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Drinking Water is Limited Along C&O; Canal Towpath through November.
Handles have been removed from hand pumps at the hiker/biker campsites. This means potable water is only available at drive-in sites until the end of November. Hikers and bikers should plan to carry a sufficient supply of drinking water.
184.5 Miles of Adventure!
Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market. Today it endures as a pathway for discovering historical, natural and recreational treasures!
Features
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Join the Conversation!
Thousands of people stay connected with the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park through social media. Are you one of them?
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Curriculum-based Education Programs
Ranger guided programs offer opportunities for students to explore the natural and historical features of the canal from Georgetown to Cumberland!
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Visit the Canal all year round!
Explore the Canal in every season! The towpath is open for hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing all winter.
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Did You Know?
Canal historians estimate approximately 35,000 laborers helped dig the canal as well as build aqueducts, culverts, locks, lock houses, etc. It took 22 years to build the canal from Georgetown, DC to Cumberland, MD. Much of the workforce were immigrants from Ireland and western Europe.