Enjoy a Peaceful Day on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal

Once an important mass transit system, today the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal is a National Historical Park where visitors enjoy hiking and biking along the towpath.

The canal stretches for 180 miles, with sections of the National Historic Park in three states as well as the District of Columbia. Travelers in western Maryland can start their visit at the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center near Hagerstown.

Stop into the Visitor Center for exhibits and to get information about the park. If you've worn hiking gear, you can tackle the challenging Billy Goat Trail. Otherwise, enjoy a stroll or biking along the towpath. The park's mobile app provides a mobile tour and gives information about history as you walk through the park. Check the schedule and enjoy a mule-drawn boat ride down a section of the canal. The rides are guided by rangers in period clothes who explain the lives of the people who worked at the canal.