Running Around Town:  Washington, D.C. 

C&O Canal Towpath (Section from DC to Whites Ferry)
 <- See Map
Crushed gravel/dirt, mostly wooded, flat		 Segment in Miles Cumulative Miles Miles Remaining
Rock Creek Trail 0.00 35.34
Lock 1 0.03 0.03 35.31
29th St 0.04 0.07 35.27
Lock 2 0.02 0.09 35.25
30th St & Lock 3 0.03 0.12 35.22
Visitor Center 0.05 0.17 35.17
stonearch bridge underpass 0.15 0.32 35.02
Georgetown Park Shopping Center on R 0.03 0.35 34.99
L/R bridge over canal 0.10 0.45 34.89
bridge over canal on R 0.06 0.51 34.83
bridge over canal on R goes to Key Bridge 0.11 0.62 34.72
Key Bridge underpass 0.05 0.67 34.67
Whitehurst Freeway underpass & aqueduct bridge on L 0.06 0.73 34.61
stairs down to Water St 0.04 0.77 34.57
stairs and ramp to Glover Archbold Trail 0.39 1.16 34.18
wooden bridge and concrete & TR X on L 0.05 1.21 34.13
wooden bridge 0.02 1.23 34.11
Mile Marker 2 0.43 1.66 33.68
TR X on L to Crescent Trail (Incline Plane sign) 0.27 1.93 33.41
Mile Marker 3 0.75 2.68 32.66
1st ramp to Fletcher's Boathouse on L 0.08 2.76 32.58
ramp nearest to Fletcher's Boathouse on L; bridge to restrooms and water on R  0.14 2.90 32.44
wooden bridge 0.07 2.97 32.37
TR X on L to Crescent Trail; underpass trestle bridge 0.40 3.37 31.97
begin concrete & wooden bridge 0.21 3.58 31.76
end concrete & wooden bridge 0.07 3.65 31.69
Mile Marker 4 0.03 3.68 31.66
Chain Bridge Rd underpass and TR X on L 0.19 3.87 31.47
TR X on L; water pump on R 0.34 4.21 31.13
TR X on L 0.04 4.25 31.09
bridge for creek 0.16 4.41 30.93
Mile Marker 5 0.25 4.66 30.68
wooden bridge 0.02 4.68 30.66
TR X on R & wooden bridge at Lock 5 (heated bathroom & water on R) 0.02 4.70 30.64
concrete at Lock 5 0.02 4.72 30.62
TR X on L to overlook (maintained road) 0.14 4.86 30.48
Lock 6 and wooden bridge on R; TR X on L to kayak gates on river 0.22 5.08 30.26
TR X on L to intake of 3 mile long skirting canal 0.20 5.28 30.06
TR X on L to intake view 0.08 5.36 29.98
aqueduct underpass; Little Falls Pumping Station 0.09 5.45 29.89
Mile Marker 6 0.22 5.67 29.67
warning billboard for river travelers (drop-off) 0.16 5.83 29.51
TR X on L 0.09 5.92 29.42
metal bridge & stairs over canal on L 0.17 6.09 29.25
falls on R 0.07 6.16 29.18
TR X on L 0.22 6.38 28.96
TR X on L 0.08 6.46 28.88
Mile Marker 7 0.19 6.65 28.69
Lock 7 and wooden bridge over lock to parking 0.03 6.68 28.66
before creek 0.55 7.23 28.11
TR X on L & creek 0.02 7.25 28.09
wooden bridge over canal on R to Mac Blvd 0.07 7.32 28.02
Mile Marker 8 0.30 7.62 27.72
Lock 8 & wooden bridge over lock 0.41 8.03 27.31
Lock 9 0.35 8.38 26.96
Lock 10 0.07 8.45 26.89
Lock 11 & gatekeeper house on L 0.19 8.64 26.7
Mile Marker 9 0.01 8.65 26.69
Lock 12 & wooden bridge over lock 0.30 8.95 26.39
Lock 13 & underpass for Capital Beltway, I-495 0.08 9.03 26.31
Lock 14 0.09 9.12 26.22
concrete bridge for canal flood gate stream 0.19 9.31 26.03
Billy Goat Trail (Section C) on L; remains of stone bridge in canal 0.25 9.56 25.78
Mile Marker 10 0.11 9.67 25.67
dirt road on L to Carderock Park 0.34 10.01 25.33
overpass access road to Carderock Park 0.10 10.11 25.23
TR X on L to Carderock parking 0.10 10.21 25.13
TR X on L to Carderock parking 0.09 10.3 25.04
TR X on L to Carderock parking (climbing area) 0.24 10.54 24.8
Billy Goat Trail (Section C) on L 0.09 10.63 24.71
Mile Marker 11 0.05 10.68 24.66
Billy Goat Trail (Section B) on L 0.32 11.00 24.34
Marsden Tract Group Camping on L 0.12 11.12 24.22
wooden bridge over canal on R 0.07 11.19 24.15
Marsden Tract Trail on L 0.02 11.21 24.13
TR X on L to goes to Billy Goat Trail Section B 0.16 11.37 23.97
Mile Marker 12 0.3 11.67 23.67
Billy Goat Trail on L (Section B) 0.21 11.88 23.46
kayak/boat launch on L 0.07 11.95 23.39
wooden bridge on R to alternate towpath & Angler's Inn parking 0.02 11.97 23.37
begin Wide Water 0.28 12.25 23.09
Billy Goat Trail on L 0.11 12.36 22.98
Mile Marker 13 & concrete bridge 0.15 12.51 22.83
begin rocky towpath 0.42 12.93 22.41
pipe bridge 0.06 12.99 22.35
BL as trail spilts 0.05 13.04 22.3
L at trail merge & begin wooden bridge; end rocky towpath 0.04 13.08 22.26
Lock 15 & wooden bridge on towpath ends; end Wide Water 0.02 13.10 22.24
Lock 16 0.20 13.30 22.04
stairs on L & bridge to alternate towpath trail 0.09 13.39 21.95
Billy Goat Trail on L 0.02 13.41 21.93
Mile Marker 14 0.21 13.62 21.72
Lock 17 0.03 13.65 21.69
Great Falls Overlook Trail on L 0.04 13.69 21.65
Lock 18 0.06 13.75 21.59
Lock 19 & TR X on R 0.07 13.82 21.52
Lock 20 & bridge over canal to Great Falls Tavern on R 0.11 13.93 21.41
wooden bridge 0.03 13.96 21.38
water intake & overlook on L 0.01 13.97 21.37
TR X on L 0.04 14.01 21.33
TR X on L 0.10 14.11 21.23
TR X on L 0.19 14.30 21.04
Mile Marker 15 0.34 14.64 20.70
TR X and small stream on L 0.23 14.87 20.47
metal bridge (road) crosses canal 0.62 15.49 19.85
pumping station 0.13 15.62 19.72
Mile Marker 16 0.03 15.65 19.69
Swain's Lock (Lock 21) (restrooms, snacks, canoes) 0.64 16.29 19.05
Mile Marker 17 0.36 16.65 18.69
Potomac River Filtration Plant on L 0.44 17.09 18.25
aqueduct overpass 0.06 17.15 18.19
Mile Marker 18 0.57 17.72 17.62
Mile Marker 19; good views cliffs between 18 and 19 0.98 18.70 16.64
Lock 22 & wooden bridge on R; gatehouse on L 0.58 19.28 16.06
spillway concrete bridge 0.02 19.3 16.04
parking across canal & restroom for Lock 22 0.08 19.38 15.96
creek on L 0.26 19.64 15.70
Mile Marker 20 & TR X on L 0.07 19.71 15.63
petroleum pipeline 0.74 20.45 14.89
Mile Marker 21 & cliffs on R; good views of rocky river 0.21 20.66 14.68
Mile Marker 22; good views of rocky river 1.02 21.68 13.66
wooden bridge over canal intake 0.07 21.75 13.59
Lock 23 0.01 21.76 13.58
Lock 24; Riley's Lock; wooden bridge on R 0.67 22.43 12.91
wooden bridge over Great Seneca Creek 0.02 22.45 12.89
TR X on R crosses canal 0.04 22.49 12.85
Mile Marker 23; pond on R 0.14 22.63 12.71
dip in canal towpath 0.93 23.56 11.78
Mile Marker 24 0.04 23.6 11.74
Mile Marker 25; park across Potomac River 0.97 24.57 10.77
TR X on R; unmarked to McKee Beshers WMA 0.64 25.21 10.13
Mile Marker 26 0.36 25.57 9.77
Horse Pen Branch Camp; water pump; outhouse; TR X on R to McKee Beshers WMA 0.05 25.62 9.72
bridge over creek 0.71 26.33 9.01
Mile Marker 27 0.22 26.55 8.79
Road to parking (Sycamore Landing Rd) 0.21 26.76 8.58
Mile Marker 28 0.79 27.55 7.79
Mile Marker 29 1.00 28.55 6.79
Mile Marker 30 1.03 29.58 5.76
Chisel Branch Camp; water pump 0.50 30.08 5.26
wooden bridge over stream 0.14 30.22 5.12
Lock 25; Edwards Ferry Rd 0.22 30.44 4.90
small stone bridge 0.03 30.47 4.87
Mile Marker 31 0.15 30.62 4.72
gas pipeline; view over river to VA & golf course 0.57 31.19 4.15
horse trail on R crosses dry canal 0.32 31.51 3.83
wooden bridge over Broad Run Trunk & canal stonework 0.03 31.54 3.80
Mile Marker 32 0.06 31.6 3.74
Eight Mile point of loop 0.86 32.46 2.88
power lines 0.1 32.56 2.78
bridge 0.06 32.62 2.72
Mile Marker 33 (very long mile) 0.35 32.97 2.37
bridge 0.45 33.42 1.92
Mile Marker 34 0.49 33.91 1.43
stone bridge 0.19 34.1 1.24
water pump & outhouse 0.15 34.25 1.09
Six Mile point of loop route 0.21 34.46 0.88
creek X 0.21 34.67 0.67
Mile Marker 35 0.18 34.85 0.49
stone bridge 0.46 35.31 0.03
Whites Ferry Rd & Iron Trestle bridge 0.03 35.34 0.00
  Total 35.34
 

 

About Running Around Town © 1999. Nadim Ahmed

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Last modified: September 26, 2006