Journey from Hancock Along the C&O Canal Towpath and W. MD Rail-Trail
Europeans began arriving in the Hancock area as early as the 1730s. When the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal (C&O) came a century later, followed by a toll road on the National Road, followed by the railroads, Hancock boomed between the early 19th and early 20th centuries..
During the Civil War, troops from both sides frequently crossed the river and the C&O Canal. Soldiers traded volleys across the water and skirmished in and near Hancock. Confederates attacked canal boats and trains, destroyed locks, and once tried to take Hancock during a brief winter battle.
From town, walk or bike along the C&O Canal Towpath to explore important sites associated with the Canal and the war. Hancock is also the midway point for the Western Maryland Rail-Trail, and together the two routes offer the perfect round-trip exploration.
Check Hancock’s website for details on available services and events scheduled throughout the year. Also, explore other itineraries for travel in Hancock.
Each of the two options below takes you about 11 miles east or west from Hancock along the Towpath, with return via the Western Maryland Rail-Trail. Allow most of the day to explore in either direction.
East on the C&O, from Hancock to Fort Frederick
Miles represent Towpath mileage.
Mile 124.1 Hancock
Park in the lot between Williams Street and Taney Street. One block west, C&O Bicycles will have everything you need for a bike journey, including rentals and repairs. You can also rent a bed in a bunkhouse here and get a hot shower.
Alternatively, park at the south end of Church Street along the Western Maryland Rail-Trail. From here, look up the hill toward St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church. There on Orrick’s Hill, and from Main Street, Union troops defended the town in the Battle of Hancock on January 5–6, 1862. During the brief skirmish, Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s troops advanced on Hancock in an effort to take control of the Potomac River and the Canal. The battle was the first of Jackson’s Romney Campaign.
The day before the shelling began, Jackson sent his cavalry commander Turner Ashby under a truce flag to try to persuade Gen. F.W. Lander to surrender the town. Lander refused. Only an estimated 75 to 100 shots were fired, the cold, wintry weather being a major factor. The Union maintained control of the town but St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church was badly damaged, as was the Presbyterian Church on E. Main Street.
Cross the bridge to reach the towpath and head east (left).
Mile 123 Tonoloway Creek Aqueduct
The aqueduct, built between 1835 and 1839, is one of 11 such water-filled bridges along the Canal. Aqueducts carried boats over major creeks that emptied into the Potomac, and some have been rebuilt; Tonoloway, however, isn’t one of them. Stop midway along the aqueduct for a scenic view of the river.
Mile 122.8–6 Bowles House Visitor Center (Locks 51–52)
Just beyond the aqueduct you’ll see the remains of Locks 51 and 52 as well as the Bowles House, now one of the C&O’s historical visitor centers. The foundations of an old lockhouse are also visible near Lock 51.
The stunning Bowles House was originally a one-story home built around 1785 by William Yates. The Yates family lived in the house when the C&O Canal was being built along this stretch in 1839. At least two other families owned the house, and it was occupied until the 1980s. Though the house has seen better days, it remains one of the C&O’s treasures. Two rooms on the ground floor showcase early photographs and the history of both the house and canal. Ask the ranger for a short tour (Memorial Day weekend–October, 9 am–4:30 pm, Fri–Tues.).
Mile 120.6 Little Pool
Look for wildlife in and around this section of ancient river channel.
Mile 118.9 Millstone
During the Civil War, Union troops were stationed in Millstone to protect the canal.
Mile 116.1 Licking Creek Aqueduct
In 1839, the year the canal arrived in Hancock, this single-arched aqueduct was first filled with water. It took two years to build.
Mile 113.8 Big Pool
Big Pool, another section of ancient river channel, was a natural depression when the C&O was built. The C&O Canal Company filled it with water and used it for a turning basin, where—as the name implies—canawlers turned their boats around. You can launch a boat on this small lake from a ramp at Fort Frederick. Watch for wildlife in and around the water.
Mile 112.5 Fort Frederick
The 20-sided wall of Fort Frederick, a National Historic Landmark, was built in the 1750s during the French and Indian War to protect Maryland’s western frontier from attack. Inside the fort today are two reconstructed barracks with reproductions of period artifacts and a museum depicting area history. You’ll also find a visitor center, campground, and nature trails. Living history programs are available throughout the summer.
During the Civil War, Union troops were stationed here to protect the Canal and the B&O Railroad from Confederates.
From the Towpath, cross the bridge and the railroad tracks (use caution) to access the fort. Bike racks are available, as well as snacks and drinks. Hours change seasonally; visit Fort Frederick State Park online for more information.
Return Via the WMDRT
The Cumberland Extension of the Western Maryland Railway arrived in Hancock in December 1904 and was both a passenger and freight line. Today, roughly 23 miles of the abandoned corridor—the Western Maryland Rail-Trail (WMDRT)—are paved for non-motorized recreation. The eastern end of the WMDRT begins just west of Fort Frederick.
You can access the trail from the fort by either heading back along the C&O Canal towpath (signs will guide you to the WMDRT). If you want to take the road, from the entrance of Fort Frederick, turn left on MD 56 (Big Pool Rd.) and go about 1 mile. Follows signs to the parking lot on the left.
At mile 2.7 on the WMDRT you’ll find Park Head Cemetery, with some very old headstones in a tiny burial ground. The route to Hancock follows a wooded corridor, which in places parallels Interstate 70 very closely. If you prefer to continue along the C&O Canal towpath instead, there are a few places were you can take a short trail to the towpath; look for the signs.
East on the C&O, from Hancock to Lock 56
Miles represent towpath mileage.
Mile 124.1 Hancock
Mile 127.2 Devils Eyebrow
This unique geological formation is an exposed rock strata, which was thrust upward millions of years ago to form an anticline. The soft calcium soils below the anticline have eroded, forming a shallow cave.
Mile 127.5 Round Top Cement Works
The ruins of the old cement works are striking against the cliff face. You can see the remains of eight kilns once used to burn lime to ash. Mill foundations are, including a smoke stack, are also visible. During the Civil War, the cement works were Hancock’s largest employer, providing jobs for 100 people. The mill suffered from numerous fires until a final blaze in 1903 shuttered the doors for good. The discovery of Portland cement, stronger and slower setting, helped hasten the plant’s demise.
The area on the cliff above is part of Round Top Wildlife Management Area, home to a collection of rare plants and animals that thrive in this unique geologically significant part of the state.
Mile 129.7 Sir Johns Run
Across the Potomac River here Brig. Gen. John Imboden fought with Union troops protecting the B&O Railroad bridge.
Mile 133.6 Cacapon Junction
Across the river is a stone-arch bridge built for the B&O Railroad. Stonewall Jackson’s troops burned the original during their attack on Hancock in 1862.
Mile 134.2 Dam 6 & Lock 55
You can see remnants of the earthen dam jutting into the river. Wooden cribbing once held the dam together. Confederates attacked both the dam and locks here in attempts to sabotage Union supply lines along the canal. Great Cacapon, WV, across the river, was also fired on by Confederate troops stationed on Cacapon Mountain.
Return Via the WMDRT
From Lock 55, cross over to the Western Maryland Rail-Trail. you can continue west another 2.5 miles to the western terminus of the WMDRT at Pearre (PARE-ree) Station. Nearby is the historical Woodmont Lodge (11761 Woodmont Road). The property once served a private premier rod and gun club but is now operated by Fort Frederick State Park and Maryland’s Wildlife & Heritage Service. The 1930s stone lodge is periodically open to visitors and is worth a look. For more information, contact Fort Frederick State Park at (301) 842-2155.
Point of Rocks & the Civil War Along the C&O Canal
Photo provided by Judy Olsen Photography
Point of Rocks (POR) has been an important crossroads of travel since American Indians established routes through the region. Though quieter these days, the area was bustling with commerce between the 1830s and 1930s. During the Civil War, POR found itself in the middle of a battleground, and the village today is a staging point to explore this history.
You can park at the commuter train station (3800 Clay Street) or at the National Park Service parking area by the Potomac River off of Commerce Street. Before heading out on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath, snap some photos of the elaborate train station (MARC Train parking lot on Clay Street), built in 1875 by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O)–the charming Victorian station is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Check the website for details on available services and POR events scheduled throughout the year.
Tuesdays through Sundays, you can stop by Rocky Point Creamery (4323 Tuscarora Rd.) for gourmet ice cream and frozen yogurt.
During the Civil War, troops from both sides frequently crossed the River and the Towpath. Troops traded volleys across the water, skirmished in and near POR, and Confederates attacked canal boats and trains, destroyed locks, and raided supply stores.
Both the C&O Canal Company and the B&O Railroad reached Point of Rocks by 1832. From POR, head east or west along the Towpath to explore important sites associated with the railroad and canal.
West on the C&O from POR
Miles represent Towpath mileage.
Mile 48.2 Point of Rocks
Rebels burned the bridge across the Potomac here in 1862 to impede the Federals from entering Virginia.
Just west of the US Highway 15 underpass is Point of Rocks tunnel, first blasted in 1868. Both the C&O and B&O fought in court for primary access to this “point of rocks.” The C&O won but the two companies compromised, sharing the narrow passage from here to Harpers Ferry.
In 1902 the tunnel was enlarged, and brick facing on both entrances added an artistic touch.
Mile 48.9 Lockhouse 28
Experience what life might have been like for keepers of the canal locks by spending the night in restored Lockhouse. Lockhouse 28 is part of the Canal Quarters program, and each lockhouse is refurnished to represent different eras during the days of the C&O Canal. Built in 1837, Lockhouse 28 represents the canal’s early days. There’s no electricity, and you’ll have to fetch water from the nearby campsite (mile 50.3).
In 1862 during the Antietam Campaign, the bridge across Lock 28 was destroyed. Confederate Colonel John S. Mosby and his Rangers also crossed the River here on July 4, 1864, on one of their many “Calico Raids,” during which Rebels raided stores and looted canal boats.
Mile 50.9 Lockhouse 29 (Lander)
In June 1863 Confederates attacked a train near the lockhouse, following it to Point of Rocks, where they captured the engineer and 15 passengers before burning the train.
Lockhouse 29 is now a living history museum from the 1920s time period. You can see the inside on Saturdays during summer (11 am–2 pm). Contact the Lander Community Association at Catoctinkey@gmail.com.
Mile 51.5 Catoctin Aqueduct
The stunning aqueduct is one of 11 such bridges along the C&O canal that were once filled with water. The aqueducts carried boats over major creeks that emptied into the Potomac. Catoctin was rebuilt in 2011 using 459 of the original stones. The structure was known as the “crooked aqueduct” because boats had to make a sharp turn to enter it. Two arches collapsed in 1973, and the stones were buried until the aqueduct could be restored. Take the short trail down to the creek to a viewing area, where you can admire the artistry of the reconstruction. Interpretive signs describe the process.
Mile 55 Brunswick
Explore the town of Brunswick, rich in railroad history, before heading back to Point of Rocks.
East on the C&O from POR
Miles represent towpath mileage.
Mile 48.2 Point of Rocks
Near the boat launch in POR you’ll see the western tip of Heater’s Island, a tear-drop-shaped land mass that is now a state wildlife management area. Union pickets were stationed here and on other nearby islands during the Civil War. Early Native Americans had camps here, and the island was used as a river crossing point.
Mile 44.6 Nolands Ferry
A ferry began running here in 1742, and lore has it that Thomas Jefferson crossed here on May 10, 1776, on his way from Charlottesville, VA, to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia to help draft the Constitution.
In September 1862, Confederate General A.P. Hill’s troops crossed during the Antietam Campaign. Two years later, Mosby’s Raiders tried to cross, but the 8th Illinois Cavalry held them back.
Mile 43 Nolands Ferry Archaeological Site
Artifacts unearthed in the 1970s indicate the site was nearly continuously occupied from 8500 BC to AD 1800. Some of the finds include a Late Woodland period village with trash pits and burial areas ringing an open plaza. Today the archaeological components remain buried but you will find parking, a boat ramp, restrooms, and picnicking at Nolands Ferry.
Boaters may find traces of some of the best preserved fish weirs in the lower Potomac. Native Americans and colonists built the V-shaped weirs from rock to channel fish into sluices or pens, where they could be caught in net baskets, speared, or caught with hook and line.
Mile 42.6 Indian Flats Campground
Free; first come first served. Water pump in summer, fire rings, toilets, picnic tables.
Mile 42.2 Monocacy Aqueduct
Monocacy is the canal’s longest aqueduct—516 feet. The seven-arch structure was built mostly from stone quarried at nearby Sugarloaf Mountain. The stone walls by the parking lot are the remains of an old flour mill. There’s a boat ramp and picnicking.
During the 1862 Antietam Campaign, lock tender Thomas Walker persuaded Confederate General Hill from blowing up the Monocacy Aqueduct. Walker recommended that Hill drain the canal as a substitute to destroying the aqueduct by boring through the towpath bank. Hill chose instead to damaged Lock 27, and Walker was fired even though he saved surely one of the canal’s most impressive aqueducts. With support from locals, however, Walker got his job back.
Mile 41.5 Lock 27 at Spinks Ferry
After blowing a hole in the lock, General Hill burnt some canal boats then headed to Frederick to join Stonewall Jackson’s troops.
Turn around and head back to Point of Rocks.
Abner Cloud’s Georgetown
This is a fine little urban jaunt along the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., following the C&O Canal from mile 3.1 to mile 0.5. There are terrific views of the Potomac River and the Rosslyn, Va., skyline. And the canal in Georgetown was once its Main Street, where buildings were oriented to take advantage of the waterway.
Coming into Georgetown from the west, you see how the canal once connected the countryside to the city. Above Georgetown, today’s canal traffic consists of canoes and kayaks. While out for a walk, you might be passed by a mule towing a boatful of tourists out of Georgetown. Plan to have lunch in Georgetown after an easy walk of about 5 miles roundtrip—which you can cut short to suit your desires.
The Walk
Information
Trailhead parking: There is parking at Fletcher’s Boathouse and at parking meters in Georgetown. If you’re coming into the city by car, from I-495 Beltway, take the exit for Clara Barton Parkway west toward Carderock. Take the first right exit at Carderock Recreation Area and Naval Surface Warfare Center. Turn left at top of the ramp and cross over Clara Barton Parkway. Turn left again and reenter Clara Barton Parkway eastbound. Continue east under the Beltway to the end of the parkway at Canal Road. Continue on Canal Road to Fletcher’s.
Options: You can walk in the reverse direction by starting in Georgetown, reachable by public transportaiom.
Start. Abner Cloud House, Fletcher’s Boathouse. Fletcher’s Boathouse has been operating since the 1850s. There is a canoe and boat rental, refreshment stand and bait shop, picnic area and a lot of friendly old-fashioned charm. It was operated by the Fletcher family for generations, and since 2004 has been managed by a park concessionaire. Fletcher’s is still the place where many city kids get their first fishing experience.
Across the towpath from Fletcher’s is the Abner Cloud House. It is the oldest structure on the canal, built in the early 1800s and predating the C&O project by more than two decades. Cloud’s house was a residence and storeroom for the grains and he shipped to Georgetown.
The paved trail running parallel to the canal and visible from time to time is the Capital Crescent Trail, built on the former bed of a B&O line.
0.9, Incline Plane site. This ranks among the canal’s more peculiar stories. During the go-go years of the canal, there were huge traffic jams clogging the final four locks and the terminus at Rock Creek. Traffic was especially bad when canal boats docked at Georgetown docks. The incline plane was built to get Potomac-bound boats around Georgetown without having to crawl through traffic—the same problem facing motorists today. The incline was a giant wooden ramp. At canal level, a 112-foot caisson was filled with water, allowing the boat to enter. Then, using a system of pulleys, the canal boat floated in the caisson like a toy boat in a giant bathtub. It was then lowered to the river. Despite numerous problems and accidents, the plane sped up traffic and remained in use until it was destroyed by flood in 1889.
2.1, Key Bridge, Alexandria Aqueduct. Passing under the Key Bridge, there is a pocket park and exhibit on the Alexandria Aqueduct—another curious C&O story. Not to be left out of the massive public works project that was the C&O, Virginia built an aqueduct over the river. This connected to another canal on the Virginia side that carried canal boats to the port at Alexandria. To country folks visiting the city in the canal era, seeing boats sledding down the incline plane or floating high above the Potomac was the 19th century version of a George Jetson universe.
2.2, the 34th Street footbridge.
2.6, C&O Canal Visitor Center.
C&O Canal National Historical Park
C&O Canal Trust
Cultural Tourism D.C.
Snavely Ford Trail, Antietam National Battlefield
Here’s a pleasant circuit walk along the surprisingly wild Antietam Creek less than a mile from the C&O Canal. The hike meanders along one of three fronts in the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest day of the Civil War. Wild turkey, beaver, barred owls, and other wildlife inhabit the stream valley. Cows can often be seen grazing on the other side of the creek. The lovely bucolic countryside belies the carnage that took place along the creek on September 17, 1862.
The Battle of Antietam (also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg) took place in three phases over 12 square miles. Down by the creek, Union General Burnside tried to move his army over the bridge and into Sharpsburg. The streamside trail preserves the landscape that saw the deaths of thousands. Now it is alive with towering oaks and maples, blackberries on the edges, and the scent of paw paws by the bank.
From the parking area, descend the walk to Burnside Bridge and turn right onto the narrow footpath next to the creek. Pass a small dam that creates enough of a waterfall to give paddlers a thrill. Ancient beech line the creek and uplands, while the bottomland is still thick with the lower story of second-generation forest. The pathway leading right, at 0.5 mile, ascends steeply to Georgians Overlook; from there southern troops trained their rifles on federal troops approaching the bridge.
The river bends sharply west at about 1 mile. The hillside to the right is home to wild turkey, barred owls, and deer. In spring, there are Dutchman’s britches flapping in the breeze; in fall, the paw paws give the forest a banana smell.
At 1.4 miles, reach Snavely Ford, the crossing point for several divisions of Union soldiers on a flanking maneuver. They made their way up the hill toward Sharpsburg here; the road they traveled is still visible to the left beginning at about 1.6 miles. Uphill, the forest cover changes to thick red cedar. On early evening hikes, you may see several deer leaving the cedar cover to follow the trail down to the creek.
At the top of the hill, at 2 miles, a dirt road to the right leads to an old homestead. To the left, the parking area is 0.5 mile down a dirt cart path.
For more information: Antietam National Battlefield.
Voices of Freedom: Frederick Douglass and W.E.B. DuBois
Through this a one- or two-day journey through Potomac Heritage, you experience the breadth of the American ideal of freedom through voices and images. You’ll also relax on a short walk to a stunning (and still secret) overlook of the Shenandoah River, and pause to ponder it all on a visit a winery or two. Frederick Douglass is best known as a formerly enslaved man who became the orator-in-chief for emancipation. W.E.B. DuBois is remembered as the political organizer who set in motion the creation of the NAACP. Often forgotten today is that both were champions for the Civil Rights and equality of all people—including Irish immigrants who built the C&O Canal and American women battling for the right to vote.
This tour begins in Washington, D.C., then heads west to Harpers Ferry, W.Va., followed by the Civil Rights Walking Tour in the Potomac town of Leesburg, Va.
Stop 1, Cedar Hill, Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, 1411 W Street SE, Washington, D.C. Douglass was born on a plantation on the Eastern Shore of Maryland around 1818. He escaped to New York in 1838 disguised as a sailor, then traveled speaking about his experiences in slavery. Soon, he was one of the most famous orators in America. For nearly 60 years, he championed the cause of equal treatment under the law.
Cedar Hill today is furnished largely the way Douglass left when he died in 1895. See gifts from U.S. Presidents, paintings and photographs, and his incredible library. You can take a self-guided tour, but make time for a guided tour—you’ll never forget it. And the view of Washington from the Hill rivals the view from anywhere. The house is kid-friendly (Douglass’s grandchildren were daily visitors), but on sunny days, today’s kids love to play outside on the Hill—allowing two adults to “tag team” visits indoors.
Stop 2, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. About an hour up the Potomac via Interstate 270, then south/west on U.S. 340. After crossing the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, turn left into the Harpers Ferry NHP visitor center at the top of the hill.
Harpers Ferry brings to life America’s industrial history beginning in the early 19th century, slavery and the Civil War, and the founding of the modern Civil Rights movement.
There are six major exhibits interpreting African American history. The John Brown museum includes artifacts, storyboards and video presentations charting the history of slavery and the abolitionist movement. Also in Harpers Ferry’s lower town are Black Voices and the Storer College Niagara Movement exhibits. Black Voices is an interactive audio-visual exhibit depicting the stories of enslaved people.
The Storer College Niagara Exhibit reveals the story of the school founded for freed African Americans shortly after the Civil War. The college hosted the 1906 meeting of the Niagara Movement, founded by W.E.B. Du Bois. It was the group’s second meeting, and its first meeting on American soil. The meeting is considered the beginning of the modern Civil Rights era. Its members launched the NAACP a few years later. There are more Niagara.
Stop 3, Murphy Farm. In 1906, the Niagara delegates walked from Storer College to John Brown’s Fort, which had been dismantled and moved to the farm by the Murphy family. From the park visitor center, it’s an easy 30-minute round trip to the site. Near the site is an overlook with incredible views of the Shenandoah River.
Leaving the park visitor center, backtrack on Route 340 to the bottom of the hill. Just before the bridge over the Potomac, turn right onto Harpers Ferry Road (Route 671). In 5 miles enter the Hillsboro, Va., area. There is a vineyard on 671, and two more on Route 9, where you will turn right to continue the trip.
Continuing on Route 9, go east on Route 7 to Leesburg.
Stop 4, Leesburg’s African American Heritage Tour. Stretch your legs before dinner walking the streets of this historic town while experiencing Civil Rights history on an architectural walking tour. Pick up a brochure at the visitor center, 16 Loudoun Street, or request one by phone or email by visiting their website.
Lodging: There are B&Bs and motels in Harpers Ferry, and hotels in the Leesburg area. See www.wveasterngateway.com or www.visitloudoun.org.
Shepherdstown—Taylors Landing Loop with Turn-by-Turn Directions
Photo provided by Judy Olsen Photography
This scenic bike ride includes an eight-mile ride on the C&O Canal segment of the Potomac Heritage Trail in the Great Valley near Sheperdstown, WV, and through Sharpsburg, MD. Experience the natural beauty of the Potomac River beneath cave-dotted bluffs, and pause for a break to examine the incredible stonework of a canal lock. Then, take a road connection to Antietam National Battlefield, the Civil War site commemorating the bloodiest single day in American history. After circling the interior of the Battlefield, pass through the village of Sharpsburg for lunch and treats, with a return to the canal along Maryland Route 34. (Miller’s Sawmill Road is an option, but one misses a site marking General Robert E. Lee’s headquarters.)
Highlights include:
- A casual ride along the river beneath the canopy with a long, open views of South Mountain and the Blue Ridge
- The Battle of Antietam was one of two major battles fought north of the Potomac River. The Battlefield observation tower offers expansive views of the valley and ridgelines, and a rare chance to see the entire landscape of battle of a Civil War site. You can also find out more and take a pit stop at the Antietam Visitors Center.
- Sharpsburg has a popular ice cream shop on Potomac Street, a bakery and a tavern named in honor of a C&O Canal boat captain, as well as bed and breakfasts.
- One can ride this route starting either in Shepherdstown or Sharpsburg without driving a car to the trail head.
L
ocation: Washington County, beginning at C&O Canal mile 72.8.
Total Distance: 16.4 miles.
Trailhead Directions: Parking beneath the Rumsey Bridge (Route 34) over the Potomac; Snyders Landing and Taylors Landing; and Antietam Battlefield.
Finding the Trailhead: From Shepherdstown, WV, cross the Potomac River on the Rumsey Bridge, Route 34. On a bicycle, turn right at the Maryland side of the bridge and follow the bike/pedestrian ramp or, via automobile, turn right at the top of the hill and descend into one of two parking areas. (Reach the second parking area by turning left at the bottom of the hill on River Road, which parallels the canal, and continue less than a half mile to a parking and pedestrian bridge.) On the Maryland side of the river, you can visit Ferry Hill Place, a historic visitors center, before you begin your ride.
The Route:
7.8
Taylors Landing. Turn right on Taylors Landing Road. Where Taylors Landing Road leads left at the fork, go straight on Bowie Road. Turn right at the next fork and proceed to Mondell Road.
8.3
Turn left on Mondell Road and ascend steep hill.
9.2
Route 65. Cross road and enter battlefield; go straight and ascend.
9.8
Turn right on Smoketown Road.
10.1
Turn left toward Mumma House.
10.4
Turn left toward Bloody Land.
10.7
Observation Tower. Turn right to follow the road, then descend a steep hill. This lane leads to Route 34.
11.1
Cross Route 34 and climb park road.
11.4
Turn right and follow road as it climbs. At the top of the hill are splendid views and a long stone wall. The stone wall is makes for a sunny rest stop overlooking the battlefield.
11.9
Turn right on Harpers Ferry Road, leaving the park. Continue into the village of Sharpsburg.
12.2
Turn left on Route 34.
16.4
Turn left just before the bridge onto Canal Road and descend the trailhead parking lot.
Come and Visit Brunswick
Brunswick, Maryland is just a short drive from Washington D.C., approximately 45 miles. The town’s roots are rich in history with the establishment of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. In the 1890′s Brunswick became the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad’s major freight yard for the east-west line. Population of the town multiplied tenfold in 1896 and thrived because of the railroad. You can still take the MARC train from Washington, D.C. to Brunswick today.
When visiting Brunswick, you can stop by the Brunswick Railroad Museum to learn more about the B & O line and the way of life of the railroaders. The Brunswick Museum has exhibits about the life of railroaders from 1890 to 1940. A railroad exhibit with a model of the B&O rail line from Washington to Harper’s Ferry is open Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.
In 2005, Brunswick earned Maryland Mainstreet status. Brunswick Mainstreet sponsors many events and activities in the historic district. Brunswick also celebrates “History Days” each April, the “Great Brunswick River Race” in July, “Railroad Days” in October, and a “Victorian Christmas” on Thanksgiving weekend. In October the town hosts Railroad Days which takes place with music, festivities and train rides. Every year the annual Great Brunswick River Race offers adventure to those who want to create their own boat and race down the Potomac River. These events feature the roles of the Potomac, the canal, and the railroad in Brunswick’s development. Visit the Brunswick Mainstreet website to learn more.
Brunswick offers other fun activities including camping, biking on the C & O Canal, or just participating in some of our local events.
This small town also boasts a number of stores and restaurants to explore. One local favorite is Beans in the Belfry.
Check out our events calendar for other fun activities, we hope to see you soon in Brunswick.
Historic Shepherdstown – Just a Bridge Away from the Trail
Lock 38, a C&O Canal commercial hub in the 19th century, beckons you to cross the river and enter the oldest town in West Virginia. Founded in 1762, Shepherdstown remains a unique experience in the 21st century. The river contains the ruins of rail bridges, car bridges and a ferry. The old riverfront area, a historical commercial hub that was the aperture to the river and the towns across the river, is today a boat ramp for kayakers, canoeists, and fishermen. This was the area where James Rumsey experimented with a boat that would go upstream with a steam engine. The Rumsey Monument Park is a testament to his invention and welcomes trail visitors for a quiet picnic and a world class scenic view of the river.
From Lock 38 proceed up Canal Rd. and turn left onto MD. 34 before crossing the James Rumsey bridge into Shepherdstown, WV. Ferry Hill Plantation is on your right, a 19th century plantation home currently owned by the National Park Service.
Cross the bridge into Shepherdstown and you’ll find a town full of quaint shops and comfortable cafes. Before you continue biking, catch an organic smoothie at Mellow Moods and pop into Shepherdstown Pedal and Paddle. For runners and hikers, Two Rivers Treads has organic shoes for kids, men and women.
German Street hasn’t changed much in 250 years. Pick up a walking tour guide at the Visitors Center on the corner of German and Princess Street before proceeding down German Street to the River Road. One mile down the River Road is the famous river crossing Pack Horse Ford where Native American tribes forded the Patomack River and General Lee retreated after the battle of Antietam.
Make a right turn onto Trough Rd, a hilly country road that has seen armies and settlers for over 250 years. Trough Road crosses over Flowing Springs Rd (Rte 240) at mile 4.6 and becomes Gardners Lane. The beautiful Jefferson County country side with its scenic view turns into a narrow lane leading to Morgan Grove Park.
Turning right onto 480 at 7.3 miles takes you back into Shepherdstown to shop, eat a hearty meal or just stroll around an historic town and loop up to the Rumsey Monument for a scenic view of the Potomac River.
For more information on Shepherdstown and other towns along the canal, visit C&O Canal Towns.
South Mountain—Sharpsburg Tour
This hilly tour is a 33-mile ride through Maryland beginning and ending in historic Boonsboro at Shafer Memorial Park. This tour is from a series of tours in Washington County, encompassing hundreds of miles of paved roads. This map is one of eight loops provided to help you plan an infinite variety of bicycle trips along the best of these roads.
The journey begins in the Town of Boonsboro, MD, then heads south for a climb up South Mountain, a spur of the Blue Ridge chain, to the War Correspondents’ Arch at Gathland State Park. This park was once the mountain home of George Alfred Townsend, a Civil War journalist. Head back up the valley to the Town of Keedysville, where water is available in the park.
Then travel to Sharpsburg where you can stop at famous Nutter’s Ice Cream to savor good old fashioned ice cream. If you want to check your email before you leave, there is free WiFi available at Captain Benders, a bar on Main Street. Next travel to Antietam National Battlefield www.nps.gov/anti/index.htm , the site of the bloodiest day of the Civil War.
After leaving the battlefield, you will pass the University of Maryland Experimental Farm and the Washington County Agricultural Education Center and Rural Heritage Museum and end in Shafer Memorial Park.
If you want more than one day at Antietam, consider staying at one of the following bed and breakfasts: The Mary Hill House, Jacob Rohrbach Inn, The Antietam Guest House, or The Inn at Antietam.
For turn-by-turn directions and other itineraries throughout the region, please visit marylandmemories.org or go directly to the county’s bike map and brochure. Highlighted information on this map includes eight suggested loop tours, which are shown in color.
Whitetail—Dam 5 Tour
This 34-mile interstate journey begins in Maryland and ventures into Pennsylvania, exploring farmland, resorts before returning to Maryland and visiting a dam for the C&O Canal National Park. This tour is from a series of tours in Washington County, encompassing hundreds of miles of paved roads. This map is one of eight loops provided to help you plan an infinite variety of bicycle trips along the best of these roads.
The tour begins in Clear Spring Park just outside of Clear Spring, MD. This route then winds north into hilly Pennsylvania, passing the Whitetail Ski and Golf Resorts. The trail turns south to Maryland through some of the Cumberland Valley’s finest farmland. Next the trail will pass the Wilson Bridge Picnic Area at the longest stone arch bridge in the county. At this scenic location, you can stop at the Wilson Store, which is a typical country store and post office from a by-gone era. Next, it continues south through more farmland to Dam No. 5, one of the feeder dams for the C&O Canal that was built in 1900.
For turn-by-turn directions and other itineraries throughout the region, please visit marylandmemories.org or go directly to the county’s bike map and brochure. Highlighted information on this map includes eight suggested loop tours, which are shown in color.
Camp Harding—Fort Frederick Tour
This challenging, remote bicycle trip is perfect for those who want to get lost for an afternoon. The 30-mile journey starts at Clear Spring Park and highlights Camp Harding and Fort Frederick Parks. This tour is from a series of tours in Washington County, encompassing hundreds of miles of paved roads. This map is one of eight loops provided to help you plan an infinite variety of bicycle trips along the best of these roads.
The tour begins in Clear Spring Park just outside of Clear Spring, MD. Next, travel to Camp Harding County Park. Due to its close proximity to Washington, DC, President Harding, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone used to camp and fish here in the 1920s. Trout fishing and canoeing are still popular activities in the park today. The route then uses a portion of the paved Western Maryland Rail Trail to reach Fort Frederick State Park, which boasts the only remaining stone French & Indian War fort in the country, and is restored to that era. It features historical re-enactments on certain weekends. You will then head back through farmlands to Clear Spring Park to complete your ride.
For turn-by-turn directions and other itineraries throughout the region, please visit marylandmemories.org or go directly to the county’s bike map and brochure. Highlighted information on this map includes eight suggested loop tours, which are shown in color.
Shepherdstown and Sharpsburg: A Tour of Two Towns
Discover two historic small towns along the C&O Canal Towpath in one weekend in West Virginia and Maryland right in the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area. The Battle of Antietam, the Potomac River, the old Canal, the ferries and bridges all combine to make a journey to the Two Rivers region memorable.
Lock 38 of the C&O Canal Towpath was the trading hub of both Shepherdstown and Sharpsburg. If you are biking up the trail you can see the stone pillars of both rail and carriage bridges that connected these two cities in the 19th century. On the Maryland side, you can get a great view of the historic Ferry Hill Plantation.
Sharpsburg, MD is approached from the C&O Canal Towpath at Snyders Landing, milepost 76.65. Take the Snyders Landing road the 1.5 miles to Sharpsburg and you will quickly discover that not much has changed since this rural town was incorporated. Four B&B’s are available for the overnight traveler, as a well as a few local restaurants. Don’t miss Nutter’s Ice Cream Shoppe and the nearby Pry House Field Hospital and the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Visitors Center on MD 34 just east of town.
Just outside of Sharpsburg, on your way to the C&O Canal Towpath, check out Antietam Battlefield commemorating September 17, 1862, the single bloodiest day of the American Civil War. This site now boasts a brand new visitor center.
After Antietam, cross the James Rumsey Bridge and bridge note the monument to James Rumsey on your left. James Rumsey was a colleague of George Washington and the inventor of the first steam powered boat. Shepherdstown, founded in 1762 is the oldest incorporated town in West Virginia. Outdoor recreational enthusiasts will find Shepherdstown welcoming. German Street has shops to entice you from cycling and running supplies, to kayak rentals, fishing supplies plus delicious eats for hungry travelers.
Brief Jaunt through Maryland History
This short Civil War loop explores a portion of Washington County between Antietam National Battlefield and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Beginning at the Battlefield Visitor Center, pedal past Dunker Church on the historic Hagerstown Pike. Cross Sharpsburg Pike onto Mondell Road toward the Potomac River. After crossing under the railroad tracks, make a right to access a point on the River where Confederate troops are believed to have crossed; return to Mondell Road and follow the route past other portions of the Battlefield and into Sharpsburg, a great place to stop on the return trip.
Head west (right) on Main Street/Route 45 toward the Potomac River, stopping first at the site of General Robert E. Lee’s Headquarters. Research indicates that Lee’s retreat from Antietam followed the gentle swale to your southwest toward Pack Horse Ford on the Potomac. With the James Rumsey Bridge ahead of you, turn left onto Canal Road to access the C&O Canal Towpath. Leave the River corridor via Millers Sawmill Road but use caution, as this road is somewhat steep and narrow with limited sight lines. After the climb out of the river corridor, you return to Sharpsburg, where Nutter’s Ice Cream Parlor is a just reward. You can also grab a meal or stay overnight in Sharpsburg. A great place to stay is the historic Antietam Guest House. To return to the Visitor Center, follow Route 65.
If you want to explore more in the area, please visit http://www.marylandmemories.com, or to find out more about the C&O Canal, visit either the Brunswick or Williamsport Visitor Centers. For another Civil War site, check out General Lee’s headquarters north in Gettysburg.
Williamsport, MD
Whether you are exploring the Towpath or looking for an authentic town to discover, you will want to stop and explore Williamsport. (more…)
Explore Historic Hancock, Maryland: From Rail Town to Canal Town to Bicycling Hub
As featured on the Western Maryland Rail Trail site, this itinerary features Hancock, Maryland, which offers ample parking, dining and just about anything else recreational enthusiasts might need. (more…)
A 1920s Night On the Canal
By day, enjoy one of the most scenic stretches of the C&O Canal on a leisurely ride from Four Locks Recreation Area to Williamsport and the C&O Canal National Park Service visitor center. Spend the night in a historic lockkeeper’s house, managed through a special partnership with the C&O Canal Trust.
A Gourmet Picnic in the Lockhouse
See the inside of a rustic lockhouse–at midnight–when you spend the night in historic Lockhouse 6, enjoying the solitude and quiet evenings just like a lockkeeper’s family did. With a stop in Potomac, MD, you can pack in provisions for a memorable candle-lit meal canalside. Not too far upstream from Lockhouse 6 are the renowned Great Falls of the Potomac; it’s an easy 5-mile bike ride.
Birding By Day, A Night In Pennyfield Lockhouse
Enjoy what many say is the best birding along the entire Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Towpath, then spend the night in a Canal Quarters at Pennyfield Lockhouse. A short hike along the historic C&O Canal offers sweeping Potomac River views, and hugs close to rocky cliffs that tumble into the canal. The canal is “watered” from Pennyfield to Violettes Lock, so you’ll see kingfishers in flight and herons patiently awaiting lunch.
Bike Monocacy Aqueduct to Brunswick
Here’s an easy 26-mile out-and-back ride that offers casual cyclists a nice day traveling through Piedmont floodplain forest and beneath the cliffs at Point of Rocks. For experienced cyclists, it’s just long enough for a morning ride. With a stop in Brunswick, you can visit the Brunswick Railroad Museum and C&O Canal Visitor Center on weekends.
Downtown Frederick and the C&O Canal
This weekend trip starts in historic-but-hip downtown Frederick, Md., and includes a visit to Monocacy Battlefield and Monocacy Aqueduct–once considered one of the great engineering wonders of the world. After a visit to Catoctin Aqueduct and lunch in Brunswick, return to Frederick to wander the streets and plan your evening.
Around Glen Echo and Great Falls
The best days on the C&O Canal Towpath are ones that cover short distances, allowing you time to experience what’s along the way. The few stops and short mileage of this short trip add up to a wonderful day outside and immersed in history. (more…)