The “Grand Old Ditch” is More Than It Used To Be: Celebrating the C&O Canal

With a history as rich as it is long, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal offers summertime fun for explorers of all ages and interests. Whether you’ve yet to check out a portion of the nearly 200 miles of Potomac River paths or have been navigating the trek for years, a summertime visit is a must!

Built back in the olden days of mule appreciation, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Historic Park is one of the capital region’s most enduring assets and combines the perfect blend of history, recreation and natural wonder.

The C&O Canal, dubbed the “Grand Old Ditch” was originally planned in 1828 to wind from Georgetown, DC to Pittsburgh, PA where it would connect with the Ohio River. But the expansion of railroads that delivered goods faster and cheaper meant that canal transport through a series of locks, aqueducts and channels became obsolete and construction of the C&O Canal was concluded in 1850 at Cumberland, MD.

The canal’s towpath – named for the dirt & stone walkway mules and workers used along the riverbank — follows along the Potomac River for 184.5 miles and accounts for nearly 20,000 acres of parkland. While other canals throughout the country were abandoned or fell into disrepair, much of the C&O Canal remain intact and a walk along its famed towpath today brings many delightful sights and sounds.

If you wander close to the Georgetown waterfront you’ll see vestiges of the canal between grand buildings and picture-perfect homes, making for beautiful photo-ops. Visitors can start their historic C&O journey at Zero Mile Marker via Thompson’s Boat House and stop at any of the seven National Park Service centers along the way. Starting in the Capital Region keeps you close to the hum of the city’s energy and venturing out to Maryland and West Virginia offers an unforgettable immersive experience.

Here are just a few ways to access the C&O Canal’s charms this summer.

For Fitness: Whether you are a walker, runner, hiker or boater, there is no shortage of ways to get your fitness app to hit those numbers.

Walking the towpath is the best way to settle into the beauty of the canal and there are no shortage of nature paths and hiking trails to step off and explore, including links to other major hiking trails like the Capital Crescent Trail, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and the Appalachian Trail. Much of the towpath is graded, allowing for accessibility to those with wheelchairs, strollers or other mobility assistance. Pets and service animals are permitted throughout the park with proper supervision and leashing.

Thompson’s Boat House and Fletcher’s Boathouse in Georgetown offer rentals for canoes, kayaks and stand up paddleboards (SUPs) for general watercraft use and sculls for more advance boaters. Watch for special events like 4th of July Paddles to really enjoy water festivities.

For those who want others to do the paddling for them, there are boat rides available from the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center or any number of private boating companies ready to sail you away.

Bikers have many opportunities to plot their own hop-on, hop-off adventures through many access points and more adventurous cyclists can extend their tour and continue on to Pittsburgh via the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) bike trail. For a multi-day trip plan an overnight stop at one of many NPS campsites.

Rockclimbing and rockscrambling is permitted at designated spots throughout the C&O parkland, with the most popular climb being at Carderock.

For Fun: The National Parks Service has an events calendar filled with fun for all ages.

Meet the Mules at Great Falls Tavern Visitors Center and learn why these creatures were the “engines” of the canal, pulling boats along the towpath for nearly a century.

Park Rangers Programs allow visitors of all ages to learn about how the canal worked and conduct tours of lockhouses.

From Great Falls to the Paw Paw Tunnel to the Antietam National Battlefield, there are so many historic and recreation spots along the canal to spend an hour or a full day.

For Flora & Fauna: The C&O Canal is one of the most bio-diverse parks within the National Park system and it’s never more abundant that during summer. Take a wander and watch it unfold before you or go with a plan to spot as many species as you can find with this nature checklist.

The C&O Canal Association has a handy list of some of the more than 1,500 plants to scout along the towpath.

Bird is the WORD! With more than 120 species spotted regularly along the trails, even novice birders have lots of opportunities to spot recognizable species like the Bald Eagle, Downy Woodpecker and the radiant Indigo Bunting and so many others.

Fish are abundant along the C&O, including smallmouth and largemouth bass, bluegill sunfish, pumpkinseed, rock bass, black and white crappies, many different catfish and American eels, among scores of others.

However you choose to chart your Chesapeake and Ohio Canal visit, you’ll have no shortage of opportunities to enjoy this sprawling and historic walk along the riverbank. Let us know about your favorite C&O stops by posting recommendations on our Instagram and Facebook!