Lock 23 Canoe Launch at Mile 22 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath is just to the left of the downstream lock gates
The Lock 23 Canoe Launch is located at Mile 22 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath. It has its own parking area. See the Boat Ramps web page for an interactive location map.
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.
The Lock 23 Canoe Launch at Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park allows visitors to launch their hand-paddled watercraft directly into the C&O Canal. The National Park Service keeps water in the canal from here all the way to Georgetown, a 22 mile stretch. However, this isn’t as great as it sounds. First off, you cannot go through any locks, so to make the entire journey you’ll have to drag your boat around nineteen of them (Locks 1-4 come one right after the other at the start of the canal in Georgetown, so journeys begin or end at Lock 4). Second, water upstream of Lock 5 (Mile 5) is often low to non-existent and also can be full of muck and grass. See the Paddling web page here on National Park Planner for tips on sections of the canal worth paddling.
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Last updated on June 11, 2024