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Swains Lock – Pennyfield Lock loop from Great Falls Park

Swains Lock – Pennyfield Lock loop from Great Falls Park

Easy

4.8

(3975)

19,683

riders

Swains Lock – Pennyfield Lock loop from Great Falls Park

01:11

21.2km

30m

Gravel riding

Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: July 10, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

2.44 km

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Highlight • Trail

This towpath is as much about the journey as the destination. Cruise past historic locks, aqueducts, and shady woodlands along a trail with gentle grades and rich history. Pause at scenic river overlooks or old lockhouses for a quick rest.

Tip by

4.36 km

Swains Lock

Highlight • Historical Site

These are hard to come by along the C&O canal and usually hidden. Always nice to know where to get water.

Tip by

10.6 km

Dierrsen Wildlife Management Area

Nature Reserve

12.1 km

Pennyfield Lock

Highlight • Monument

Lock 22, aka Pennyfield Lock, was built between 1829 and 1831, and the name came from the misspelling of the Pennifield family name. It has been restored and offers overnight stays to recreate the rustic feeling from that period.

Tip by

20.6 km

Washington Aqueduct Observation Platform

Highlight • Viewpoint

Washington Aqueduct was constructed back in the mid-1800s by the Army Corps of Engineers to provide water to Washington, D.C., and is still used today. The observation platform for the …

Tip by

21.2 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

20.2 km

509 m

432 m

123 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

20.2 km

632 m

382 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Wednesday 12 August

29°C

22°C

46 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Swains Lock – Pennyfield Lock loop from Great Falls Park

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Swains Lock

Pennyfield Lock

Washington Aqueduct Observation Platform

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