Sounds Along the Canal

Along the 184.5 miles of the C&O Canal, you will hear unique sounds ranging from man-made sounds (think sounds at a construction site) to various wildlife (think bats, birds, or buzzing bees).

Whether you're biking on the towpath or visiting the Great Falls, sounds are an important resource to National Parks. The Sounds Along the Canal resource page offers cool learning opportunities on different topics:

• Why Sounds Matter
• Sound Preservation
• Sound galleries
• Cool Websites and Resources

 

 

Why Sounds Matter

Natural sounds are part of a web of resources vital to park ecosystems! From the rushing waters at Great Falls to the sounds of bikers on the trail to Kingfisher bird calls, such sounds create immersive experiences important for wildlife, wilderness, visitors, and cultural-historic events. Protecting the unique sound environment of Parks is one of the many ways the National Park Service works to preserve important habitats across the country. Continue scrolling to learn the different ways sounds matter in National Parks.

 

Woodpecker on tree near Mile Post 96 of C&O Canal National Historical Park. What do you think this woodpecker sounds like when tapping the tree?

NPS and C&O Canal Trust Photo by Stefanie Boss

Wildlife and Wilderness

Animals depend on hearing sounds in their natural environment for many important activities like communication, finding food, protecting themselves from predators, and raising families, among other reasons. Loud sounds in the park landscape disrupt these and other animal functions. Learn about the effects of noise on wildlife

Natural sounds heard in the wildnerness are in many cases what visitors seek to explore in these special places. The National Park Service works to protect your ability to hear the sound of water, trees bustling in the wind, the sounds of the swamp, for example, when you visit National Parks. Learn about the effects of noise on wilderness

 

A crowd listening to a Canal Program in the Park. Program locations take into account nearby wildlife and sensitive areas.

NPS Photo

Visitors

Natural sounds are important to your experiences in parks and can add different health benefits like lowered stress, better moods, feelings of joy, and well-being. Sounds connect you to the park environment and memories of your visit. Even sounds you hear often, like bird songs, wind through grasses and trees, frog croaks, and chirping insects are a secial part of the experience. Learn how noise can affect your park visit

 

View of Lockhouse at Lock 29. What kinds of sounds would you hear at this location during its early operation?

NPS and C&O Canal Trust Photo by Lee Goodwin

Cultural-Historic Sites

The sounds associated with our history or cultural heritage teach us about the past and connect us to distant times and places in a special way. They highlight historical aspects of a park and reinforce our nation's heritage. In this way, cultural sounds symbolize a time and place in history. The sounds of the loud canal horn approaching a lock, water rushing, filling the canal, and a canal boat "locking through" help us remember the C&O Canal during its operation. Learn how impacts the cultural-historic experience

 

An acoustic technician analyzes a spectrogram of natural sounds gathered from a national park location.

NPS Photo

Sound Preservation

The National Park Service works hard to preserve the natural and cultural sounds of National Parks. Managing the loud and inappropriate noise in Parks helps improve the quality of the soundscape, benefits wildlife, wilderness, and historic resources, and overall visitor experience. Learn more about what NPS does to preserve sound in National Parks

Did you know there are things that you can do to also help preserve sounds in our National Parks? With one small change, you can make a big difference to a park's soundscape. Taking steps to protect park soundscapes may also bring opportunities to see wildlife that might otherwise move away from noise sources. Learn more about how you can minimize your noise footprint

 

Reflection

Sit and listen quietly in your backyard or open window. What natural sounds do you hear? How easily are you able to hear the wildlife and wildnerness in your neighborhood? How do you think Parks, like the C&O Canal, help visitors journey into peace and relaxation?

 

Sound Galleries

C&O Canal National Historical Park | Sounds Gallery
Listen to sounds recorded in the Georgetown district of the Canal.

National Park Service | Sounds Gallery
Enjoy a range of sounds recorded in parks across NPS including wildlife, cultural-historical sounds, water sounds, and more.

Additional Sound Libraries

Colorado State University Listening Lab | Sounds of the Parks

Yellowstone National Park | Sound Library and Audio Postcards — short stories about soundscapes unique to Yellowstone's ecology

Rocky Mountain National Park | Sound Library

 

Websites and Resources

Check out this creative NPS interactive wilderness website about NPS wilderness programs and places!

National Park Service | Why Sounds Matter

National Park Service | Measuring Sound

List of available reports that summarize sound measurements taken in national parks

National Park Service | Understanding Sound

Collaborative research between the National Park Service and Colorado State University to aid in the understanding and preservation of soundscapes | Listening Lab