Bike Tours in Summer

C&O Canal Offers Bike Tours This Summer

By Georgetown Visitor Center, 202-653-5190
and Kathy Sholl, Public Affairs Assistant, 301-745-5804
June 16, 2006

Date
June 16, 2006

Explore Washington, D.C., and the scenic Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park this summer on bike tours sponsored by the National Park Service. Led by Ford Motor Company interns, the various free tours will stop at many points of interest while traveling the city or canal on bike. Many options are available for joining these tours, but reservations are required.

Two different day bike trips are offered ranging from five to 10 miles roundtrip. "Washington Waterways," will be offered on Sunday, June 25 and Saturday, July 15. A second bike trip, “Georgetown to Little Falls" will be held on Sunday, June 18; Sunday, July 2; and Saturday, July 22. All trips begin at 11 a.m. and riders will return no later than 3 p.m. Day trips originate and end at the Georgetown Visitor Center, 1057 Thomas Jefferson St., NW.

Two overnight camping bike trips are being offered. "Harpers Ferry to Georgetown," a 60-mile bicycling trip, will be held on Saturday, July 8 through Sunday, July 9, with participants traveling about 30 miles each day. The second bike tour, "Cumberland to Georgetown" will be held on Saturday, July 29 through Tuesday, August 1 and will cover the entire 184 miles of the C&O Canal towpath. Riders will bike about 45 miles each day. Both trips begin at 9 a.m. and finish about 4 p.m. These overnight camping trips originate at the Great Falls Visitors Center, 11710 MacArthur Blvd. in Potomac, Md. Riders must bring their own camping equipment for primitive camping sites on the canal. Participants may not stay in hotels.

All biking skill levels are welcome. Bikes are available on a limited first-come, first served basis. Participants are encouraged to bring their own bikes, with most bicycle styles acceptable. All tours are limited to 25 participants and reservations are required no later than the day before each trip is held. Riders should bring plenty of food and water and dress appropriately for the weather.

For additional information or to make reservations, please call the Georgetown Visitor Center at 202-653-5190. The C&O Canal website is www.nps.gov/choh.