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Lock 70

Lock 70 is in good condition, re-built after a fire in 1906 that destroyed a bridge over the Canal. Lockhouse 70 stands nearby, a two-story white frame lockhouse in the […]

Lock 69

Three locks exist in a half-mile stretch in Oldtown. Locks 69-71 are the last three composite locks on the Canal. Lock 69, also known as “Twigg’s Lock” is the first. The […]

Potomac Forks Campsite Hand Pump

Please Note: Potable water may not be available at each campsite. Water is treated with iodine. Please plan to have water purification tablets with you. Water is turned off from […]

Potomac Forks Campsite

Please visit the C&O Canal National Historical Park’s website for detailed camping information, or you can call 301-739-4200 with any questions. Site reservations can be made via the Recreation.gov website.

Lock 68

Lock 68 is just above the path down to Potomac Forks, the point in the river where the North and South branches of the Potomac join for the journey to […]

Potomac Fork

The North branch of the Potomac meets the South branch here at Potomac Forks. The Canal follows the North branch but both were part of the survey that divided land […]

Town Creek Aqueduct

Town Creek Aqueduct is a single-span aqueduct. Construction began in 1837 and was abandoned in 1838 when the contractor quit during the Canal company’s financial crisis. It was completed during […]

Town Creek Campsite Hand Pump

Please Note: Potable water may not be available at each campsite. Water is treated with iodine. Please plan to have water purification tablets with you. Water is turned off from […]

Town Creek Parking

Small lot off Oldtown Road SE, near Lock 67 and Town Creek Aqueduct.

Town Creek Campsite

The Canal takes anything but a direct route as it bends around Sideling Hill, Town Hill and Green Ridge as it makes its way toward Cumberland.  The towpath finally leaves […]

Lock 67

For the past 17 miles, the C&O Canal and the Potomac River has acted as the southern boundary of the sprawling Green Ridge State Forest, Maryland’s second largest forest preserve. […]

Purslane Run Campsite Hand Pump

Please Note: Potable water may not be available at each campsite. Water is treated with iodine. Please plan to have water purification tablets with you. Water is turned off from […]

Purslane Run Campsite

The Purslane Run Campsite is a half mile upstream from where the Western Maryland Railroad crosses back over the Potomac into Maryland. It is named for a stream another half […]

Superintendent’s House

About a half mile from the south (upstream) entrance to the Paw Paw Tunnel, adjacent to the tunnel parking area, is a frame house that once belonged to the superintendent […]

Paw Paw Parking

Small lot off Oldtown Road SE, near Paw Paw Tunnel and Paw Paw Campsite.

Paw Paw Tunnel Hand Pump

Please Note: Potable water may not be available at each campsite. Water is treated with iodine. Please plan to have water purification tablets with you. Water is turned off from […]

Paw Paw Campsite

Please Note: Potable water may not be available at each campsite. Water is treated with iodine. Please plan to have water purification tablets with you. Water is turned off from […]

Paw Paw Tunnel

It took 12 years and nearly all of the Canal company’s funds to complete the Paw Paw Tunnel. The tunnel was built to save five miles of construction by cutting […]

Tunnel Hill Trail

As an “overland” alternative to walking a half mile through the Paw Paw Tunnel, the Tunnel Hill Trail offers a walk through history and outstanding views of the Potomac River […]

Lock 66

This is the last of three closely spaced composite locks (beginning with Lock 63) that lift the Canal in its approach to the Paw Paw Tunnel.  Plans were to build […]

Lock 65: The Missing Lock

Have you heard of the “missing lock?” The truth about the missing lock is that it was never truly missing in the first place. The truth is it was never […]

Lock 62

Like several locks in this section of the Canal, concrete replaces several sections. The remains of the lockhouse are also nearby. The free overnight campsite provides a portable toilet, picnic […]

Sorrel Ridge Campground Hand Pump

Please Note: Potable water may not be available at each campsite. Water is treated with iodine. Please plan to have water purification tablets with you. Water is turned off from […]

Sorrel Ridge Campground

Like several locks in this section of the Canal, concrete replaces several sections. The remains of the lockhouse are also nearby. The free overnight campsite provides a portable toilet, picnic […]

Lock 61

Concrete covers most of this lock, and it has been dammed up with stone on one end. The contractor quarried the composite stone from nearby Twigg Hollow and brought it […]

Stickpile Hill Campsite Hand Pump

Please Note: Potable water may not be available at each campsite. Water is treated with iodine. Please plan to have water purification tablets with you. Water is turned off from […]

Stickpile Hill Campsite

Stickpile Hill is another ridge that forces the Potomac River in its looping pattern along the southern edge of Green Ridge Forest State Forest. It is said that the ridge […]

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