Meander along the historic canal. Pleasantly designed brick path along the canal. Sure, the canal can use some love, but it's an old fella and doing its best even after so many years. It is best to just take a walk rather than go on a tour. read more

C&O Canal - On a bridge looking eastward - Local Flavor Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The ride is certainly relaxing. You ride on the canal for an hour, but the narration is only about half the time. They narrate based on the history, but it would have been great to inter space the downtime with info about Georgetown or something. If you have never done it, worth doing once. read more

We had such a wonderful time on the canal boat ride today! The weather was perfect and the tour was just enough info. Lots of wonderful stories and knowledge as you ride down the canal. It did get a little hot mid day but was a wonderful morning in dc exploring local history on the covered boat. The boat was nice and slow- a few homeless along the way, but overall a wonderful tour with Rex and crew! The Georgetown heritage program is doing a wonderful thing here! read more

This review pertains to only one small section of the lengthy (approx. 184 miles) C & O Canal towpath. It has an interesting history which can be accessed via the C & O Canal app (where you can also book stays in some of the lock houses, which sounds terribly fun...). I've mostly walked along the path near Mile 7...it's quite beautiful and mostly well shaded...it's likely you'll encounter bicyclists speeding along but mostly people keep to themselves...I've seen plenty of interesting wildlife here, mostly birds and turtles....a really wonderful place to take a stroll, for as short or long as you'd like... read more

See all

A total gem. Have biked the entire trail, from DC to Cumberland, MD. To be clear not all in one day. 184.5 miles isn't a short trip. There have been some changes, as the trail goes more up to Pittsburgh area. Yet the canal originally from these areas, was supposed to be a major commercial success. It wasn't as trains came into the picture. Am glad it was built! The history on and off the trail are hard to beat. Some of the views are breathtaking. In many ways you can follow a lot of civil war events biking this. There are towns near the trail to get food and other supplies. The campgrounds are primitive. Yet a fire, quick dinner, and knocking out to sleep works for me. It is planned again. By all means this is a national treasure! read more

Always beautiful whether biking, hiking or walking on the towpath. Sunday was a picture perfect day to walk from the Old Anglers Inn entrance (there is limited free parking across from the restaurant) to Great Falls. About 5 miles round trip. read more

C&O Canal - iPhone photo edited with Snapseed - Local Flavor Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A cool free activity in Georgetown. It's cool seeing the past put to good use. The canal goes right through Georgetown and there's a convenient walkway. Bicycling is also good to do here. Much better than walking along the crowded M Street. Canals aren't of much use today, but they're fun to look at. In DC there's an interesting history. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was made almost alongside the Potomac. In between is a strip of land. The north side of the canal is bordered by a path. It runs the canal's full full length all the way, so there's lots of room for those wanting to exercise. There's a lot of good restaurants and shops you come across like Chaia Tacos. It goes on for miles. It starts at Rock Creek. This extends into Virginia. read more

C&O Canal - Canal - Local Flavor Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

This is probably the most interesting thing I've ever seen! While waiting for some friends to finish in a nearby store, I decided to check this out. I didn't get to ride on the boat but witnessed a group on what appeared to be a tour. The guide was dressed for the part and it looked cool, so hopefully I'll get to do this the next time I'm in the area. It was mind blowing watching them lock the canal and then raise the boat to the level of the section that the boat was in. That last sentence probably makes no sense but you have to see it to understand lol. I love history and old stuff, so this was really amazing to me. read more

See all

I love the C&O Canal towpath. I run on it. My earlier review was from before the pandemic, when I took my nephew for a stroll of about five miles. I thought I would revise it since our lives are demarcated by COVID: before, during, and after, and it somehow feels appropriate to renew what was good from before what seemed a break from reality. That nephew also is about to head off to college in England, the first of that generation of his family to depart the home. I have run more than a half dozen half marathons on this route. It has become my favorite other than in a place I live. My elderly father resides just beyond the Beltway. So I am down from my apartment in New York City often to check on him. While I am there for a weekend, I try to participate in a long run. Even though I have experienced this venue again and again, I have not tired of it. The reason is it easy to be enamored of this as a race course -- suitable for hiking, riding a bicycle, taking a dog out for a long walk, or gathering with like minded friends who want to exercise and converse during the excursion -- is it is flat and much more forgiving as a surface than concrete. Yet it also is scenic, with water and woods and sufficient isolation from traffic and the goings on of not only a city but a major capital. Over time, I'd like to learn more of what is ultimately a more than 184.5 miles of history. I am familiar with about a dozen miles or so. The half marathons have had three different starting/ending points, from Georgetown to Carderock. That might be the more crowded stretch. I stand by my primary point of the earlier note: I hope not to regret ruining what remains a respite, a sedate, unspoiled retreat, by publicizing the pleasure of experiencing it. If you meet me, however, please feel free to say hello. read more

Want to "C" my canal and "O" in it? You can if you want. (Bats lashes) If you use this canal as your route, then it's a Route Canal. Ew. This iconic and beautiful canal is hidden behind the glittering walls of rich, bougey old Georgetown. But it adds a real depth and beauty and old European-style history to an area which might otherwise be swallowed up by commercialism and High Street shopping. It provides a serene break from the bustling nature of M Street and is one of my favorite places in Washington DC. Now pass me the remote because it's time to change the canal to the next review. read more

C&O Canal - A day without you is like a year without swimming in this canal - Local Flavor Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Unique & beautiful canal! You can walk on the side & enjoy the view. Lots of restaurant nearby. A must visit place in DC! read more

C&O Canal - Local Flavor Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Chesapeake and Ohio canal used to bring food into D.C. An adjacent horse path pulled loads upstream. Rebel review: 4 read more

A national treasure. This abandoned waterway is gradually be reclaimed by nature, and cuts through the heart of Georgetown, providing a dose of solace in a neighborhood badly in need of it. The path crosses the canal a few times, but continues uninterrupted along the river for a lot farther than anyone ever goes. It never quite reached Ohio, but you could bike up to West Virginia if you wanted. It's a shame that the boat that used to operate in Georgetown has been removed, but the value of the space remains. read more

Beautiful canal that stretches from Georgetown to Cumberland, Maryland. It connects to the capital crescent trail that exits at Bethesda. The path changes from dirt to gravel to concrete depending on the area, but it's mostly trail and flat, at least along Maryland. For that reason, many races are organized here, including the free and welcoming ParkRun every Saturday at 9 a.m. starting at Fletcher's Cove. The Safety and Health foundation also has annual marathons and half marathons here. I don't know about the Georgetown entrance, but I've ran starting at Fletcher's Cove in both directions (toward DC and toward MD) and I've never smelled any sewage that some other poster was talking about =/ read more

Very poorly marked location/ allot ample time to find. No contact number provided. Dingy location. read more

Beautiful. 1) This is a very pretty gem around Georgetown. 2) I did not walk the whole area, but next time. 3) Must visit. read more

C&O Canal - Local Flavor Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I have a crush on a tour guide named Possum! This ride in the canal was just the thing to do on a hot summer day... and Possum tells a good story, and plays a mean harmonica whilst the mules and the rest of the very strong staff dressed in period clothing move the boat along. The 11 and 15 year old were as entertained as the grandparents. It's right in the heart of everything, affordable ($5/person), and fun! So- if you have to choose which boat to ride... You can pay $25/person to ride the DC ducks (which is a great ride), you can pay about $14/person to ride the boat in the Potomac that goes between Alexandria & Georgetown (also fun), or you can pay $5/person to ride this historical canal boat through the locks in Georgetown. **Sometimes they're not running..."Please call the Georgetown Visitor center at 202-653-5190 or the Great Falls Visitor Center at 301-767-3714 for the latest information." (You can check here: http://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/closures.htm) When the boat's not running, or if you're just looking for a place to go walking the dog, jogging, or riding your bike, the trails along the canal are great. read more

My most memorable moment at C&O Canal might have been after dinner at Citronelle, when my favorite Washingtonian showed it to me for the first time, explaining its history and pointing out the old towpath. But when a couple of friends came down to visit from New York, we took them there and had an experience that I have to believe would trump most others. We'd split up with our friends momentarily only to come out of Patagonia to find them peering over the canal. As we drew closer we discovered that they were watching a man wrestling with a fish caught on his pole. From the way we watched him strain, we knew he'd caught a big one. We joined others in cheering him on from above. Finally, he was able to get the fish out of the water. "Hold it up!" shouted my friend. And he did. That sucker was HUGE! Though looking out at the C&O with my favorite Washingtonian after dinner at Citronelle was very romantic, and something I will always remember fondly, the image of that huge fish is what springs to mind when I think of the Canal now. A great spot for locals and visitors alike! read more

I knew the C&O (Chesapeake and Ohio) Canal existed but didn't actually plan to see it. Actually, I stumbled across the bridge of the canal while spontaneously exploring DC with my friend and making our way to the Georgetown Waterfront Park. I stopped on the bridge to appreciate the view and take photos. Each way I turned, the sight was stunnningly beautiful. And despite the freezing cold, I would love to see the C&O Canal in the snowy wintertime. What a lovely surprise! If you are visiting DC and want to explore, I would highly recommend Georgetown, including the C&O Canal. read more

C&O Canal - Local Flavor Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Whenever I'm in DC, i always make a special effort to go to Georgetown and especially the C&O canal. This historical site of locks along the Patomac makes for a perfect spot for long walks, pensive runs and amazing nature photos. It's nothing terribly special, but it is amazing compared to the vast numbers of tourists throughout the rest of DC. It's a completely dirt trail, so it's very easy on the knees and ankles, and it's far enough away from the main streets and bridges to feel more secluded. It is a perfect spot for watching the people, the boats, the ducks/turtles, and taking time for a cute lunch or some quiet reflection. Every time I return to the C&O canal it seems different even though I've never much explored past about 6 miles from Georgetown. Perhaps it is different, perhaps I'm different, perhaps I only manage to go there when I have a lot on my mind and many decisions to make. Either way, the 180 mile canal is the perfect place for so much nature, exploration, history and beautiful scenery. I will be back, but perhaps next time I'll explore the canal further, perhaps up into Great Falls and we'll see where it takes me from there. read more

C&O Canal - C&O Canal - Local Flavor Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (with several visiting centers - this being one of them, and where the canal begins) is now a National Historical Park, but was once a working canal that would have been built through all the way to the Ohio River had it not been for a technological improvement, the railway system. The tow path is a great place to ride bikes, run and fish (you'll see lots of turtles and some Blue Heron also), but for a historical or lazy man's version of seeing the canal you can take the boat ride (pulled by mules!) offered in the Fall, Spring and Summer out of the Georgetown visitor center or the Great Falls, MD visitor center. Your tour guides dress in period costumes while you pass aqueducts, lock houses and lock gates. The park rangers, your tour guides, have lots of interesting little factoids to share too (which I am a huge fan of). This is actually a really interesting lesson in history and I recommend it for families who want to make learning more fun and interactive (or for the adult with ADD, like me). read more

See all

Yet another hidden gem of DC! Flowing parallel to Georgetown's M Street, the C&O Canal is a great walking alternative (no stop lights, no cars, and far fewer tourists walking along!) It's also fabulous for running or biking. The trail extends VERY far - so there are lots of paths to explore as well as spots to picnic and camp. If you are any sort of an outdoorsy person and you are in DC - this is a must for you! read more

Although the towpath is undergoing some much needed construction, and could use better maintenance in sections, it's a gorgeous path, and I'm glad it's survived. Tucked behind M street away from the crowds, you can walk between beautiful brick buildings and the canal locks. If you want to venture out of Georgetown, walk farther to the west, and you'll pass a section that's not too well-maintained (and a little sketchy), before ending up in a more natural setting eventually. In fact, you can bike or walk all the way to Cumberland from Georgetown using the towpath next to the canal, a 184.5 mile journey. read more

Great path to walk along for about as long and as far as you want. Follow all the way down to Georgetown if desired. On a clear day, whether walking, running, or cycling, this is a lovely area rich with historical significance and natural beauty that can be enjoyed in solitude or with friends. read more

The missing star is due to the various jerks on bikes on the towpath who refuse to announce themselves as they approach you from the rear at high speed. Park rules require a bell or announcement at 100 feet so, please riders, get with it. And NPS: please fill in the many low spots along the towpath that fill with every rainfall and stay full for days. read more

I've ridden a small section of this. I haven't done the full 187 miles or so of it though. I've only done the section from Gtown connecting to the Georgetown trail from bethesda. This was one of my fav rides on bicycle, however the crushed gravel does not treat bicycles and bike chains too well. It's better for your knees than concrete though. I like to stop by and watch fishermen catch catfish and see what they've caught. It's also neat to see some paddlers in the water too. read more

Field Trip Fairy strikes again! Got to tag along on the C&O Canal boat tour with a group of excited 6th graders. I hadn't ridden the canal boats since I was a freshman in high school new to DC, and my parents dragged us kids around to every tourist destination imaginable and then some. I remember liking it well enough as a teenager, but going again as an adult -- *and* experiencing it through the eyes of a bunch of glinty-eyed kids -- is even better. The park rangers in their 19th-century garb. The historical info imparted with passion. The authentically replicated canal boat, complete with flapping canvas cover. The sinewy mules plodding along the canal bank. The water rushing into the locks and buoying our boat like a cork. The gentleman playing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "O Susannah" on the concertina, and the salty lady who volunteered to try the spoons but couldn't seem to get the hang of it and pouted the rest of the tour. Well, they all conspired to make quite an enjoyable and entertaining afternoon. For the very reasonable price of five bucks. It also reminded me how nice [and oh so easy] it is to bike along the towpath enjoying the sights and sounds of the canal. Or to stroll along leisurely, people-watching or wildlife-spotting. We're lucky to have the C&O Canal, exactly as it was built over 175 years ago, to serve as a vivid reminder of a simpler past. Even the mighty Erie doesn't exist in its original state. The C&O Canal National Park -- and our little corner of it -- is a quiet, underrated treasure. read more

How can you not love the C&O Canal, with its towpath perfect for biking, running, and walking? I'm including the towpath in my review because its 184.5 miles from Georgetown to the Maryland-West Virginia Border offer a perfect urban escape! Watch out for races and other fun park events around the canal! Little known fact is that you can rent out a few of the lockhouses [10 I believe, and the other(s) I'm not sure of - don't quote me on this!] for the night. Not all offer running water and such. Great for a blast from the past! read more

One of the bright spots of working in Georgetown is having easy access to the C&O Canal. I walk down here a lot during lunchtime. I enjoy watching the ducks hunt for food, and hoping to spot the humongous catfish lurking in the depths. During the warmer months there is the fabulous C&O Canal flatboat, which can take you on an hour tour through several of the canal locks. The boat is pulled up the canal by two mules on the towpath (get it, towpath?). The mules rock. They are very cool. The trip itself is kind of cool too -- it's run by Park Service employees dressed in period clothing, and you'll learn a bit of history. I just bet your out-of-town visitors will love it. My mom sure did :-) The canal path is also a great place to ride bikes. Stop in at Dean & Deluca to grab some bread, cheese, pate, and fizzy water, then go biking up the canal. The locks are really cool close up, and the farther you go, the more wildlife can be seen. read more

Bad timing left me on the trail during a long run (DC to Bethesda and back) with two miles to complete in the dark. I admit, the canal is a creepy place at night (and especially alone), but two deer stumbled onto the trail as I was nearing Georgetown once again, reminding me of how incredible it is to have a natural space like this in the midst of such a densely populated urban environment. Run the canal trail in the summer and you'll soon grow nostalgic for the sent of emerald water and flora lining the path. It is teeming with life--clusters of multi-generational families speaking every language imaginable, hardcore cyclists, fishermen. I witnessed a grown woman learning how to ride a bike for the first time one July. In the winter (and especially when snowy), the trail is wonderful place for isolation and quiet. I've run hundreds of miles on this trail, trained for two marathons, biked it back and forth and even skateboarded it. Before I moved back to California from DC I went on one final farewell run on it. It felt like the end of a long relationship. Sometimes I still suffer from separation anxiety and unresolved feelings of longing. read more

Looking for a new place to do your long run? Tired of bikers almost side swiping you? Want to run on something softer than pavement? Hate waiting at stoplights? Well, friend, I have just the place for you... the c&o towpath! Ahhhh, my new favorite place in DC. I had a stress free 12 miler this morning thanks to this beautiful, flat, crushed stone path. It's a natural trail that gives you a fair amount of shade and some very pretty scenery. I saw three huge turtles, baby ducklings and a few butterflies just in one run. The path is populous enough to feel safe, but not overly crowded. If it's saturday morning, you'll probably find me here. read more

Best place for long runs in DC; the boyfriend and I did 16 miles today starting at Wisconsin in Georgetown and running along into Maryland. We go an extra 2 every weekend which was a real treat this week because starting around mile 8 is gets absolutely gorgeous in the Potomac. I recommend driving out to the boathouse around mile 8 and walking from there towards Maryland if you want a nice walk. Plus, it's all dirt so it's perfect for running with not-so-great knees. read more

I am so thankful for the C&O trail during marathon training season! It's such a beautiful trail that runs parallel to Georgetown's M Street. I like to take the path straight out to the lockhouses which is about 9 miles. There are plenty of sights along the way that keeps my brain occupied for the 2ish hours I spend running. The C&O trail is in the Georgetown area so I feel safe running my myself at night. The trail is well maintained and I haven't seen much litter. It's a nice flat course for cycling too. read more

Very few people know that the C&O Canal extends 184.5 miles from Washington DC to Cumberland, Maryland. Fewer people know that you can actually bike the entire length, virtually uninterrupted (there is one detour in place right now that is scheduled to be finished in 2012), and that the National Park Service maintains FREE hiker-biker campgrounds with portapotties, potable water, picnic tables, and fire rings about every 10-15 miles or so along the way. All you need are a couple friends, a sturdy bike (a hybrid or mountain bike does well, skinny road tires do not, some parts of the trail are not as well maintained as the section near Georgetown) with a rack, some saddlebags, camping gear, and you are ready for one of the classic bike tours in the U.S. For those who don't camp, never fear, there is an abundance of small historic towns dotting the trail with everything from cheap motels, hostels, and beautiful bed and breakfasts. I've have ridden from Cumberland to DC three times now, and each time, it's absolutely amazing. There is so much comraderie on the trail and the friends you make there will be friends for life. The bible of the trail can be found here http://bikewashington.org/canal/, which will identify every place for food, water, camping, hotels, bike shops, and provide a comprehensive packing list or itinerary for even the most unorganized. I highly recommend Shane at Freedom Trail Riders to shuttle you, your bike, and your gear to your starting point (http://www.freedomtrailriders.com/). Don't forget to stop by Bill's Place in Orleans... its a trail classic, pick fresh raspberries on the trail near Harpers Ferry when they are season. For those itching for a bigger challenge, you can tack on the Great Allegheny Passage from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, which connects right to the C&O. read more

A very cool canal you'll cross over between Georgetown and it's eponymous waterfront park (more likely than anywhere else on the 185 miles it stretches). read more

C&O Canal - Local Flavor Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

There are all sorts of strange wonders along the banks of this historic canal. Locks, bridges, plaques, homeless shanty towns, and a destroyed cement bridge, jutting over the river. If you're shopping in Georgetown, go down Wisconsin, and just before the Patagonia store you will find the loveliest stretch of canal, lined with Magnolia trees and photo-embossed plaques. But go up the path, toward the Key Bridge, and you'll start to feel uneasy. You wouldn't want to be there past dark. You shouldn't be alarmed to see bum-towns (there's one in a crumbling thatched hut, just past the bridge)...just be sure to check out the wrecked concrete brige, and be sure not to buy any crack read more

Historic Chesapeake and Ohio Canal remnants with several visiting areas. Learn how the 19th century Americans moved cargo down and alongside the unnavigable Potomac river. Nice walking, biking and running path that extends from Georgetown to Maryland. At the Great Falls, MD location, they have renovated one of the locks and it is fully functional. Local folk dress up into period costumes and you can take a ride on a period boat pulled by mules. It goes into the lock, and you get to experience the raising and lowering of the boat, just like yesteryear. read more

C & O Canal Towpath-- 184 miles-177 locks! They used to transport torpedoes in these canals! YOWZAAAA! It runs from Georgetown where 'Jack's Boat House' is... allllllll the way to Cumberland! It is naturally, has some billy goats here and there. Something cool to do is to get a group of your friends, and go on a 75 mile bike trail to Harpers Ferry (should take about a day). Go camp out there for a fort night... and then head back to DC. It is awesome. It runs along the Potomac River for quite a bit of it and its as beautiful. It all relatively flat. The ride towards Cumberland has a slight slope upward so going back into the citys easy as pie. Lots of scenic views. I take this path from DC to the Piney Meeting House Road area to head into Gaithersburg about once a week. Try it out! I pedicabbed from DC to Harpers Ferry once. it was awesome. Went camping there. good idea. Loved it. Do it. read more

I walk along the C&O canal almost every day. I work near the Georgetown waterfront, so walking along the canal is my preference when I'm grabbing lunch or shopping on M Street because it's never crowded and it's simply beautiful. I love being able to walk down it and pop up on busy M Street whenever I want instead of having to navigate all the busy sidewalks, crosswalks, etc. especially now that tourist season is upon us. It's quiet, peaceful, and beautiful. read more

C&O Canal - Local Flavor Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Not having lived in the area for a number of years, I wasn't going to add a review to the ones here, but I feel like it's important that I do to mention one key thing that almost nobody has made mention of: The enormity of the C&O Towpath. If memory serves, it runs 182 miles to Cumberland, Maryland, and not only affords much pleasure in the immediate DC city area, but provides amazing exploring all the way to the end. My favorite place to walk the towpath is in Sharpsburg, not far from Harpers Ferry, Antietam and the lovely town of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, home to the Yellow Brick Bank restaurant. Wild and overgrown, the canal still exists, and the towpath is accessible for the same walking and biking. These wonderful walks exist throughout the towpath's stretch. Since so many people in DC have cars, I would like to encourage them to see more of it, with the added benefit of gorgeous countryside. Antique in Brunswick, Maryland or cross the Potomac on the Jubal Early ferry, the last remaining private ferry crossing on the Potomac at White's Ferry. If you haven't crossed the Potomac on a cable-pulled raft, you haven't lived. read more