C&O Canal: Swains Lock to Great Falls

Growing up in the Washington, DC area has given me the pleasure of a lifetime of memories at the C&O Canal.  This canal is 185 miles long and it starts in Georgetown and goes all the way along the Potomac River west through Maryland.  

I've learned how to canoe, bicycle, and rock climb along the different section of the C&O Canal's towpath.  I would love to eventually share information on all the different sections of the canal.  There is so much history to see and experience in addition to all the different sporting activities you can do along the towpath.  

Here are a couple winter time pictures I took walking along the section from Swains Lock to Great Falls.  There are nice opportunities to view the Potomac River along this section.  Swains Lock has free parking and is around 2 miles from Great Falls where the parking costs money.  So if you're a walker and you want to see the falls for free, park here and hoof it!

Lots of Ducks!

Duck Bums!

An odd patch of bamboo... ??

Bald Eagle

Rocks along the canal

Birds

Thanks for reading!  If you have a National Parks Passport Book, then you should visit the Great Falls Visitor Center for a stamp.  

For more information about visiting the C&O Canal: http://www.nps.gov/choh

Catoctin Mountain Park

I recently went hiking with some friends at Catoctin Mountain Park in Thurmont, Maryland.  I had never been before, but had always thought about going as I would drive by the entrance on my way to Cunningham Falls.  It was MLK Day weekend, so entrance to National Parks was free, but it looked like the park doesn't charge for entrance anyways.  Also, just as an FYI, they close the park road during the winter so you can only park at the Visitor Center and hike up the trails from there.

So we started at the Visitor Center and hiked up, up, up to the Thurmont Vista.  The vista is like 600 feet up the mountain with a beautiful view of Thurmont, MD.  During the summer you can drive up the mountain and park closer to the vista, which would allow you to avoid the 600 foot, one mile climb.

Here are my pictures from the hike:

Mossy Green Hillside

Enhanced Hillside

Trail to Thurmont Vista

Snack Break at the Vista

View from the Thurmont Vista

Sign

Me and the Vista

Hiking Girls

Summit! LOL

Trail options

Sun and Shadows on the Mountain

Greenery in the Winter

C&O Canal: Riley's Lock

Riley's Lock is one of the many places along the C&O Canal that you can park to access the towpath.  The C&O Canal is a National Park with 134 miles of trail which starts in Washington DC and follows the Potomac River west.  

Aqueduct at Riley's Lock

 Riley's Lock has a small boat ramp so recreational boaters and fishers can access the Potomac River.  The ramp is on Seneca Creek, giving boats a gentle start before they enter the fast currents of the Potomac.  These pictures were taken when the creek and river were both very swollen from a week of non-stop rain.

Side wall of the Aqueduct

Riley's Lock House

View of Seneca Creek from the Aqueduct

View of swollen rapids on the Potomac River from C&O Canal towpath

Swollen Potomac waterfall near Violette's Lock

Brave kayaker

Violette's Lock, just south of Riley's Lock

Paddle Boarders enjoying the peaceful C&O canal

Potomac River, overflowing it's bank all the way to the retaining wall.

Potomac River, You can see how high the water is.  Poor bushes..

Lovely C&O Canal

Reflective waters of the C&O Canal

Towpath along the C&O Canal

Seashells so far from the sea!

For more information on visiting the C&O Canal, visit: http://www.nps.gov/choh