Billy Goat C Trail map (click to enlarge)

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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.

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Length: 2.6-mile loop, including return trip on the C&O Canal towpath back to the parking area
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy to moderate

The Billy Goat C Trail is reached from the Carderock parking area (there are four separate parking lots here). Enter Carderock from Clara Barton Parkway and when the driveway into the park comes to a T-intersection, take a right and proceed to the farthest parking lot, which is called the North Lot. Keep in mind that on a summer weekend Carderock is going to be packed. I was there at 8:30 AM and half the parking spaces were already taken. Oddly enough, I didn’t see many people on the trail, so most of them are hiking and biking the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath.

The trail is C-shaped. It works its way from the towpath down to the Potomac River, follows the river for a while, then heads back inland and comes out farther down on the towpath. The length of the actual trail is 1.6 miles, but that does not take into account the 1-mile walk back to Carderock along the towpath.

There are two trailheads at the North parking lot: one at the very end that leads to the towpath and one on the Potomac River side (left side if facing the end of the parking lot). There is no reason to hike towards the towpath, so take the trail on the left. Look for a sign that reads, “Billy Goat Trail 100 feet.” The 100 feet refers to the short connector that leads to the actual trail. Once there, take a left.

Upstream trailhead for the Billy Goat C Trail in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Like all trails within Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, the Billy Goat C Trail is marked with blue blazes (paint splotches) on the trees and rocks. These act as Hansel and Gretel breadcrumbs, so keep an eye out for them if you ever get confused as to which way to go.

Blue blazes mark the Billy Goat C Trail in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

The trail runs through the forest for the entire time (except on the towpath) and alternates between a smooth surface and one full of rocks. While the terrain is hilly, I’d describe it as level, but punctuated with dips like a roller coaster.

Rocky section of the Billy Goat C Trail in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Smooth section of the Billy Goat C Trail in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

The Billy Goat C Trail follows the Potomac River for much of its length, but trees stand between it and the water for the first half mile. At that point the trail descends down a moderately steep hill towards the river. If you want to put some effort into it, you can get all the way down to the water by taking one of two rocky side trails that have been cut by previous hikers. These detours are located on either side of a footbridge that spans a ravine. I took the detour before the bridge and only gave the second one a quick glance from the main trail, but they both appear to be about the same as far as difficulty goes. I do not recommend taking either of these if it has been raining because the mud will be slicker than snot and you’ll never make it back up, not to mention that you’ll probably end up sliding down.

Riverside view of the Potomac from near the Billy Goat C Trail in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Side trail down to the Potomac River from the Billy Goat C Trail in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Footbridge on the Billy Goat C Trail over the ravine, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Who knows what condition the trail will be in when you hike it, but a tenth of a mile past the bridge it was really overgrown when I was there. I didn’t pick up any ticks, but there were plenty of briers.

Typical overgrown section of the Billy Goat C Trail in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

At the .75-mile mark on the hike, the trail comes face to face with a fairly wide creek situated in a deep ravine, but it does not cross at this point because there is no bridge. Instead, the trail turns northwest away from the Potomac and follows the creek for approximately 200 feet before finally coming to a footbridge. I’m guessing that the inland location of the bridge may keep it far enough from the Potomac to avoid damage if the area floods, which happens often. Turning inland also sends you in the direction of the South parking lot at Carderock, so you may see people entering the trail from this direction.

Bridge on the Billy Goat C Trail across the creek, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Shallower end of the ravine where the bridge on the Billy Goat C Trail crosses the creek, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

When you get near the parking lot you will see a sign pointing to the Carderock Picnic Area. Unless you need a place to eat, cross the footbridge to continue the hike. The trail immediately U-turns and heads back towards the Potomac River.

The Billy Goat C Trail remains narrow, but it is no longer overgrown. There are patches of boulders to scramble over, but for the most part, the hike up to this point has been easy, cardiovascular-wise. In fact, for the first mile this is definitely the easiest of the three Billy Goat trails.

Typical terrain of the Billy Goat C Trail west of the Carderock Picnic Area in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Example of a typical patch of boulders on the Billy Goat C Trail in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

The trail crosses another creek at the 1.1-mile point. There is a small cascade and a large number of boulders that you must climb. A family with two children and a dog was making the crossing when I arrived, and while the kids made it, I was very scared they would fall. The dog had to be coaxed across. Immediately afterward an older man arrived, and he almost fell five times. It was like Grand Central Station. However, while I had to wait for these two groups to come across before I could proceed, I rarely ran into anyone else on the trail.

Family crossing the creek near a small cascade on the Billy Goat C Trail in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Cascade of water on the Billy Goat C Trail in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Once beyond the waterfall, the Billy Goat C Trail leaves the Potomac River for good. It does, however, pass a small pond. It is at this point that the trail once again reverts to being overgrown, and unfortunately, it remains this way until the end.

Pond at the downstream end of the Billy Goat C Trail in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

The trail splits just a few minutes past the pond, and there is no indication as to which way to go. The vegetation is thick and there aren’t any large trees or rocks in the area, so there is no place to paint a blue blaze. Figuring I was near the point where the trail turned north and headed towards the towpath, I decided to go left. This was the correct choice, though I have no idea where the right fork would have taken me.

Billy Goat C Trail splits with no indication as to which way to turn, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

The hike back to the towpath is marked with a half dozen moderate hills, and it remains highly overgrown until just a few minutes before reaching the end.

Typical terrain along the final leg of the Billy Goat C Trail in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

The Billy Goat C Trail intersects with the towpath at 1.5 miles into the hike. Take a left to get back to the parking area. You have approximately a 1-mile hike ahead of you.

Downstream intersection of the Billy Goat C Trail and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath near the Billy Goat C Trail

While you won’t pass any locks or lockhouses on the way back, you will see a stone column in the middle of the canal. This was part of a bridge built in 1941 that linked the towpath to a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp. The CCC was established as a result of the Great Depression. It was designed to put men back to work, and many of the jobs involved building state and national park facilities and trails.

Support for an old bridge that spanned the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, linking it to a Civilian Conservation Corps camp

Don’t let your guard down now, because you still have to figure out where to turn to get back to the correct parking lot. There are a number of turn-offs for the parking areas, but there are no signs identifying which parking lot the path will take you to. All turns are very narrow trails except the one for the North Lot, so be on the lookout for the first and only wide path that you come to.

Turnoff from the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath for the North parking lot at Carderock

The Billy Goat C Trail is definitely the easiest of the three Billy Goat trails. There are a couple of steep hills and a few patches of boulders you must walk over, but you never have to resort to climbing up on them and sliding down the other side. The waterfall was the trickiest spot. Other than that, the trail is mainly flat. The only problem is the overgrown sections, so be sure to wear long pants for protection from poison ivy and briers, and check yourself for ticks every time you brush up against vegetation. Ticks hang out down around your ankles, so they will most likely attach there and immediately start crawling up to your crotch or hair, the two places they like to hide. For the record, I did not find any on me, nor did I get any poison ivy. I did hike in long pants.

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