Hike the C&O Canal Towpath: Carderock to Great Falls

Washington, District of Columbia

4.5/5

based on 2 reviews

Save Add Photo

Add Photo

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

6.28 miles

Elevation Gain

141 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

This is a new adventure! Be the first to share your experience.

Join a supporting community of travelers and adventurers sharing their photos and local insights.

Added by The Outbound Collective

Wildflowers, wildlife, and river scenery--it's no surprise this is a popular trail.

Park on the road adjacent to the canal as indicated on the map (see below). This is a popular trail which is dog friendly and accessible year-round.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Mountain Biking

Running

Skiing

Hiking

River

Scenic

Waterfall

Reviews

Stephen Catalano

Hike the C&O Canal Towpath: Carderock to Great Falls

08/14/20

This is a great spot if you'd like to walk along the water and end up in Georgetown. Plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars nearby, along with a waterfront park area that is usually pretty crowded most times of the year.

5.0

Charles Ford

Hike the C&O Canal Towpath: Carderock to Great Falls

01/18/17

I rode all 185 miles of this bad boy (Georgetown to Cumberland, MD) back in October 2016 and loved it. There is drinking water and a camp site every 8 miles or so and it's accesible by car every few miles. I biked the whole thing in two days...would recommend spending at least three or four days biking it in its entirety. The history was outstanding...amazing lock houses and civil war battles along the way. I camped and cooked along the trail, but it's easy to stop off in small towns along the way. I'm happy to answer any questions on logistics or otherwise.

4.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Bike the Mt. Vernon Trail

Start your ride at the Teddy Roosevelt Island parking area and head southbound towards Mt. Vernon. You'll be riding next to the Potomac the entire time, with great views of the National Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and the Memorial Bridge. The ride is as long as you want to make it, but a great ride is to Old Town Alexandria and back (14 miles total)! You can stop for lunch i...

Hike Theodore Roosevelt Island

It seems only fitting that the president who gave us our national parks would have one all to his own. Located on the edge of Washington D.C., Theodore Roosevelt Island offers a glimpse of what the city may have looked like before the politicians, before the marble buildings, before the traffic-choked streets, before the city was even a city. Accessing the island is easy. Visitors can walk, b...

Photograph Sunrise at the Lincoln Memorial

Located on the far-west portion of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. stands the Lincoln Memorial. At almost 100 feet tall, this majestic structure overlooks the reflecting pool and offers an iconic view of the Washington Monument. Parking is almost always an issue near the Lincoln Memorial, but if you arrive early enough, you may be able to find a paid parking space nearby. The nearest Met...

Visit the National Mall in Washington D.C.

Everyone has so many things on their plates these days that take all their time up. It is hard to get away for adventures or to experience new things. The National Mall in Washington D.C. is within an hour from millions of people on the East Coast. This centralized location makes the National Mall a great opportunity for a micro adventure and simple day trip or partial day trip. I chose to take...

Hike the Soapstone Valley Trail

This is an out-and-back trail that starts and ends on different roads, but you will have better luck parking on Albemarle Street NW (where I have indicated the trailhead is on the map). This is a long street with plenty of street parking, just pay attention to the signs to see how long you can leave your car there.The trail head is hard to miss - There is a sign on the side of the road that say...

Fish the Potomac River in Arlington

Parking along 36th Road in Arlington, VA, head down the path on the Gulf Branch Trail. Walk northeast for roughly a quarter mile, where you will intersect with the Potomac River. Find a spot along the sand, cast out, and watch the catfish bite! Chicken liver seems to work well. Don't forget to have an active fishing license for Virginia.

Hike the C&O Canal Towpath: Carderock to Great Falls

Details

Description

Download the Outbound mobile app

Features

Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Bike the Mt. Vernon Trail

Hike Theodore Roosevelt Island

Photograph Sunrise at the Lincoln Memorial

Visit the National Mall in Washington D.C.

Hike the Soapstone Valley Trail

Fish the Potomac River in Arlington

Discover

Community

Company

Follow Us

Mobile Apps