Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park in Virginia
More actions
Park
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Virginia-side view
Great Falls Park
Canal route
184.5 miles, from Washington, D.C., to Cumberland, Maryland
Managing agency
National Park Service
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park preserves the historic canal, towpath and related sites along the Potomac River. The park’s canal-side Great Falls facilities—including Great Falls Tavern—are in Maryland, across the river from Virginia’s Great Falls Park. For a Virginia-based visit, the key distinction is that the two parks are separate places on opposite banks, with different entrances and visitor facilities.[1][2]
The canal was built to carry goods between the Potomac tidewater and the interior, and its towpath now offers a route for walking and cycling. At Great Falls, visitors can pair the Virginia-side overlooks and trails with a separate visit to the canal, locks and historic tavern on the Maryland bank. Check the National Park Service’s current conditions, access and fee information before setting out.[3]
Plan a trip to Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park in Virginia
Why visit the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park?
The park offers a close look at a historic transportation route and the landscape that shaped it. The canal’s locks, towpath and surviving structures make its engineering and working life tangible, while the Potomac’s Great Falls provide a dramatic natural setting. The NPS describes the original towpath as a principal visitor trail and notes that people use it for walking, hiking and biking.[4]
For Virginia visitors, the appeal is the chance to see Great Falls from both sides of the river. The Maryland canal area has the towpath and Great Falls Tavern; Great Falls Park has its own Virginia-side access and overlooks. These are distinct park sites, so plan the crossings and entrances rather than assuming one visit automatically includes both.
Start here
Start by deciding which bank you want to explore. On the Virginia side, Great Falls Park is the relevant starting point for overlooks and trails. The C&O Canal’s Great Falls area is reached from Maryland; the National Park Service identifies Great Falls Tavern as the visitor center there, at canal mile 14.3 by Lock 20.[5]
If your goal is the canal itself, make time for the towpath and the historic features near Great Falls Tavern. If you have limited time or are staying in Virginia, focus on Great Falls Park and treat the Maryland canal visit as a separate outing. Confirm current access, trail conditions, fees and facility hours on the NPS pages before you go; these can change.
What to see and do
Walk or cycle the towpath
Follow the canal’s historic towpath for a low-key walk or bike ride. Choose a manageable section rather than assuming you need to cover the full route; the towpath extends far beyond the Great Falls area.
Explore Great Falls Tavern
On the Maryland side, the former lockhouse and hotel now serves as a visitor center. Look for park information and interpretation, and check ahead for current opening times and programs.
See the canal locks
Locks helped boats navigate changes in elevation along the canal. The Great Falls area’s historic canal features offer a place to understand how the waterway worked.
Take in the Potomac’s Great Falls
The falls and rocky gorge are a defining feature of this stretch of the river. Virginia-side visitors can see the falls from Great Falls Park; the canal park’s overlooks and trails are across the river in Maryland.
Look for ranger programs
The NPS has offered interpretive programs and replica canal-boat experiences in the Great Falls area. Programs are seasonal and subject to change, so check the park calendar before planning around one.
History and significance
The canal grew out of a long-running effort to improve travel and trade along the Potomac. George Washington promoted canal projects around the river’s obstacles, including Great Falls, and later supported the Potowmack Canal Company. The C&O Canal Company was chartered in 1825; construction began in 1828, and the completed canal reached Cumberland in 1850.[6][7]
The waterway never reached the Ohio River as its name and original ambition suggested. It carried coal and other cargo along the Potomac corridor until floods, financial troubles and competition from rail transport undermined its commercial operation. The canal ceased operating as a trade route after a devastating flood in 1924. The federal government acquired the canal in 1938, and Congress established it as a national historical park in 1971.[8][9]
At Great Falls, the Great Falls Tavern began as a lockhouse and became a hotel for canal travelers, opening in 1831. Today, known as the Great Falls Tavern, the building serves as the park’s visitor center on the Maryland side of the river.[10]
Planning a visit
The C&O Canal’s Great Falls area and Great Falls Tavern are in Potomac, Maryland—not in Virginia. Virginia’s Great Falls Park is a separate park across the Potomac. Check maps and directions for the specific entrance you intend to use, and allow for the fact that a cross-river visit involves separate access points.
Park access, fees, facility hours, trails and programs can vary. The NPS fee page describes charges for the Great Falls area and notes that pass arrangements may apply across the river at Great Falls Park; confirm the current details directly before travelling.[11] The Great Falls Tavern visitor center’s hours and seasonal schedule are also subject to change.[12]
Wear sturdy footwear for trails and the towpath, and check current conditions for closures or restrictions. If you plan to bike, hike, or join a ranger activity, consult the NPS conditions and calendar pages shortly before your visit.
Nearby attractions
Great Falls Park
The Virginia-side national park, with its own trails and viewpoints overlooking the Potomac’s Great Falls.
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
A wider trail network following historic and scenic routes through the Potomac region.
Arlington, Virginia
A Northern Virginia destination with historic sites and access to the wider Washington-area visitor circuit.
Books and useful gear: Browse related travel books and outdoor gear on Amazon
References
- ↑ Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Entrance Fees and Park Passes, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Frequently Asked Questions, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Frequently Asked Questions, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ George Washington's Influence on the C&O Canal, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Canal Construction, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Frequently Asked Questions, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ C&O Canal By The Numbers, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Crommelin House, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Entrance Fees and Park Passes, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, National Park Service. Retrieved 2026-10-22.