This point marks the start of the 185-mile C&O Canal Towpath Trail that runs from Washington D.C. to Cumberland, Maryland. Originally built as a way for mules to tow boats along the canal, it is now converted into a multi-use trail for outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes.

Alex

April 24, 2025

Hiking

The final (or beginning) mile of the C&O Canal stands here, next to the Tide Lock on the Potomac, the true birthplace of the canal. The spot is marked with a stone pillar. Stretching from Cumberland to Washington, DC, this route ends at Mile Post 0, where hikers and bikers can definitively mark the start or finish of their journey along the historic canal. The towpath follows the canal’s full 184.5 miles to its Cumberland, MD, terminus, often extending to 333 miles for those who begin in Pittsburgh on the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) trail.

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Nearby routes

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Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park – Mount Zion Cemetery loop from Ballston–MU

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Mount Zion Cemetery – C&O Canal Mile Marker 0 loop from Dupont Circle

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Key Bridge Boathouse – Capital Crescent Trail loop from Friendship Heights

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Details

Informations

Elevation 10 m

Weather

Today

Thursday 9 April

16°C

2°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 15.0 km/h

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Take Me There

Location: District Of Columbia, United States

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C&O Canal Mile Marker 0

#1.

Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park – Mount Zion Cemetery loop from Ballston–MU

#2.

Mount Zion Cemetery – C&O Canal Mile Marker 0 loop from Dupont Circle

#3.

Key Bridge Boathouse – Capital Crescent Trail loop from Friendship Heights

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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