Alert: Equestrian Traffic Temporarily Prohibited Milepost 173.37 to 184.5
National Historical Park
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal
The area of Great Falls is one of the reasons for the C&O Canal needed to be built for boat traffic. NPS photo
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.
Pass is for one private, non-commercial vehicle — passenger cars, pickup trucks, RVs and vans — and is valid at the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on the Maryland side of the Potomac River and Great Falls Park on the Virginia side of the Potomac River.
Entrance - Motorcycle: 15.00
Pass is for one motorcycle and is valid at the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on the Maryland side of the Potomac River and at Great Falls Park on the Virginia side of the Potomac River.
Entrance - Per Person: 10.00
Pass is for one person 16 years of age or older — entering on foot or by bicycle — and is valid at the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on the Maryland side of the Potomac River and at Great Falls Park on the Virginia side of the Potomac River.
Entrance - Education/Academic Groups: 0.00
Academic groups visiting the Great Falls area for a park ranger program have an automatic entrance fee waiver. Accredited academic institutions or groups coming to the Great Falls area of the park for a curriculum based visit, not attending a park ranger program must apply for an academic fee waiver. All materials must be provided in order to be considered. A fee waiver is not guaranteed. Allow up to two weeks for processing. Please email application to choh_educational_fee_waiver@nps.gov.
Entrance - Non-commercial Groups: 20.00
Includes church groups, college/school groups, scouts, service organizations, military, etc...
Vehicles with passenger capacity of fewer than 16 persons, $20 for the vehicle.
Vehicles with a passenger capacity of 16 or more persons, $10 per person age 16 and over.
Removal of seats from a vehicle does not then qualify for the lower rate. Age and pass exemptions apply.
The total fee charged for an Organized Non-Commercial Group will not exceed the $100 fee per vehicle.
Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach: 100.00
The commercial pass is valid for date of purchase plus six days at the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on the Maryland side of the Potomac River. Please note that fees are based on vehicle capacity and not actual occupants.
Commercial Entrance - Van: 40.00
The commercial pass is valid for date of purchase plus six days at the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on the Maryland side of the Potomac River. Please note that fees are based on vehicle capacity and not actual occupants.
Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus: 40.00
The commercial pass is valid for date of purchase plus six days at the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on the Maryland side of the Potomac River. Please note that fees are based on vehicle capacity and not actual occupants.
Commercial Entrance - Sedan: 25.00
The commercial pass is valid for date of purchase plus six days at the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on the Maryland side of the Potomac River. Please note that fees are based on vehicle capacity and not actual occupants.
Map
Things To Do
Category
6 Results
Bike the C&O Canal Towpath
Free
Description
By bicycle or on foot, try a short day trip or travel the entire 184.5-mile length of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath.
Want to explore history and enjoy a day bicycling? This is the route for you. Enjoy a leisurely 40-mile bike ride, or choose to hike and or paddle the length instead, spending the night camping or staying in paid accommodations. Historic treasures await you in Williamsport, Shepherdstown, and Harpers Ferry along the way.
Park your car and stretch your legs! Visit four different National Parks in Washington, DC and begin logging miles on seven different National Historic or National Scenic trails!
Some facilities within the Trail corridor charge a fee (e.g., some parks, historic sites, etc.) and some require reservations (e.g., shelters along the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail). Please check with a Trail management partner for current information.
Pet FriendlyTime:1-8 Hours
Explore the C&O Canal Williamsport Visitors Center
Free
Description
Visit the Williamsport Visitor Center at Cushwa Basin for information about the Canal and the surrounding area, sites including an aqueduct, rail lift-bridge, lockhouse, and operable locks.
The trolley barn is located across the parking lot from the Cushwa Building. In 1896, the first trolley line in Washington County, Maryland was built running from Williamsport to Hagerstown. The water supply from the Conococheague Creek made this location ideal for a steam-powered generating station. Today, the trolley barn contains historic photos, historic toys, children's costumes, a scale model of a canal boat’s mule stable, and dioramas.
The rushing river cascades over the rocks of the PotomacA single bike rider on the towpath next to the widewater section of the canal.A whitewashed lockhouse sits above a stone lock with wooden crib.Park sign in front of the historic Bowles HouseFog over the Potomac River alongside the Canal towpath.A replica double decker canal boat is being pulled upstream by mules.
