A linear park preserving 19th‑century canal infrastructure and towpath along the Potomac, offering historical exhibits and recreational trails.
★5.0
General Information
Hours:
Park and towpath open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Visitor centers generally operate W‑Sun, approx. 9:30 am–4:30 pm or 10 am–4 pm depending on location.
Towpath accessible 365 days a year.
Fees:
Great Falls area (entrance required): Private vehicle $20; Motorcycle $15; Per person (on foot/bike) $10.
Annual pass: $35.
Remainder of park free to access.
Pet Policy:
Pets are allowed (max 6 ft), waste must be bagged and carried out; prohibited on Billy Goat Trail A, boardwalk to Great Falls, and inside park buildings.
Seasons:
All year (optimal visits in spring for wildflowers, summer for boating, and autumn for foliage).
Leave Washington, D.C. via Canal Road NW from Georgetown and follow it west until you reach the park entrance near Great Falls along the C&O towpath.
Overview
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park follows the Potomac River for 184.5 miles along a canal built from 1828 to 1850 to carry coal and goods, in use until 1924. The nearly level towpath is popular for hiking, biking, and running, with locks, aqueducts, lockhouses, and seven visitor centers, and it draws more than four million visitors a year. At Great Falls Tavern, ranger-led mule-drawn boat rides re-enact canal travel, and the Georgetown end is the easiest access from D.C.
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