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McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area

Hikers, naturalists, bird-watchers, and hunters can all enjoy the 300 acres of preserved woods, fields, and wetlands that is the McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area. McKee-Beshers is known for its deliberately […]

Horsepen Branch 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 […]

Horsepen Branch Campsite

The Horse Pen Branch campsite is a hiker/biker campsite not accessible by car. Amenities include a chemical toilet, water, picnic table, and grill. Please Note: Potable water may not be […]

Seneca Creek

Once known as “Sinegar Creek,” Seneca Creek was a valuable resource for those who settled in the Washington area. In a time when the power of water drove grist mills, […]

Seneca Stone Cutting Mill

Here’s the wonderful thing about Seneca Red Sandstone: Beyond its rich red color, fine grain and durability, this sandstone also possesses what workers called “quarry sap,” which actually made it […]

Lock 24 “Rileys” & Seneca Aqueduct

The C&O Canal had 11 aqueducts and 74 lift locks… but one was both a lift lock and an aqueduct! This engineering marvel is located at mile 22.7, at the […]

Rowser’s Ford

Wherever you find a strategic location to cross the Potomac River, history always seems to follow. Rowser’s Ford, near Lock 24, is no exception. On the evening of June 27, […]

Lock 23 (Violettes Lock) & Dam No. 2

Named for Alfred Violet (or Violette), who was the last locktender to work this lock, Violettes Lock is a double lock made of the red sandstone distinctive of the Seneca quarry. […]

Blockhouse Point

The fort at Blockhouse Point was one of three earth-and-wood structures built in the area to protect the Potomac fords and C&O Canal from Confederate raiders. Built in the winter […]

Dierssen Waterfowl Sanctuary

If you’re looking for a quiet place to see a wide variety of waterfowl and other wildlife, grab your binoculars and walk along the pond at Dierrson Waterfowl Sanctuary. Donated […]

Lock 22 Parking – Pennyfield

Small lot. Turn off River Road onto Pennyfield Lock Rd. Near Lock 22 and Lockhouse 22, which is available for overnight stays at part of the Canal Quarters program.

Lockhouse 22: Canal Quarters

Lockhouse 22 is part of the Canal Quarters program and is available for overnight stays! You and up to 7 friends can spend up to three nights here, experiencing life on […]

Lock 22 “Pennyfield”

Located at mile 19.63 on the C&O Canal, Pennyfield Lockhouse at lock number 22 is a quiet place of escape for those seeking from the hectic pace of life in […]

Watkins Island

At this point along the towpath, you’ll find views of Watkins Island and other islands comprising 402 acres. Part of the Islands of the Potomac Wildlife Management Area, this land […]

Montgomery County Pumping Station

The Montgomery County Pumping Station houses the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) Potomac River Filtration Plant, which was built in 1971 by the WSSC. Today, the plant processes an average […]

Lock 21 “Swains” Parking Lot

Small lot. Turn off River Road onto Swains Lock Rd. Near Swains Lockhouse 21, Lock 21, Swains campsite, restrooms, and picnic tables. Swains Lockhouse has been rehabilitated and is now part of the […]

Lock 21 “Swains” Campground

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 […]

Lock 21 (Swains Lock)

The history of Lock 21 and the Swain Family will forever be intertwined. Swain Family members can be traced back to the original construction of the Canal, and their tradition […]

Charles F. Mercer Canal Boat

Once you’ve seen the Canal and learned about the lifestyle of Canal boat families, the next thing you need to experience is a Canal boat ride. The National Park Service […]

Washington Aqueduct

Every day, 158 million gallons of the Potomac River detours into the Washington Aqueduct system and serves the many water needs of the nation’s capital. George Washington devised the plan […]

Gold Mine Trail

During the Civil War, a Union soldier was stationed along the Maryland side of the Potomac River near Great Falls. While cleaning up in a creek, he noticed a glint […]

Mather Gorge

Although diverse in their resources and stories, national parks protect the American legacy. The parks are the legacy of Stephen Tyng Mather. Mather fought hard for the protection of important […]

Great Falls Snack Bar

Hungry visitors are encouraged to grab something to eat at the Great Falls Snack Bar located in the Visitor Center courtyard at Great Falls Park. Vending machines are set up […]

Great Falls Overlook

For an outstanding view of the Potomac River as it roars through Mather Gorge, take a short, easy, quarter-mile footpath across bridges to Olmsted Island and the Great Falls Overlook. […]

Great Falls Parking

Large lot near Historic Great Falls Tavern, Great Falls Overlook, restrooms, picnic tables, and snack bar, with access to towpath. Entry fees apply.

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