C & O Canal

Visitors walking along the canal towpath next to the Potomac River.
Visitors walking along the canal towpath next to the Potomac River.

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Exploring the C & O Canal

C & O Canal Towpath

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park is a 184.5-mile linear park that follows the C&O Canal from Cumberland, Maryland to Washington, D.C. The C&O Canal began as a passage West, allowing communities along the Potomac River to market coal, lumber, and agricultural products. Today the canal endures as a pathway for discovering historical, natural, and recreational treasures. All 184.5-miles of the canal towpath are a part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. The towpath is dense with historical st\ructures, waterfalls, and breathtaking views of the Potomac River. For more information about the C&O Canal National Historic Park, please visit Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).

Last updated: April 6, 2023

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
c/o Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
142 W. Potomac St.

Williamsport, MD 21795

Phone:

301-739-4200
This phone will reach the main line for the C&O Canal National Historical Park.

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