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If you want beautiful views, good footing
and level terrain, you want to ride here.
 | Basic Conditions:
 | The C&O Canal trail is the towpath
that the mules used to ferry barges up and down the Chesapeake and Ohio canal.
Horseback riding is permitted from Swain's Lock (mile 16.6) to Cumberland (mile184). There
are mile markers every half mile so you can tell how far you have gone; important because
that's how far you have to go back!
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| Due to its packed dirt and carriage gravel
surface and the mostly level terrain, this is good for spring conditioning and for riding
when other trails may be too slippery.You are often riding right along the Potomac River.
The canal itself is dry. Good shade for summer riding.
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| There are quite a few ruins of locks and
other structures along the canal so it can be quite interesting to ride.
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| Parking is available along the canal
wherever you see a boat ramp. We have some recommendations that appear in "favorite
sections" appearing below the maps on this page.
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This is a
reenactment of the mule-drawn barge at Great Falls. You can't ride this section but
this is typical of the path's surface and width. |
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| Potential Hazards:
| Some sections can get crowded on beautiful
weekends in Spring and Summer.
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| Hikers and bicyclists pass very close to
you. It pays to have a well mannered mount.
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| Railroad lines parallel the canal usually
on the far side of the Potomac, but the horses still hear the train and its whistles. ^^NOTE** - The train passes very close to the
towpath as it approaches Harper's Ferry and crosses the path at Harper's Ferry.
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| Rules & Restrictions:
| Horses must stay 50 feet from picnic areas
and campgrounds.
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| Contact the park service headquarters at
301-739-4200 for full rules and regulations and maps.
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Park Maps
Map thumbnailS appear below. Click
on it to view larger map.
Use your browser's BACK button to return to this page
The map appears in three parts, Northern,
Central and Southern
Northern
Section
Milepost 120 to 184 |
Central
Section
Milepost 50 to 120 |
Southern Section
Milepost 16 to 50 |
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Little Pool
to Cumberland |
Bald Eagle
Island to Little Pool |
Swain's
lock to Bald Eagle Island |
Download the official map from Park Service Digital Maps
Visit the official C&O Canal site. There is a link to download
maps.
We also recommend that you visit a Visitor
Center and get the book "184 Miles of Adventure - Hiker's Guide to the C&O
Canal." This is a publication of the Boy Scouts of America and gives you details of
historic things to see along the way.
| Our Favorite Sections
| Harper's Ferry - This is my all time
favorite section for the wonderful views of the rapids as you ride along the Potomac
River. Park at Dargan Road - Just past Lock 36 north of Harper's Ferry. This
is a large boat ramp lot. Ride out South (left from the lot) toward Harper's Ferry.
We usually turn around at the overhead railroad bridge near milepost 59.5 since it
gets really crowded beyond that point and the train actually crosses the path.
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| Brunswick - There is good parking here
at the commuter rail station off route 79 in Brunswick. You enter the canal trail by
crossing the railroad tracks just south of the 55 mile marker. We rode North toward
Sandy Hook. Part of the trail at this point is part of the Appalachian Trail system.
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| Four Locks - We parked at the boat ramp lot and rode North toward Big Pool.
You go through part of Ft Frederick park on the way to Big Pool. it is quite
pretty even though the path deviates from the river across Prather neck.
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We will add more sections as we have time.
Please write if you have any questions or
comments: e-mail
 visitors
since 04/13/2000
Last updated 07/12/2002
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