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PARKS
C & O Canal National Historic Park -
Activities
FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
Visitor Centers/Exhibits: Visitor centers are located at Georgetown, Great Falls, Williamsport, Hancock, and Cumberland.
C & O CANAL NHP BOAT RIDES
The canal boat rides are underway for the 1997 season. Park Rangers, dressed in period clothing, interpret life on the canal in the 1870's, while operating the 90' canal boat through a working liftlock. The rides are conducted Wednesday through Sunday, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm, during the summer season.
Group reservations can be made for Great Falls by calling (301)299-3613 or at Georgetown(202)653-5190. Inquire for times and special fares.
Mule-drawn Canal Boat Rides: Rides are available at Georgetown and Great Falls. Park rangers in period clothing present living history programs aboard mule-drawn canal boats. Visitors ride through a lift-lock and along a mile stretch of the canal. Call either location for times or to make group reservations.
Trails: The canal towpath is maintained as a 184.5 mile long hiking/ biking trail. There are additional hiking trails at Great Falls including the Gold Mine trail, the River trail, and the nationally known Billy Goat Trail. There is a handicapped accessible walkway from the towpath to an overlook of the Great Falls of the Potomac. There is also a trail over the top of the Paw Paw Tunnel.
Trail Descriptions
| TRAIL | LENGTH | DESCRIPTION
|
Gold Mine Loop
(blue)
| 4.2 miles
| Deer, fox, and
woodpeckers share the gentle wooded trail with remains of mine
diggings. The Maryland Mine (1867-1939) processed gold near
Falls Rd. and MacArthur Blvd. Begin the blue blazed trail
uphill behind the Tavern. spur trails (yellow) lead to mine
ruins, to Angler's Inn, and to Berma Road near Lock 16.
|
| Berma Road | 1.1 miles (3.3 mile loop Tavern to Angler' Inn
and back) |
Easy, level hike with beautiful views of Widewater,
outstanding during fall colors. More wooded than the towpath,
the old conduit road runs parallel to the canal from Lock 16 to
Angler's Inn. Begin on towpath and cross canal by footbridge at
the stoplock below Tavern. Return via towpath.
|
Billy Goat Trail
(blue) | 2 miles (4 mile loop) |
Rugged
trail, toughest in area, requires scrambling over boulders and
climbing on angled rocks. Beautiful views of Mather Gorge and
river. Wear sturdy shoes and carry water. Blue-blazed markers
stay close to cliffs along river an rejoin towpath 0.7 mile
north of Angler's Inn. Begin trail from towpath downstream from
Lock 17. There are no shortcuts over rocks.
|
Woodland trail
(yellow) | 0.6 mile |
Easy. Trail starts
from Gold Mine Loop near a stream crossing and follows past
prospectors' trenches and overgrown Civil War earthworks. Ends
at yellow-blazed Anger's Spur.
|
Angler's Spur Trail
(yellow) | 0.5 mile | Moderate. Start
from Angler's Inn parking, follow Berma Road to a chain-link
fenced structure. Trail begins to right uphill through thick
woods and meets Gold Mine Loop. Watch for wildlife.
|
Lock 19 Loop
(yellow) | 0.5 mile |
Easy short hike uphill to old
trolley turnaround. Start up Gold Mine Loop behind Tavern and
branch off to right on first yellow-blazed trail, returning to
Lock 19 and towpath.
|
Lock 16 Spur
(yellow) | 0.3 mile |
Short trail connects Berma Road
and Gold Mine Loop. From towpath, cross footbridge to Berma
Road. Downstream from Lock 16, look for yellow blazes.
|
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