C & O Canal

Visitors walking along the canal towpath next to the Potomac River.

NPS Gallery

Exploring the C & O Canal

C & O Canal Towpath

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park is a 184.5-mile linear park that follows the C&O Canal from Cumberland, Maryland to Washington, D.C. The C&O Canal began as a passage West, allowing communities along the Potomac River to market coal, lumber, and agricultural products. Today the canal endures as a pathway for discovering historical, natural, and recreational treasures. All 184.5-miles of the canal towpath are a part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. The towpath is dense with historical st\ructures, waterfalls, and breathtaking views of the Potomac River. For more information about the C&O Canal National Historic Park, please visit Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).