NOTE: Sections of the towpath, locks and other historical structures, trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, boat ramps, and visitor centers are constantly being closed due to damage and/or repair. When planning an adventure within Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, make sure that areas you plan to visit are open by checking the National Park Service’s official Current Park Conditions web page.
There aren’t many off-road biking opportunities in National Parks, but here at Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park you can bike 184.5 uninterrupted miles along the canal towpath—the path mules and drivers walked when pulling boats along the canal. This is a gravel and dirt path, so you need a bike with wider tires than a typical road bike. Bikes are also allowed on the Berma Road and the sections of the Western Maryland Rail Trail and Capital Crescent Trail that run through the park. Bikes are not allowed on any of the hiking trails.
E-bikes are allowed anywhere traditional bikes are allowed—with two exceptions—but using the electric motor to move without pedaling is prohibited. The term E-bike means a two- or three- wheeled cycle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (1 horsepower). The exceptions are that only Class 1 E-bikes are allowed on the Western Maryland Rail Trail and E-bikes are not allowed on the section of the Capital Crescent Trail that is in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Please adhere to the following rules when biking in the park:
- 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 recommended and should be sounded within 100′ of approaching others.
- Riders under the age of 18 are required to wear helmets in Montgomery County, MD, and riders under the age of 16 are required to wear helmets in other areas of the park.
I consider the towpath to be the most pleasant bike trail of all bike trails within east coast National Parks. You can ride from Georgetown in Washington, D. C., to Cumberland, Maryland, and it is nearly flat for its entire length. The only hills are those at the 74 locks that once lifted boats up and down elevation changes like the steps of a staircase. Furthermore, you can claim to have biked part the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, as segments of each merge with the towpath.
For those who want an even longer ride, in Cumberland you can hop on the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage Trail and continue all the way to Pittsburgh, though on this trail you must cross the Allegheny Mountains. I ran into a half-dozen people making the entire journey, and believe it or not, all were over 60 years old.
Overnight journeys through Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park are made much easier by the presence of hiker-biker campsites located every six to eight miles along the towpath. These campsites are free but do not have any facilities other than a portable toilet. Stay is limited to one night, so it is assumed you will be moving on in the morning. Other than one campsite, these are located nowhere near parking lots, so don’t think of using them if you are car camping.
Nearly all campsites consist of a common field on which everyone can pitch a tent (provided there is space). A picnic table and grill are available, though these must be shared. There is also a hand-pumped water spigot that produces water treated with iodine so that it is drinkable, provided you are not physically adverse to iodine. The water is turned off from November 15 through April 15. See the Camping web page for more details and a list of campsites.
I biked fifty miles of the towpath and not only enjoyed it for its serenity and level terrain, but also because it constantly took me past history. Locks, dams, lockhouses, and other historical structures line the towpath. Some sections of the canal are still maintained, and you’ll see people paddling canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards. Other sections are completely overgrown, with only a barely definable gully giving a hint that boats once floated down the canal at this location.
When picking a spot to start your ride, I recommend any of the visitor centers, boat ramps, or picnic areas, for these usually have a large parking lot, plus they are in more populated areas. Some of the other towpath access sites are in remote locations where you’re liable find the guys from Deliverance hanging around. See the Visitor Centers, Boat Ramps, and Picnic Areas web pages here on National Park Planner for interactive location maps.
If you plan to start a multi-day trip along the towpath, as long as you park in official Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park parking lots, no permit is needed for overnight stays. However, the National Service does not patrol the parking lots at night, so parking is done at your own risk. Do not store valuable items in your vehicle.
Sasha starting her bike trip at the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
If you don’t have a bike, you can rent one at Fletcher’s Boathouse at Fletcher’s Cove (only three miles up the towpath from Georgetown) and at the Thompson Boat Center located at the 0 Mile point on the canal—the confluence of Rock Creek and the Potomac River in Georgetown.
There are two things to remember about biking the towpath. First off, unless you have a partner and can leave a car at the destination spot, all rides are out-and-back. No loops can be formed. And second, the towpath isn’t always a pleasure to bike. It can get very muddy after rain, and depending on the heat and humidity level, the puddles can persist for more than a day after the storm. I got caught in the rain about ten miles from my car, and by the time I returned I had so much mud flung onto my back that it looked like Jackson Pollack had used me as a canvas. Since the mud came from my back tire, I had a near-perfect stripe of mud running from my waist all the way up to the top of my head. It was awful.
The following is a short video that gives you an idea of what biking the C&O Canal towpath is like. If you are planning a long distance trip, there are dozens of “home” videos on YouTube about biking and camping in the park.
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Last updated on May 30, 2024