Family Activities Across the Trail

Children sitting on rocks near shore of waterway
The Potomac Heritage Trail network includes many opportunities for children, youth and families to experience unique landscape of the Trail corridor.

Photo: Jerry Sealey

The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail network includes many activities for children, families, and anyone looking for an adventure. The first edition of a “Family Adventure Guide” organized by region, suggests some activities, and the list below includes others at various partner sites throughout the PHT network; contact these sites directly for information on availability and costs, and please contact us with corrections and suggestions. Many sites along the trail offer Passport Stamps, and some even offer prizes through the Track Trail program. And all fourth graders--and their families--can receive a free pass to all national parks, lands and waters through the Every Kid in a Park program.

 

Laurel Highlands (Pennsylvania)

Partner Site

NPS Jr. Ranger Program

Scavenger Hunts and Other Activity Books

Interactive Nature or Visitor Center

Online Activities Available

Family Programs and Events

Track Trail

Passport Stamps

Laurel Ridge State Park

✓

✓

Fallingwater

✓

 

Great Allegheny Passage and Eastern Continental Divide (Pennyslvania and Maryland)

Partner Site

NPS Jr. Ranger Program

Scavenger Hunts and Other Activity Books

Interactive Nature or Visitor Center

Online Activities Available

Family Programs and Events

Track Trail

Passport Stamps

Ohiopyle State Park

✓

✓

✓

✓

New Germany State Park

✓

✓

Deep Creek Lake State Park

✓

✓

 

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Corridor (Maryland and Washington D.C.)

Site

NPS Jr. Ranger Program

Scavenger Hunts & Other Activity Books

Interactive Nature or Visitor Center

Online Activities

Family Programs & Events

Track Trail

Passport Stamps

Antietam National Battlefield

✓

✓

✓

✓

C & O Canal National Historical Park

✓


✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Fort Frederick State Park


✓

✓

✓

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

✓

✓

✓

✓

 

Washington, D.C.

Partner Site

NPS Jr. Ranger Program

Scavenger Hunts and Other Activity Books

Interactive Nature or Visitor Center

Online Activities Available

Family Programs and Events

Track Trail

Passport Stamps

Civil War Defenses of Washington

✓

✓

Cultural Tourism DC Heritage Trails

✓

Frederick Douglas National Historic Site

✓

✓

✓

Fort Dupont Park

✓

✓

✓

Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens

✓

✓

✓

✓

Mary McLeod Bethune Council House

✓

✓

✓

Rock Creek Park

✓

✓

✓

✓

 

Northern Virginia

Partner Site

NPS Jr. Ranger Program

Scavenger Hunts and Other Activity Books

Interactive Nature or Visitor Center

Online Activities Available

Family Programs and Events

Track Trail

Passport Stamps

Algonkian Regional Park

✓

✓

Chatham Manor - Fredericksburg-Spotsylvania NMP

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

City of Alexandria

✓

✓

George Washington's Ferry Farm

✓

✓

✓

George Washington Memorial Parkway

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Great Falls Park

✓

✓

✓

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Mount Vernon Estate

✓

✓

✓

✓

Occoquan Regional Park

✓

Prince William Forest Park

✓

✓

✓

✓

Riverbend Park

✓

✓

✓

✓

Theodore Roosevelt Island

✓

✓

✓

Caledon State Park

✓ ✓ ✓

Arlington House

✓ ✓

Mill House Museum (Occoquan)

✓ ✓

Meadowood Special Recreation Managment Area (BLM)

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Rippon Lodge

✓ ✓ ✓

 

Northern Neck of Virginia

Partner Site

NPS Jr. Ranger Program

Scavenger Hunts and Other Activity Books

Interactive Nature or Visitor Center

Online Activities Available

Family Programs and Events

Track Trail

Passport Stamps

George Washington Birthplace National Monument

✓

✓

✓

✓

George Washington's Ferry Farm

✓

✓

✓

Gunston Hall

Leesylvania State Park

✓

✓

✓

✓

Mason Neck State Park

✓

✓

✓

✓

Stratford Hall

✓

✓

Westmoreland State Park

✓

✓

✓

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Reedville Fishermens Museum

✓ ✓

Widewater State Park

✓

 

Southern Maryland

Partner Site

NPS Jr. Ranger Program

Scavenger Hunts and Other Activity Books

Interactive Nature or Visitor Center

Online Activities Available

Family Programs and Events

Track Trail

Passport Stamps

Hard Bargain Farm - Alice Ferguson Foundation

✓

✓

✓

✓

Fort Washington Park

✓

✓

✓

Historic Saint Mary's City

✓

✓

✓

Oxon Cove Park & Oxon Hill Farm

✓

✓

✓

✓

Piscataway Park

✓

Thomas Stone House National Historic Site

✓

✓

✓

Smallwood State Park

✓

✓

Last updated: August 28, 2026

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
c/o Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
142 W. Potomac St.

Williamsport, MD 21795

Phone:

301-739-4200
This phone number will connect you to the C&O Canal National Historical Park's mainline.

Contact Us