The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park is an expansive national historical park spanning throughout areas of Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia along the original C&O Canal towpath on the Potomac River.

The historic canal route, which operated between 1831 and 1924, served as a primary coal transportation route between the Allegheny Mountains and the Washington, D.C. region. In 1961, the former route was preserved as a National Monument in order to protect many of its historic structures. Today, more than 20,000 acres of park area is operated between Cumberland, Maryland and D.C.'s Georgetown neighborhood. Seven NPS-operated visitor centers throughout the park offer interpretive exhibits detailing the canal's history and use. More than five annual visitors also utilize the park's facilities for fishing, boating, hiking, cycling, and camping. Since 2013, a portion of the park's bicycle paths have been designated as part of the newly-created U.S. Bicycle Route 50.

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, 1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100, Hagerstown, MD 21740, Phone: 301-739-4200

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Explore more: Washington D.C. > Looking for Some Nature in Washington, DC? Head to These Parks.

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