Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Pennyfield Lock loop from Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Pennyfield Lock loop from Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Easy

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riders

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Pennyfield Lock loop from Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

01:22

23.6km

70m

Gravel riding

Easy gravel ride. Mostly paved surfaces. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: November 9, 2026

Tips

Cycling is not permitted along parts of this route

After 2.31 km for 53 m

After 21.4 km for 52 m

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

48 m

Angler's Inn parking lot

Highlight • Parking

The lower parking lot near the Potomac River is a popular spot for kayakers and provides the best access to Billy Goat Trail sections A and B. There are restrooms …

Tip by

2.38 km

Great Falls Park on the C&O Trail

Highlight • Waterfall

Located at mile 14.3 on the C&O Canal Towpath in Potomac, Maryland, Great Falls Park is a must-visit highlight for hikers, cyclists, and history buffs alike. A short boardwalk leads …

Tip by

2.56 km

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls

Highlight • River

Great Falls has a scenic Horseshoe Bend where the river curves in a horseshoe shape around a rocky outcrop. It's a nice spot to stop for photos on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail.

Tip by

2.86 km

Start of the Great Falls Foot Trail

Highlight • Trail

The Great Falls of the Potomac is a place with various rapids and small falls in the Potomac. The place marked here may only be entered on foot. Bicycles and dogs 😜 must stay outside.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

3.31 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

5.16 km

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

7.08 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

11.9 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

23.6 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

19.1 km

4.43 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

23.7 km

Elevation