Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park - Williamsport

Map of TRACK Trail at C & O Canal

The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park TRACK Trail has two sections. The Lock 44 TRACK Trail is 0.6 miles one-way (1.2 miles roundtrip) from the information kiosk to Milepost 99. The Conococheague Aqueduct TRACK Trail is 0.7 miles one-way (1.4 miles roundtrip) from the kiosk to the open field (power line).

Boats were used on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal for nearly 100 years to transport goods between Washington, D.C. and the mountains of Western Maryland. The canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market. Today it endures as a pathway for discovering historical, natural and recreational treasures!

Williamsport is the only place on the canal where examples of major canal structures can be viewed within a half-mile stretch. A half mile re-watered section of canal leads through the turning basin, under the only Railroad Lift Bridge as well as the only Bollman Iron Truss Bridge over the canal to Lockhouse 44 and the adjacent lock. The Conocheague aqueduct is located across from the turning basin.

Track an adventure here
Collectible Sticker for C & O Canal

Location Details

Recreational Features: Picnic Tables, Birding
Amenities: Restrooms, Visitor Center
ADA Compliant:
Seasonality:
Cushwa Building
Lock 44
Path through trees
Lockhouse 44
Well for Lockhouse 44
Conococheague Aqueduct over canal

Adventures for Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park - Williamsport

Conococheague Aqueduct Scavenger Hunt brochure
Hiking

C & O Canal: Conococheague Aqueduct Scavenger Hunt

Difficulty:
Easy
Trail length:
1.50
In the Conococheague Scavenger Hunt adventure, kids will discover a few of the stories the C&O Canal National Historical Park has to tell. Kids will be introduced to the history of the canal just upstream from the Cushwa Basin and discover some of nature's hidden treasures. 
Lock 44 Scavenger Hunt brochure
Hiking

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal: Lock 44 Scavenger Hunt

Difficulty:
Easy
Trail length:
1.50
In the Lock 44 Scavenger Hunt adventure, kids will discover what life used to be like working on the C&O Canal. Kids will also be introduced to the rich history of the Williamsport area.
Hiking

Nature's Hide & Seek

Difficulty:
Easy
Trail length:
1.50
The Nature's Hide & Seek brochure is designed so that kids of all ages can walk along the trail and discover common things that are often overlooked in nature. Some of them are hard to find, others are easy. Best of all, the adventure never ends because every time you walk the trail you will discover new things hiding in nature.
The Need for Trees brochure
Hiking

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal: Need for Trees

Difficulty:
Easy
Trail length:
1.50
By following the picture and textual clues found in "The Need for Trees" brochure, you will discover six common trees found along the C&O Canal towpath. During your adventure, you will learn about the need we, and other animals, have for trees and about the roles they play in the forest.

Directions

205 W. Potomac St.
Williamsport, MD 21795
Latitude: 39.600577100000
Longitude: -77.826288800000

Directions:

From the East: Take I-270 north to 70 west to Hagerstown. Take I-81 north and south exit. (Take exit 26 toward Harrisburg/Roanoke). Merge onto I-81 south toward Roanoke. From I-81 take exit 2 and merge onto Potomac Street/US 11 south. Follow straight to visitor center at bottom of hill, (approximately 1.4 miles).

From the West: Take 68 east to I-70 east/US 40 east/ US-522 South exit, (exit 82AB toward Hagerstown). Merge onto I-70 east via exit 82 B toward Hagerstown. From 70 east take exit 24 and merge onto MD-63/Williamsport Pike. Travel two miles to Williamsport. Turn right onto US-11/MD 63/East Potomac Street. Follow to visitor Center.

From Martinsburg, WV, heading North: Take I-81 north and cross the Potomac River bridge. Take exit 1, Route 68-Williamsport immediately after crossing the bridge. Make a left onto Route 68, through three stoplights to junction with Route 11. Turn left onto Route 11/Potomac Street. Follow Potomac Street to visitor center.

From Harrisburg, PA, heading South: Take I-81 south. Take exit 2, Route 11-Williamsport. Route 11 is also Potomac Street. Follow Potomac Street to visitor center in Williamsport.

Partners

The TRACK Trail program is sponsored by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.

The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical TRACK Trail was made possible by a partnership between the National Park Service and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation's Kids in Parks program. This project was financed in part by the National Park Service’s CONNECT TRAILS TO PARKS program, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System in 2018.