The C&O Canal

Competing with the emerging railroads to move goods and tourists from inland Maryland to Washington, DC, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal ultimately was a colossal failure as it took nearly 22 years to construct and ran profitably for only about 10. But the history of the canal, initially conceived of by George Washington himself, is fascinating, and the riding is sublime. The trail is the tow path used by the mules who pulled the canal boats and in many stretches is more akin to a double-track than the smooth compacted surface of the GAP. Abundant hiker/biker campsites and small towns provided lots of overnight options and we mixed camping and Inns depending on the weather and our need for a shower!