Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

United States

Maryland

Montgomery County

Monocacy Aqueduct – Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls loop from Barnesville

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

United States

Maryland

Montgomery County

Monocacy Aqueduct – Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls loop from Barnesville

Hard

3.3

(19)

riders

Monocacy Aqueduct – Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls loop from Barnesville

09:10

125km

440m

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: July 7, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment that goes up or down a series of steps

You may need to carry your bike.

After 104 km for 7 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

8.89 km

Monocacy Aqueduct

Highlight • Bridge

This is a lovely bridge over the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. It was built from 1829 to 1833 and is one of 12 such bridges to cross the canal. During the Civil War, it was nearly destroyed, but a lockkeeper was able to persuade troops to destroy a different bridge instead.

Tip by

24.2 km

Catoctin Creek Aqueduct

Highlight • Bridge

The Catoctin Aqueduct, situated along the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal in Maryland, was constructed between 1832 and 1834. The aqueduct served as a vital waterway infrastructure, allowing canal boats to cross over the Catoctin Creek.

Tip by

43.8 km

Dickerson Conservation Park

Nature Reserve

50.8 km

Ruins

72.7 km

Inlet Lock

Lake

75.2 km

Dierrsen Wildlife Management Area

Nature Reserve

76.7 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

86.0 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

86.2 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

87.7 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

89.8 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

90.1 km

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Lake

94.0 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

125 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

93.5 km

21.8 km

8.39 km

618 m

345 m

228 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

48.7 km

45.5 km

22.7 km

6.84 km

1.12 km

< 100 m

Elevation

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

Highest point (170 m)

Lowest point (30 m)

Weather

Today

Friday 17 July

32°C

20°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 8.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

July 20, 2024,C&O / GAP Trail- day2

Coming out of Washington, it was nice to see the resurfaced trail- smooth like butter! 🧈
As we passed, all the lock houses we joked on which one we would move into. Here's a few pics. Which one do you like? We did get caught in the rain that ended up moving out, thank goodness. BTW, I forgot how close …

May 27, 2024,C&O Canal Trail Day 3 - Bald Eagle Hiker/Biker Campsite to Washington DC

I departed Brunswick Maryland from the Bald Eagle primitive campsite on Memorial Day - Monday, May 27th, 2024, and rode 51 miles to Mile Marker Zero of the C&O Canal Towpath Trail in Washington DC.

There was a severe thunderstorm the night before this ride. Surprisingly, the trail conditions were pretty good until I got to the Point of Rocks …

Want to know more?

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Edit route

Download GPX

Move start point

Embed on a website

Report an Issue

Report restricted access

Nearby routes

Easy

Monocacy National Battlefield Auto Tour

00:49h

11.5km

70m

Easy

4.9

104

Washington & Old Dominion Trail

01:29h

25.4km

140m

Easy

4.8

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath

01:26h

18.2km

30m

Moderate

3.0

Needwood Loop

02:39h

31.2km

160m

Moderate

5.0

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath

04:42h

62.8km

90m

Moderate

5.0

Fairfax County Parkway Trail

02:22h

40.4km

250m

Moderate

5.0

Barnesville loop

01:47h

29.0km

250m

Moderate

5.0

Leisure cycling loop from Barnesville

01:32h

25.1km

220m

Moderate

4.3

C&O Canal and Agricultural Reserve Loop

02:31h

41.0km

210m

Moderate

C&O Canal Towpath and Agricultural Reserve Loop

04:15h

62.2km

310m

Moderate

4.5

Campaign Ride

01:39h

27.7km

170m

Hard

Gran Fondo Maryland

08:14h

118km

2,020m

Monocacy Aqueduct – Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls loop from Barnesville

Monocacy Aqueduct

Catoctin Creek Aqueduct

Pennyfield Lock

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls

Great Falls Park on the C&O Trail

Widewater

Start of the Great Falls Foot Trail

Swains Lock

Nearby routes

Sign up or log in to keep exploring this route

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️