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Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Pennyfield Lock loop from Carderock

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Pennyfield Lock loop from Carderock

Moderate

4.5

(2528)

17,589

riders

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Pennyfield Lock loop from Carderock

04:33

48.9km

110m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: April 27, 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

1.06 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

3.25 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

4.80 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

4.98 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

5.28 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

5.58 km

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Lake

9.50 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

15.7 km

Dierrsen Wildlife Management Area

Nature Reserve

24.5 km

Horsepen Branch Primitive Campsite

Highlight • Rest Area

This campsite is designed for hikers and bikers, as it cannot be reached by car. It offers several amenities, such as toilets, water, a picnic table, and a grill. It's …

Tip by

30.8 km

Inlet Lock

Lake

34.8 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

48.9 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

48.7 km

229 m

Surfaces

48.7 km

229 m

Elevation

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

Weather

Today

Sunday 17 May

30°C

16°C

36 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 11.0 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 – Pennyfield Lock loop from Carderock

Great Falls

Widewater

Great Falls Park on the C&O Trail

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls

Start of the Great Falls Foot Trail

Swains Lock

Horsepen Branch Primitive Campsite

Pennyfield Lock

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