You can now create your own itineraries to guide your C&O Canal exploration, or you can copy one of ours! Learn more about Itineraries.
Cumberland is a beautiful town nestled in one of the few natural passable cuts in the Allegheny Mountains of Western Maryland. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Learn more.
Cumberland is a beautiful town nestled in one of the few natural passable cuts in the Allegheny Mountains of Western Maryland. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In its early days it grew to become a transportation hub and a center for the railroad and timber industries. Cumberland was the starting point of the first National Road (now Route 40) and the terminus of the C&O Canal. Today it is a meeting point for the C&O Canal National Historical Park and the Great Alleghany Passage, which together form a continuous trail that runs from Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, D.C. The town is also home to the Western Maryland Scenic Railway.
In the 19th century, Cumberland was known as the “Gateway to the West”. The Potomac River’s cut through the mountains made the area one of the easiest westward passages. It was here that the C&O Canal, the B&O Railroad, and the National Road formed a transportation triad that helped the city achieve the status of the second largest city in the state and afforded it great prosperity and growth. In the late 1900s, the national economy was struggling, and many of the industries that had moved into the area in the preceding years (glass manufacturing, brewing, tires, steel) closed their doors. City leaders began to focus on tourism, and many small firms helped lead the way to new growth. Today a revitalized downtown and the Canal Place Heritage Area combine to provide an attractive center for services and tourism destinations for travelers arriving by highways or trails.
Download brochure: C&O Canal Trail to History: Hancock, Paw Paw, Oldtown, Cumberland
We know that to preserve something, you need to experience it, so we are proud to provide support to the C&O National Historical Park as their official philanthropic partner.
Please visit the National Park Service website for the following information:
For more information and nearby places to stay or grab a bite to eat, please visit our local tourism partners:
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C&O Canal Explorer!
There has been a lapse in appropriations, and a shutdown of the federal government is currently in effect. Much of the C&O Canal National Historical Park remains open to the public, however, the National Park Service is not able to operate as normal. Visitor services, including park visitor centers and other NPS-staffed facilities, will not be available. Inquiries to the National Park Service will not be received or responded to until the shutdown ends.
The C&O Canal Trust’s staff are currently working remotely. Scheduled Trust events and Canal Quarters reservations will continue as scheduled. While a federal government shutdown is in effect, visitors should not expect services typically provided by the National Park Service to be available. All visitors are urged to practice safety in the park and plan ahead. Be a good park steward by recreating responsibly and practicing Leave No Trace principles, respecting cultural and natural resources.
Information regarding the Department of Interior’s Operations in the Absence of Appropriations can be found here: https://www.doi.gov/shutdown.
When federal funding is restored, we look forward to continuing to work with our park partner to ensure the C&O Canal remains beautiful, safe, and welcoming for visitors today and for future generations. Love the Park? Help the Trust! Consider making a donation. Your support directly helps fund beautification, conservation, education, and preservation initiatives in the park.