Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Designation: National Historical Park
Location: District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia
📘 Park Overview
Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years 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.
🌤 Weather Information
The Washington, DC, area has a four-season Mid-Atlantic climate. Summertime is warm and humid, while winter can be cold and snowy. Precipitation averages 2-4” monthly, year-round. The climate gradually gets cooler and wetter further west along the canal where the elevation is higher.
🚗 Directions
The park has numerous access points. There is no main entrance. In Washington, DC, the C&O Canal begins in Georgetown on 29th Street NW, south of M Street, and runs alongside Canal Road / Clara Barton Parkway out of DC to the west. The entrance to Great Falls is at Canal Road and MacArthur Blvd in Potomac, MD. Park Headquarters and the Williamsport Visitor Center are located off I-81 at exit 2. Cumberland Visitor Center is off I-68 at exit 43C. See the maps page for more.
Images
The area of Great Falls is one of the reasons for the C&O Canal needed to be built for boat traffic.
Credit: NPS photo
The towpath offers a serene bike riding experience.
Credit: NPS photo
Lockhouse 16 sits atop a stone outcropping above the lock.
Credit: NPS photo
One of seven Park visitor centers, the Bowles House sits along an empty canal bed in Hancock.
Credit: NPS photo
Big Slackwater is a 3 mile stretch where canal boats entered the Potomac River to travel above Dam 4.
Credit: NPS photo
Mule-drawn canal boat rides are offered at Great Falls Tavern, April through October.
Credit: NPS photo/Buckner
The area of Great Falls is one of the reasons for the C&O Canal needed to be built for boat traffic.
Credit: NPS photo
The towpath offers a serene bike riding experience.
Credit: NPS photo
Lockhouse 16 sits atop a stone outcropping above the lock.
Credit: NPS photo
One of seven Park visitor centers, the Bowles House sits along an empty canal bed in Hancock.
Credit: NPS photo
Activities
Topics
Operating Hours
Entrance Fees
Entrance Passes
3-Day Weather Forecast
Tuesday, Mar 24
Sunny
High: 55.9°F | Low: 32.2°F
Humidity: 40%
Wind: 12.1 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 1.3
Sunrise: 07:06 AM
Sunset: 07:25 PM
Moon: Waxing Crescent (30%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 31.3°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Wednesday, Mar 25
Partly Cloudy
High: 57.7°F | Low: 37.4°F
Humidity: 53%
Wind: 11 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 1.1
Sunrise: 07:05 AM
Sunset: 07:26 PM
Moon: First Quarter (41%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 38.5°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Thursday, Mar 26
Overcast
High: 67.3°F | Low: 47.5°F
Humidity: 62%
Wind: 13.2 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 1.2
Sunrise: 07:03 AM
Sunset: 07:27 PM
Moon: Waxing Gibbous (52%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 49.1°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Weather Alerts (1)
Effective: Mar 24, 2026 2:28pm
Expires: Mar 24, 2026 2:38pm
Monitoring message only. Please disregard.
Park Alerts
Park Events
Holidays at the Tavern
'Tis the season for Holidays at the Tavern! Join us during the month of December for holiday-themed crafts in the Great Falls Tavern Discovery Space. Learn about holiday traditions of the people who lived and worked along the C&O Canal during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Crafts include:
- Make Your Own Holiday Cards
- 'Find a Light' Holiday Candle activity
- 'Community Table' Holiday 'Meal' activity
Stop by the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center to kick off the holiday season with learning, exploring, and crafting at C&O Canal!
Date: Dec 3, 2025 12:00am to Dec 3, 2025 12:00am
Paid Event
Historic Holiday Traditions
Stop by the Cushwa Basin Visitor Center in Williamsport or the Cumberland Teminus Visitor Center this holiday season to learn about historic holiday traditions.
Before modern holiday cards, people often penned personal letters during the holidays. In 1843, the first ever printed holiday card was created. Canal workers may have purchased and sent mass-produced cards or made handmade cards, copying popular styles.
Explore the traditions of the people that lived around the canal and make your own holiday card.
Location: 205 W. Potomac St., Williamsport, MD 21795 13 Canal St., Cumberland, MD 21502
Date: Dec 3, 2025 12:00am to Jan 3, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
George Washington's Other American Revolution: The Patowmack Canal Company
Date: Jan 17, 2026 12:00am to Jan 17, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Great Falls Discovery Space: Civilian Conservation Corps
Have you heard about the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)? Come visit the Discovery Space at Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center and learn about the New Deal Era initiative that helped improve our public lands. Discover the story of the two camps of African American CCC enrollees that helped make the canal the great place it is today. Explore the different projects these two camps completed on the canal and test your own building skills!
Date: Feb 5, 2026 12:00am to Feb 5, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Great Falls Discovery Space: Douglas Hike
In March 1954, William O. Douglas and 57 others hiked down the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath to draw attention to the natural beauty and wonders of the ecosystems and history of the canal. In honor of the 72nd anniversary of this hike, come visit the Discovery Space and learn about people who have spoken up to help preserve places like the canal! Speak up and share your special places! And investigate how NPS preserves and conserves unique places across the nation.
Date: Mar 1, 2026 12:00am to Mar 31, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Guided Tours of Riley's Lockhouse
Explore the life of a lockkeeper and family in the 1870's time period with a guided tour of one of the C&O Canal's original lockhouses. Girl Scouts offer free tours of the lockhouse and grounds at Lock 24. In addition, there may be various Victorian demonstrations such as laundry, cider pressing, making lemonade, churning butter or ice cream and more. Visitors are welcome to participate in the activities and taste the results.
Open every Saturday and Sunday 1pm-4pm, March 21st through July 12th and August 16th through December 12th. The lockhouse will be closed for bad weather.
Date: Mar 21, 2026 12:00am to Jul 12, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Great Falls Discovery Space: America the Beautiful
What do National Parks mean to you? This month we are celebrating the National Park Service and exploring America the beautiful. Visit the Discovery Space located at the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center and learn about the history of the National Park Service through hands-on activities. Design your own park emblem, discover what makes the C&O Canal a unique park, and more!
Date: Apr 1, 2026 12:00am to Apr 30, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Abner Cloud House Tour
Built in 1801 by Abner Cloud, Jr., the house is considered one of the finest examples of Federal architecture in Washington D.C. Pre-dating the construction of the C&O Canal, the home of Abner Cloud served as the center of the family farm and fishing business. Tour the Abner Cloud House and learn more about early 19th century farming, architecture, and the people who lived and worked on the property.
The three-story, stone home is operated in parntership with The Colonial Dames of America and is open for tours on the first Sunday of each month from 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm. The Abner Cloud House is located at Fletchers Cove. Admission to Fletchers Cove and the Abner Cloud House is free.
Date: Apr 12, 2026 12:00am to Apr 12, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Abner Cloud House Tour
Built in 1801 by Abner Cloud, Jr., the house is considered one of the finest examples of Federal architecture in Washington D.C. Pre-dating the construction of the C&O Canal, the home of Abner Cloud served as the center of the family farm and fishing business. Tour the Abner Cloud House and learn more about early 19th century farming, architecture, and the people who lived and worked on the property.
The three-story, stone home is operated in parntership with The Colonial Dames of America and is open for tours on the first Sunday of each month from 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm. The Abner Cloud House is located at Fletchers Cove. Admission to Fletchers Cove and the Abner Cloud House is free.
Date: May 3, 2026 12:00am to Dec 6, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Guided Tours of Riley's Lockhouse
Explore the life of a lockkeeper and family in the 1870's time period with a guided tour of one of the C&O Canal's original lockhouses. Girl Scouts offer free tours of the lockhouse and grounds at Lock 24. In addition, there may be various Victorian demonstrations such as laundry, cider pressing, making lemonade, churning butter or ice cream and more. Visitors are welcome to participate in the activities and taste the results.
Open every Saturday and Sunday 1pm-4pm, March 21st through July 12th and August 16th through December 12th. The lockhouse will be closed for bad weather.
Date: Aug 16, 2026 12:00am to Dec 12, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Visitor Center & Contacts
📍 Physical Address:
142 W. Potomac St.
Williamsport, MD 21795
🏤 Mailing Address:
142 W. Potomac St.
Williamsport, MD 21795
📞 Voice Phone: 301-739-4200
✉️ Email: CHOH_Information@nps.gov