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District Of Columbia

Crossing Over the C&O Canal – Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls loop from Foggy Bottom–GWU

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

United States

District Of Columbia

Crossing Over the C&O Canal – Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls loop from Foggy Bottom–GWU

Moderate

2.8

(4)

riders

Crossing Over the C&O Canal – Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls loop from Foggy Bottom–GWU

03:29

49.1km

240m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: May 18, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 24.9 km for 92 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

1.01 km

C&O Canal Mile 0 and Tide Lock

Highlight • Monument

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.

Tip by

6.80 km

Crossing Over the C&O Canal

Highlight • Bridge

It's just a shame that cycling is only allowed on the paved road. The many earthy trails to the right and left of the road are very tempting for a mountain biker. Unfortunately explicitly forbidden.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

25.4 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 aqueduct is right next to the C&O and grants you views across the expansive Potomac River. Just across the trail exists a collection of other historic sites.

Tip by

25.9 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

26.2 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

26.3 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 to the Olmsted Island overlook, where the Potomac River dramatically crashes over jagged rocks—one of the most scenic views near D.C. For hikers, the popular Billy Goat Trail offers three segments, with Section A featuring challenging rock scrambles and breathtaking river views. The historic Great Falls Tavern, built in 1829, now serves as a visitor center and launch point for seasonal mule-drawn canal boat rides. The towpath itself is flat and easy to navigate, ideal for walking or biking. Amenities include restrooms, picnic spots, and interpretive exhibits. Parking is available at the visitor center (fee required), or you can park for free at nearby Swains Lock and walk or ride 2.5 miles to the falls.

Tip by

27.9 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 ideal spot to pause, do some birdwatching, and soak in the calm before continuing your journey along the Potomac and the Chesapeake & Ohio canal.

Tip by

30.1 km

Great Falls

Highlight • Waterfall

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.

Tip by

34.7 km

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Lake

49.1 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

24.7 km

19.3 km

3.74 km

608 m

415 m

414 m

Surfaces

18.2 km

15.6 km

11.5 km

3.81 km

< 100 m

Elevation

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

Highest point (110 m)

Lowest point (0 m)

Weather

Today

Monday 13 July

31°C

18°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 16.0 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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Crossing Over the C&O Canal – Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls loop from Foggy Bottom–GWU

C&O Canal Mile 0 and Tide Lock

Crossing Over the C&O Canal

Washington Aqueduct Observation Platform

Start of the Great Falls Foot Trail

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls

Great Falls Park on the C&O Trail

Widewater

Great Falls

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