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Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Crossing Over the C&O Canal loop from Wiehle–Reston East

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Crossing Over the C&O Canal loop from Wiehle–Reston East

Hard

4.5

(2751)

7,149

riders

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Crossing Over the C&O Canal loop from Wiehle–Reston East

08:33

120km

610m

Cycling

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

Last updated: August 15, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 88.4 km for 90 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

9.92 km

Foxstone Park

Nature Reserve

36.6 km

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Lake

41.1 km

Widewater

Lake

42.6 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

42.8 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

43.1 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

47.3 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

53.6 km

Dierrsen Wildlife Management Area

Nature Reserve

55.0 km

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

80.8 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

86.7 km

View of the Georgetown Waterfront

Highlight • Viewpoint

The cycle path leading here offers magnificent views of the city at any time of the day or night almost along its entire length.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

88.5 km

Potomac River

Highlight • River

The Potomac River, stretching 405 miles from the Potomac Highlands in West Virginia to Maryland's Chesapeake Bay, ranks as the fourth-largest river on the East Coast. Swimming is prohibited in …

Tip by

120 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

59.1 km

40.4 km

6.54 km

5.88 km

5.85 km

2.07 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

53.1 km

38.3 km

20.1 km

7.40 km

944 m

< 100 m

Elevation

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

Highest point (140 m)

Lowest point (0 m)

Weather

Today

Monday 31 August

32°C

21°C

22 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 10.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

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Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Crossing Over the C&O Canal loop from Wiehle–Reston East

Great Falls Park on the C&O Trail

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls

Start of the Great Falls Foot Trail

Swains Lock

Pennyfield Lock

Crossing Over the C&O Canal

View of the Georgetown Waterfront

Potomac River

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