25 Great American Adventures

Washington, DC & Maryland Biking

The Trip: The 185-mile C&O Canal towpath from the U.S. capital to Cumberland, Maryland.

Why: Mules stopped pulling coal barges in 1924; now bikers pass locks, lockhouses, and aqueducts while looking for bald eagles and other wildlife. The Monocacy Aqueduct, at milepost 42.2, has just been restored to its original grandeur, and there are trailside campsites, or you can stay at inns along the way in towns like Williamsport and Hancock. The Canal towpath connects to the Great Allegheny Passage trail in Cumberland, making it possible for bicyclists to bike all the way from Washington DC to Pittsburgh, PA.

Don’t Miss: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and Antietam National Battlefield—you don’t have to be a history buff to love them.

For more information: Chesapeake & Ohio Canal