![]() Bike the Towpath
Please follow these basic biking regulations:
Bike Rental InformationThe National Park Service partners with two concessioners in the downstream end of the canal in Washington, DC.
Multiple-Day TripsCampingHiker-Biker and Drive-in campsites are located from Swains Lock to Cumberland. Drinking WaterDrinking water is generally available from mid-April (around the 15th) to mid-November (around the 15th) at Hiker/Biker and Drive-In Campsite locations, approximately every 5 to 7 miles. Potable water may not be available at each hiker/biker campsite. Please plan to bring water purification tablets with you. Overnight ParkingNo overnight permits are required for vehicles in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal parking lots. The National Park Service is not responsible for cars or their contents; do not store valuables in cars. TrashThis is a trash free park; take all trash away. E-BikesE-bikes are allowed in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park where traditional bicycles are allowed. E-bikes are prohibited where traditional bicycles are prohibited. Except where use of motor vehicles by the public is allowed, using the electric motor to move an e-bike without pedaling is prohibited. The term e-bike means a two- or three- wheeled cycle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (1 horsepower). E-bikes on the Western Maryland Rail Trail:Only Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on the Western Maryland Rail Trail, which is managed by the Maryland Department of Natual Resources. To learn more about e-bikes on the Western Maryland Rail Trail visit the WMRT webpage. E-bikes on the Capital Crescent Trail:Only Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on the section of the Capital Crescent Trail that is in Montgomery County, Maryland. To learn more about e-bikes in Montgomery Park's visit their e-bikes webpage. |
Last updated: February 25, 2022