National Historical Park · District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia

Trails in Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

257 named trails · 209 miles · 2 with the Park Service's own write-up. The lines, trailheads and points are the Park Service's; the write-ups are the Service's own words; the climbing is read from USGS elevation along each line.

Open on the parks mapEvery park with trailsPark on nps.gov

257 trails, A to Z.

Fletcher's Path

1.0 mi one way · 20 ft of descent · 26 ft–177 ft · asphalt surface · bike, hiking

Picnic areasVisitor centersRanger stations

173 ft 172 ft · 0.3 mi high 176 ft

Along the way Great Falls Picnic Area Great Falls Ranger Station Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center

Paw Paw Trail

1.4 mi one way · about 400 ft of climbing · 536 ft–900 ft · native surface · bike, hiking, horse

Picnic areas

536 ft 538 ft · 1.4 mi high 900 ft

Along the way Paw Paw Tunnel Picnic Area

Hike Along the Towpath Through the Paw Paw Tunnel the Park Service's write-up

1-2 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Paw Paw Campground and Picnic Area Parking Lot

inside view of a brick tunnel next to a canal
View from inside the Paw Paw Tunnel Photo: NPS | Steve Dean

Park at the Paw Paw Tunnel Campground at MP 156 and walk south and through the 3,118-foot Paw Paw Tunnel at MP 155.2. Bring a flashlight to see history of canal operations come to life through the markings of ropes, rub rails, and brass plates throughout the inside of the tunnel.

Address: The Paw Paw Tunnel has no street address, search "Paw Paw Tunnel Campground"

GPS Coordinates: 39°32'39.1"N 78°27'39.2"W

Accessibility This hike follows the C&O Canal towpath, which is a mostly flat path. Towpath access possible at the Paw Paw Campground from a wheelchair via a wide path. The path is semi-steep and the same surface texture as the towpath.

This hike on nps.gov

Towpath, Mile 1-2 (001.00)

1.0 mi one way · 31 ft–37 ft · gravel surface · bike, hiking

33 ft 37 ft · 1.0 mi high 37 ft

Multi-Park Loop the Park Service's write-up

dogs allowed

Start Thompson Boat House

water tumbles over rocks
One of the waterfalls in Dumbarton Oaks Park designed by Beatrix Farrand Photo: NPS Photo

Overview:

Did you know that Rock Creek Park connects to many other parks in the region? This hike is a 10-mile loop that will take you to some sites managed by Rock Creek Park in Georgetown. In addition, it connects to the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail , Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park , George Washington Memorial Parkway , and the National Mall and Memorial Parks .

Directions:

Park your car at Thompson Boat Center . This parking area is metered. Visitors can pay with a card at the box or by using the ParkMobile app.

Walk towards the entrance to Thompson Boat Center parking area, and turn left on the paved path. This is the paved Rock Creek Multi-use Trail.

You will walk through half of the Rock Creek Park exercise course near the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway. When you cross the bridge at the half-way point, make a sharp left and follow the dirt trail, the Normanstone Trail.

Follow the small park signs towards Montrose Park and Dumbarton Oaks Park . You will walk behind a small tributary that may or may not be dry, depending upon the time of the year. When you reach Lover's Lane, turn right to go to Dumbarton Oaks Park. This park is managed by Rock Creek Park.

Check out Beatrix Farrand's landscaped wild garden. Follow the trail past the falls, and take the trail to the left when it forks.

Follow the fork up to Whitehaven Street NW. Walk towards Wisconsin Avenue NW and carefully cross the road. Pick up the Whitehaven Trail on the other side of Wisconsin Avenue NW.

Take the Whitehaven Trail all the way to Glover-Archbold Park . Just before you reach the Foundry Branch (stream), turn left and take the main trail through Glover-Archbold Park.

For your safety, follow any detours in place.

When you reach M Street NW/Canal Road, turn left and follow the sidewalk a short distance until there's a sharp turn on your left. Follow this trail and go through the tunnel, under Canal Road, and step on to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal tow path (dirt and stone path).

Follow the towpath to the aqueduct, and continue onto K Street NW/Water Street NW.

Turn left on 34th Street NW, and continue up the hill. Take the path to the footbridge over the canal.

Enter Francis Scott Key Memorial Park . This park is dedicated to the man who wrote the poem that would eventually become our National Anthem. Key lived in a home near this location while he was attorney general for the District of Columbia. His home was heavily altered in the 19th and 20th centuries and was eventually demolished to make way for the Whitehurst Freeway.

Follow the sidewalk to the left, and stay on the sidewalk. Cross Key Bridge.

Take a left at the end of the bridge. Follow signs for the Custis Trail and Theodore Roosevelt Island .

Take a brief detour at Theodore Roosevelt Island if you would like. Enjoy the memorial plaza and take in the natural sounds of this 88.5 acre island. Once known as Analostan Island and Mason's Island, this site was once a camp for African American refugees from slavery and Camp Green, a camp for African American troops partly recruited from freedom seekers. This island was where the first United States Colored Troops trained.

Return to the paved Mount Vernon Trail. Follow the signs to Memorial Bridge.

Cross Memorial Bridge, and walk towards the Lincoln Memorial .

Restrooms are available at the Lincoln Memorial to the left of the stairs.

From the Lincoln Memorial walk up either side of the Reflecting Pool towards the Washington Monument. Stop at the World War II Memorial .

Exit through the Atlantic pillar, and follow the path through Constitution Gardens .

Cross Constitution Avenue NW, and turn left until you reach Virginia Ave. NW.

Turn right on Virginia Avenue NW, and continue until you return to Thompson Boat Center.

This hike allows you to touch on several other trail systems that are accessible from Rock Creek Park. This includes:

184.5 miles of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

830 miles of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

560 miles of the Star-Spangled Banner Trail

27 miles of trail along the George Washington Memorial Parkway (Potomac Heritage Trail and Mount Vernon Trail)

3,000 miles of trails in the Captain John Smith National Historic Trail

680 miles of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail

Accessibility The Normanstone Trail, Whitehaven Trail, and Glover-Archbold Park Trail can be muddy, rugged, and narrow. These trails are not recommended for those who experience difficulty moving over rough terrain. Anyone wanting to attempt this hike can alter it to suit their needs by proceeding through Georgetown and remaining on sidewalks to get to Dumbarton Oaks Park and Montrose Park. Proceeding along city streets will provide visitors with the opportunity to view the architecture of Georgetown homes. The C&O Canal, Mount Vernon Trail and the National Mall are accessible.

This hike on nps.gov

13 more mapped segments without a name are on the map, not in the list.

About these trails

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-14 and simplified for the map. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do", unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.