Autumn Ranger-Led Bike Tours at Williamsport

Date: September 26, 2016
Contact: Geoff Suiter, 301-582-0813

Williamsport, Md. - C&O Canal National Historical Park invites you to enjoy the season along the Potomac River each Sunday afternoon this October, with ranger-led bike tours from the Williamsport Visitor Center, located at 205 West Potomac Street, Williamsport, Maryland 21795. Tour participants will begin in Williamsport (Mile Marker 99.5) and bicycle upstream towards the historic C&O Canal community at Four Locks (Mile Marker 109). Along the way, participants will visit several stops and will return within approximately 3 hours. Tours will depart Williamsport at 1:30 p.m. This program is free.

Along the route, participants will make several stops to engage in stories about the canal, including historic construction and operation, the Conococheague Aqueduct, Dam 5 (Mile Marker 106.8), canal lift locks, and river locks that allowed boats to navigate the Potomac River.If time allows, the group will discuss how the Canal stimulated a small collection of businesses to facilitate trade and service the needs of boat captains at the community of Four Locks. The tour will include a stop at a Hiker-Biker campsite where the volunteer ranger will discuss the role of the National Park Service and the celebration of the 100^th anniversary of the creation of the agency.

Tours will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. on October 2^nd, 9^th, 16^th, 23^rd and 30^th.Participants should dress as appropriate for the weather and bring water.Helmets will be required, but may be borrowed from the Visitor Center.Bicycles are also available for loan at the Cushwa Basin Visitors Center.Those needing to borrow a bicycle or helmet should arrive 30 minutes early to check out equipment with Park staff. Contact the Williamsport Visitor Center Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00.a.m.-4:30.p.m. at 301-582-0813 for more information.

This is special programming commemorating the Centennial of the National Park Service. Stay tuned to the Park's website, www.nps.gov/choh and the Centennial website, findyourpark.com, for more events celebrating 100 years of the National Park Service.Follow us on Facebook at and on Twitter.