Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Maryland:

Running along the Potomac River and extending 184 miles from Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, MD, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park reminds us of a time when American economic activity hinged upon the utility of waterways. In the late 18th and early 19th century, the United States went on canal-building frenzy to help grease the wheels of commerce. These canals facilitated the transportation of goods and materials from coastal regions to areas further inland.

The C & O Canal was originally intended to connect Georgetown (adjacent to Washington, D.C.) and Pittsburgh via the Potomac River. If completed according to plan, the canal would have been a link between the Chesapeake Bay and the Ohio River, thus stimulating the movement of commercial goods and supplies between these vital regions.

The construction began in 1828, but cost overruns, disease, and labor issues resulted in the canal falling far short of its planned destination (it finished up in Cumberland, MD). The project was not finished until 1850, by which time railroads had rendered obsolete the need for such a canal. Despite this, the canal was in use as a corridor for transporting cargo from 1850 until 1924. It passes through some of the most beautiful scenery in the region, including Great Falls, Harper’s Ferry, and the Appalachian mountains.

Today, visitors can explore this National Historical Park in a number of ways. One of the most visually dramatic scenes along the canal is the Great Falls of the Potomac where the river pours over a jumble of sharp, jagged rocks and then flows through the narrow confines of Mather Gorge. A thick forest envelops both sides of the river where hiking trails provide a welcome respite for stressed-out Beltway-region residents. A wide towpath - originally designed for the mules that pulled boats along the canal - allows hikers and bikers to traverse level ground within the park.

Recommended Day Hikes:
Great Falls Overlook
Round Trip Length: 0.4 miles
Trailhead location: from the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, walk southwards along the Towpath towards lock 17. Just before lock 17 is a sign for the Great Falls. Follow the sign to the falls lookout platform.
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Attractions: This is an easy 0.2 mile walk across small bridges and boardwalks through a floodplain terrace ecosystem. Powerful currents carry water through a narrow channel featuring some interesting geology. The walk terminates at a platform that provides a tremendous view of Great Falls. Here, the river gushes over a series of rock formations and flows into a narrow gorge.

Billy Goat Trail (Section A)
Round Trip Length: 3.7 miles (if a loop is made via the Towpath)
Trailhead location: from the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, walk slightly more than half a mile southwards along the Towpath until it intersects with the Stop Gate. The trail begins here.
Level of Difficulty: Strenuous
Attractions: This is one of the more challenging trails in the Great Falls area. Hikers must navigate rough forested terrain featuring sharp rocks and boulders. The views of the river and Mather Gorge are splendid however, and worth the effort. Make a loop by returning to the Great Falls parking lot/visitor center via the Towpath.

Helpful travel tips and observations
Ranger-led programs are available to those visitors wishing to board a reproduction canal boat. The boats are pulled by mules as they make their way along the canal. People can also canoe certain water-filled sections of the canal from Georgetown to Violettes Lock. Canoeists must portage around each lock.

URL to article: http://www.northamericanparks.com/great_falls.asp