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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 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 […]

Town Creek Parking

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

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 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 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 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

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 […]

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 […]

Devils Alley 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 […]

Devils Alley Campsite

Bordering Green Ridge State Forest to the north, Devil’s Alley Campsite is one of the more remote hiker/biker campsites along the towpath. It is named after a hollow located upstream […]

Green Ridge State Forest

Directly adjacent to the canal for nearly 18 miles is Green Ridge State Forest. At 47,560 acres, Green Ridge is the largest contiguous block of public land in Maryland – […]

Lock 60

Lock 60 is one of the locks that was extended on the lower end in order to accommodate two boats. Today the concrete sides of this lock are covered with […]

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