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Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Crossing Over the C&O Canal loop from Medical Center

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Crossing Over the C&O Canal loop from Medical Center

Hard

3.2

(6)

riders

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Crossing Over the C&O Canal loop from Medical Center

05:37

93.5km

510m

Gravel riding

Hard gravel 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: June 8, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 67.9 km for 313 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

47.1 km

Dierrsen Wildlife Management Area

Nature Reserve

48.5 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

53.3 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

57.6 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

57.9 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

58.0 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

59.6 km

Widewater

Lake

66.4 km

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Lake

68.0 km

Cedar Island Conservation Park

Nature Reserve

71.6 km

Lock 6, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Highlight • Monument

One of the locks (#6 of 75) on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. These should ensure the shipping traffic between Cumberland and Washington to transport coal.
The lock keeper's houses …

Translated by Google •

Tip by

83.9 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

86.2 km

Dalecarlia Tunnel

Highlight • Structure

The Dalecarlia Tunnel runs the Capital Crescent Trail under the Washington Aqueduct and MacArthur Boulevard. It was built in 1910 as a railway tunnel and is now over 100 years old.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

93.5 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

43.5 km

36.4 km

9.27 km

2.56 km

1.53 km

353 m

Surfaces

43.6 km

32.7 km

12.9 km

3.81 km

494 m

< 100 m

Elevation

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

Highest point (150 m)

Lowest point (0 m)

Weather

Today

Wednesday 22 July

33°C

21°C

35 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 8.0 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 Medical Center

Pennyfield Lock

Swains Lock

Start of the Great Falls Foot Trail

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls

Great Falls Park on the C&O Trail

Lock 6, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Crossing Over the C&O Canal

Dalecarlia Tunnel

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