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Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park – Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls loop from North Bethesda

Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park – Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls loop from North Bethesda

Moderate

4.9

(7162)

16,347

riders

Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park – Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls loop from North Bethesda

04:10

69.7km

410m

Gravel riding

Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: March 27, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 3.57 km for 159 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

13.2 km

Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

Like riding on a cloud, the new asphalt is A #1. Car free Saturday and Sunday, so watch out for pedestrians and ride away. Restrooms and waysides along the road.

Tip by

19.3 km

Boulder Bridge

Highlight • Bridge

A beautiful stone bridge with an arch. The construction is completely different from the pedestrian bridges around it.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

20.5 km

Peirce Mill

Highlight • Monument

Peirce Mill, built in 1829 by Isaac Peirce on Rock Creek, once used water to power this mill that processed corn, wheat, and rye until its turbine shaft broke in …

Tip by

21.8 km

Klingle Road Wooden Bridge

Highlight • Bridge

The cycle path meanders along the river and so some bridges are necessary. The variety is surprising, no two seem alike. This one is simply made of wood.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

35.0 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

40.0 km

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Lake

46.8 km

Widewater

Lake

48.5 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

48.8 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

53.0 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

57.4 km

Watts Branch Stream Valley Park

Nature Reserve

69.7 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

34.8 km

17.1 km

11.0 km

5.24 km

867 m

769 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

36.9 km

21.8 km

5.86 km

4.05 km

770 m

410 m

Elevation

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

Highest point (120 m)

Lowest point (0 m)

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

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Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park – Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls loop from North Bethesda

Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park

Boulder Bridge

Peirce Mill

Klingle Road Wooden Bridge

Lock 6, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls

Start of the Great Falls Foot Trail

Swains Lock

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