Lock 26 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Lock 26 is located at Mile 39.4 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath. It is not accessible by vehicle. The closest parking area is at the Monocacy Aqueduct, and from there it is 2.8 miles downstream to the lock. See the Locks and Lockhouses web page for an interactive location map.
Lock 26 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal is an odd sight because it is largely filled in with dirt. How much dirt? A lot. The canal locks are typically 15 feet deep. And since most locks on the canal, including those nearby, and not filled in, this is obviously not a natural occurrence. This was done by the National Park Service to prevent an ultimate collapse of the poorly preserved lock walls.
Lock 26 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Situated near a huge maple tree are the ruins of Lockhouse 26. A layer of concrete was placed on top of what remains of the stone foundation by the National Park Service to prevent further deterioration. The wooden lockhouse burned down in the 1960s, a victim of arson.
Ruins of Lockhouse 26 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Wooden lockhouses on this end of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal were not common, as most were made of stone. Wooden lockhouses were more common on the western end near Cumberland, Maryland. The reason for this is that it was harder to deliver quarried stone to the western end, so the houses were built with wood while the stone was reserved for the construction of the locks.
Ruins of Lockhouse 26 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
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Last updated on June 29, 2026
