Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park | LOCK 69

Lock 69 at Mile 166.5 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath

Lock 69 at Mile 166.5 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath


Lock 69 is located at Mile 166.5 on the C&O Canal towpath. It is a quarter mile downstream from Lock and Lockhouse 70, which has a parking area. See the Locks and Lockhouses web page for an interactive location map.


When visiting Lock 69 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, notice that the canal is much wider than normal—it’s usually just wide enough for two canal boats to pass each other. This wider area allowed room for the boats to pull over so the owners could purchase supplies sold at the Old Town stores situated along the canal. This wide basin stretches from here to Lock 71, a span of .6 mile.

There is actually a separate docking area that forks off from the canal at Lock 69. Today this is used by kayakers and canoeists who paddle the canal from Old Town to Town Creek. No boats are allowed through any locks, so paddlers must portage around them. The water is pretty yucky in this area. See the Paddling web page for more information.

Exit area for paddlers to portage around Lock 69 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal is like paddling in sludge

Exit area for paddlers to portage around Lock 69 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal is like paddling in sludge

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Last updated on June 21, 2024
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