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Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Widewater loop from Great Falls Park

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Widewater loop from Great Falls Park

Easy

3.0

(6)

riders

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Widewater loop from Great Falls Park

01:59

21.4km

110m

Cycling

Easy bike 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: April 26, 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

589 m

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

1.34 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

1.52 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 …

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1.93 km

Lock 15 and View of the Potomac River

Highlight • River

Lock 15 marks the beginning of the "Six Locks" series, which raises the canal 50 feet past Great Falls. Built from red sandstone boulders transported from Seneca, these locks differ …

Tip by

5.26 km

Enjoy easy access to the Great Falls, a popular destination for photographers, hikers, and expert kayakers. Though not exceptionally tall, the falls surge with force as the Potomac River carves through ancient, metamorphic rock.

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10.2 km

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal Trail is a 184.5 miles trail that runs alongside the C&O Canal. It is made of a mix of dirt and gravel. As it …

Tip by

11.6 km

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Lake

18.5 km

Widewater

Highlight • Lake

As you ride onto the wide canal bend, you’re met with serene water views—Widewater is a beautiful lake that serves as habitat for many bird and wildlife species. It’s an …

Tip by

20.5 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

21.4 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

20.4 km

509 m

432 m

123 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

20.4 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 20 May

33°C

20°C

63 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

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

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Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Widewater loop from Great Falls Park

Washington Aqueduct Observation Platform

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls

Great Falls Park on the C&O Trail

Lock 15 and View of the Potomac River

Great Falls

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail

Widewater

Start of the Great Falls Foot Trail

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