the Potomac
River from Cumberland to Georgetown.
Earn a certificate and patch by hiking
each of the 13 sections in the series
at least once within a six-year period.
Sneakers or light-weight hiking shoes
are recommended.
|
C&O
Canal Series #1
(sections 1 - 5)
C&O
# 1 - Georgetown to Carderock
Discover the Rock Creek tide lock in Georgetown
and hike through urban D.C. into Maryland's
countryside. Pass Dam #1, Fletcher's Boat
House and Clara Barton's home. Flat Terrain:
10 miles.
C&O
# 2 - Carderock to Pennyfield Locks
Watch
rock climbers an the banks of the Potomac.
Have lunch at beautiful Great Falls. Continue
on the Pennyfield Locks. Flat terrain: 9.1
miles
C&O
# 3 - Pennyfield Locks to Edwards Ferry
Hike
along the Potomac River past Seneca Creek
Aqueduct. Enjoy the serenity of the McKee
Besher Wildlife Management Area along the
way. Flat terrain: 11 miles.
C&O
# 4 - Edwards Ferry to Dickerson Regional
Park
At Whites
Ferry, see the only remaining ferry operating
across the Potomac River. Pass the Olympic
kayak course and the PEPCO power plant at
Dickerson. Flat terrain: 9 miles.
C&O
# 5 - Dickerson Regional Park to Lander
Cross
the mouth of the Monocacy River and see the
aqueduct built of white sandstone quarried
on Sugarloaf Mountain. Pass the picturesque
Point of Rocks Railroad Station where the
C&O Canal Company and rival B&O Railroad
disputed rights-of-ways. Flat terrain: 10miles.
C&O
Canal Series #2
(sections 6 - 10)
C&O
# 6 - Lander to Harpers Ferry
Begin at Lander or Catoctin Station, and pass
the lock at Catoctin Creek Aqueduct and the
town of Bruinswick, and important Potomac
crossing during the Civil War Finish the hike
along the AT and the C&O towpath. Flat
terrain: 9 miles.
C&O
# 7 - Harpers Ferry to Antietam Creek
Start
on the C&O Canal opposite Harpers Ferry.
View the Potomac River and West Virginia shore
for most of the hike. Finish at the mouth
of Antietam Creek, which runs through the
Antietam Battlefield. If the weather is good,
wade in Antietam Creek at the end of the hike.
Flat terrain: 7.8 miles
C&O
# 8 - Antietam Creek to Snyders Landing
Discover
the history of the bloodiest battle of the
Civil War at Antietam National Battlefield.
Hike into Shepherdstown for lunch. Flat terrain:
7.5 miles.
C&O
# 9 - Snyders Landing to Dam #5
Start
on the C&O Canal at Snyders Landing. Pass
through Mercersville The canal shipped grain
from nearby farms and brought supplies to
the local inhabitants at the settlements.
See a cave on the opposite side of the canal.
End at Dam #5 which once provided water to
the canal. Flat terrain: 8 miles.
C&O
# 10 - Williamsport to Charles Mill
Pass
a hiker-biker overnight camp at Falling Waters,
a pivotal bridge site during the Civil War.
Visit Williamsport, a town George Washington
considered for the nation's capital. Flat
terrain: 11.2 miles.
C&O Overnights
(sections A-D)
Section
A - Williamsport to Ft. Frederick to Little
Pool
Hike from Williamsport to Ft. Frederick on
day one, then hike from Ft. Frederick to Little
Pool on day two. Camp along the way. Bring
food and camping equipment. Tents are available
for borrowing by calling 410-313-4719. Carpool
from Recreation and Parks Headquarters. Information
will be mailed. Flat terrain.
Section
B - Little Pool to Cohill Station to Little
Orleans.
Hike
from Little Pool to Cohill Station and end
up in Little Orleans. Camp along the way.
Bring food and camping equipment . Tents are
available for borrowing by calling 410-313-4719.
Carpool from Recreation and Parks Headquarters.
Information will be mailed. Flat terrain.
Section
C - Little Orleans to Paw PAw Tunnel to Town
Creek
Hike
from Little Orleans to Paw PAw on day one,
then hike from Paw Paw to Town Creek on day
two. Camp along the way. Bring food and camping
equipment . Tents are available for borrowing
by calling 410-313-4719. Carpool from Recreation
and Parks Headquarters. If you would like
to participate in the hike but prefer to make
your own lodging accommodations rather than
camp, register at the hike only fee. Information
will be mailed. Flat terrain.
Section
D - Town Creek to North Branch to Cumberland
Hike
from Town Creek to North Branch and end at
Cumberland. Camp along the way. Bring food
and camping equipment . Tents are available
for borrowing by calling 410-313-4719. Carpool
from Recreation and Parks Headquarters. If
you would like to participate in the hike
but prefer to make your own lodging accommodations
rather than camp, register at the hike only
fee. Information will be mailed. Flat terrain.
Families
and individuals can catch a glimpse
of Maryland's history and folklore
while they enjoy hiking on the Catoctin
Trail. The 27-mile trail runs from
Gambrill State Park through Frederick
City Watershed and ends in Catoctin
Mountain Park. Nine miles of the trail
crisscrosses through Cunningham Falls
State Park. Earn a certificate and
patch by hiking each of the four sections
in the series at least once within
a three-year period.
|
Click
for more information
CAT
# 1 - Gambrills State Park to Mountaindale
Road
Pass an old springhouse, view panoramas of
Frederick County and cross winding streams.
Moderately difficult terrain: 8 miles.
CAT
# 2 - Mountaindale Road to Hunting Creek
Look
for signs of deer and wild turkey along this
wooded trail that crosses Steep Creek. Survey
the scenery at White Rocks. Moderately difficult
terrain: 7 miles.
CAT
# 3 - Hunting Creek to Houck Area
Pass
the Manor picnic area and hardwood forest
and enjoy the scenic view from Bob's Hill
Overlook. Steep terrain: 6 miles.
CAT
# 4 - Houck Area to Mount Zion Road
Follow
the Cunningham Falls State Park trail into
the wooded National Park horse trails. Pass
hemlock groves, fresh springs and creeks.
Enjoy a spectacular lunch-break at the top
of the falls. Moderately difficult terrain:
7 miles.
Dark
Hollows Trail
This scenic figure-eight circuit begins in
Caledonia State Park, passes rhododendrons,
cathedral pines, and hemlocks to join the
Appalachian Trail to follow the rocky gorge
of Dark Hollow. Moderately difficult terrain:
8 miles.
Rocky
Run Grist Mill Trail
Discover
agricultural history as you hike by a manor,
miller's carriage and toll houses. Pass a
pumping station, canal and mill race. After
lunch, see corn ground into flour using a
water-powered grist mill. Moderate terrain:
5.5 miles.
Tri
State Spectacular
Hike
from Harpers Ferry, MD (on the Appalachian
Trail) across the Shenandoah River to the
VA-WV junction. Return via the Loudoun Heights
trail, Rte. 340 bridges and the C&O Canal.
Moderately strenuous terrain: 5 mile circuit
hike.
Billy Goat Trail
Hike along the Potomac River and through Mather Gorge. Scramble over rocks and enjoy the scenery of Great Falls. Visit the Great Falls Visitor Center. Difficult terrain; 4 miles.
Catoctin on the Rocks
Visit Catoctin National Park and enjoy the exciting overlooks of Cat Rock, Chimney Rock, Wolf Rock, Thurmont Overlook and Hog Rock. Visit the park nature center and stop in Thurmont for ice cream. Difficult terrain; several steep hills; 7 miles.
Cross Island Trail & Terrapin Park
The Cross Island Trail was completed in Sept. 2001. It begins at Kent Island and passes through wetlands and historic districts before ending at Terrapin Park on the Chesapeake Bay Shore.
Dark Hollows Trail
This scenic figure-eight circuit begins in Caledonia State Park, passes rhododendrons, cathedral pines, and hemlocks, and joins the Appalachian Trail to follow the rocky gorge of Dark Hollow. Moderately difficult terrain; 8 miles.
Gettysburg Battlefield Hike & Tour
Join the hike leaders for a self-guided tour of the Gettysburg Battlefield. Hike along the Union Army’s defensive position on Cemetery Ridge to Devil’s Den, the Wheatfield and Peach Orchard. Finish the day hiking the mile of Pickett’s Charge. Moderate terrain; 9 miles.
Great Falls Circuit
Discover the best views of the falls, look for kayakers and rock climbers at Mathers Gorge, hike along the Difficult Run Creek Trail and the Potomac River, and visit the River Bend Nature Center. Moderate terrain; 7 miles.
Gunpowder Falls Circuit
Follow this forested trail as you hike along rocky gorges and scenic stream valleys. Enjoy lunch at Prettyboy Reservoir. Strenuous terrain; 6.5 miles.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Hike across the C&O Canal to the Grant Conway Trail. Follow the military road to the site of a former Civil War fort. Stop at historical park kiosks along the trail. Eat lunch at the top and return via the Maryland Heights Overlook. Moderate terrain.
North Central Railroad Trail Part 1
Take a leisurely hike along the scenic Gunpowder River from Ashland (near Hunt Valley) to White Hall, MD and then enjoy lunch at the Monkton Visitor Center. Packed gravel, flat pathway easy terrain; 10.5 miles.
North Central Railroad Trail Part 2
Travel along the Gunpowder River from Whitehall, MD to New Freedom, PA. Packed gravel, flat pathway; easy terrain; 10.5miles.
Potomac Heritage Trail – Northern Section
Start beneath the I495 Cabin John Bridge and hike south to Chain Bridge. View the rapids of the Potomac River then follow the C&O Canal further south to Fletcher’s Boathouse. Moderate terrain; 6.4 miles
Potomac Heritage Trail – Southern Section
See Ted Roosevelt Island & Memorial, hike under Key Bridge, along the Potomac to Chain bridge. Lunch at Fletchers boathouse and then continue along the C&O Canal into Georgetown and Washington Harbor. Moderate terrain; 8.5 miles.
Rock Run Grist Mill Trail
Discover agricultural history as you hike by a manor, miller’s carriage and toll houses. Pass a pumping station, canal and mill race. After lunch, see corn ground into flour using a water-powered grist mill. Moderate terrain; 5.5 miles.
Sugarloaf Mountain
Hike to the top of the rocky vistas in Frederick County, cross small creeks, see remnants of the American Chestnut Tree and view the Catoctin Mountain range at White’s Rock overlook. Moderate terrain; 5 miles.
Sunset Rocks
The trail passes through the remains of Camp Michaux, which was used as a prisoner-of-war camp for German officers during World War II. The highlight of the hike is a moderately difficult scramble of almost a half of a mile along a boulder outcrop with beautiful panoramic views. Moderate terrain; 7.8 miles.
Tri State Spectacular
Hike from Harpers Ferry, MD, (on the Appalachian Trail) across the Shenandoah River to the VA-WV junction. Return via the Loudon Heights trail, Rte 340 bridges and the C&O Canal. Moderately to strenuous terrain; 5 mile circuit hike.
