This page lists access points for drivers along the towpath from Georgetown to Cumberland. The second column shows the milepoint along the towpath. The last column includes GPS coordinates and a link to Google Maps for directions. GPS coordinates were chosen to get drivers as close as possible to access points using roads recognized by Google Maps. Warning: your GPS device might not recognize the same roads as Google Maps.
| Access Point | Mile | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown | 0.0 - 1.1 | The canal is accessible from many points in Georgetown. Parking can be difficult during peak times in this popular neighborhood. | 38.904167, -77.060133 Google map |
| Fletchers Cove | 3.1 | Large parking lot | 38.918691, -77.102019 Google map |
| Chain Bridge | 4.0 | About 30 parking spaces along Clara Barton Parkway. The spaces sometimes fill up on busy days. | 38.932841, -77.112844 Google map |
| Brookmont footbridge | 5.0 | Take footpath off Ridge Drive downhill to the spiraling footbridge over the parkway, which brings you to the downstream end of the picnic area at Lock 5. | 38.939982, -77.120157 Google map |
| Lock 6 | 5.4 | About 15 parking spaces along Clara Barton Parkway. The spaces sometimes fill up on busy days. | 38.944737, -77.123348 Google map |
| Valley Road (Brookmont) | 5.4 | At the end of Valley Road, follow a footpath which leads across the parkway at grade, just upstream from Lock 6. | 38.945460, -77.122672 Google map |
| Sycamore Island | 6.4 | About 15 parking spaces along Clara Barton Parkway. The spaces sometimes fill up on busy days. | 38.95832, -77.131465 Google map |
| Walhonding Road footbridge | 6.4 | Parking lot with 20 spaces on MacArthur Boulevard. Take footpath to the spiraling footbridge over the parkway. | 38.958303, -77.130849 Google map |
| Lock 7 | 7.0 | About 10 parking spaces along southbound Clara Barton Parkway. The spaces sometimes fill up on busy days. | 38.964611, -77.138363 Google map |
| Cabin John Aqueduct | 7.7 | About 10 parking spaces along MacArthur Boulevard. Cabin John Trail leads 0.4 miles down to the towpath. | 38.972854, -77.147357 Google map |
| Lock 8 | 8.3 | Parking spaces along southbound Clara Barton Parkway. The spaces sometimes fill up on busy days. | 38.971559, -77.160636 Google map |
| Riverside Drive | 8.3 | No parking area. Follow path at end of road to Lock 8. | 38.972080, -77.162100 Google map |
| Lock 10 | 8.8 | Parking spaces along southbound Clara Barton Parkway. The spaces sometimes fill up on busy days. | 38.972631, -77.169278 Google map |
| Carderock | 10.4 - 10.8 | Large parking lot runs parallel to the towpath. | 38.974560, -77.201968 Google map |
| Marsden Tract | 11.4 | Small parking area—space for three cars. Follow footpath to bridge across canal. | 38.978697, -77.215888 Google map |
| Old Angler's Inn | 12.2 | Ongoing construction work has reduced parking available at this popular location. | 38.981897, -77.226205 Google map |
| Great Falls | 14.3 | Large parking lot | 39.001748, -77.246836 Google map |
| Access Point | Mile | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls | 14.3 | Large parking lot | 39.001748, -77.246836 Google map |
| Swains Lock | 16.6 | Small parking lot | 39.031634, -77.243531 Google map |
| Pennyfield Lock | 19.6 | Parking lot | 39.054972, -77.290334 Google map |
| Violettes Lock | 22.1 | Parking lot | 39.067226, -77.328483 Google map |
| Rileys Lock | 22.8 | Large parking lot | 39.069167, -77.340877 Google map |
| Sycamore Landing | 27.2 | Parking lot | 39.074731, -77.420193 Google map |
| Edwards Ferry | 30.8 | Parking lot near boat ramp | 39.103463, -77.472933 Google map |
| Whites Ferry | 35.5 | Large parking lot | 39.154861, -77.518206 Google map |
| Dickerson Conservation Park | 39.6 | Parking lot | 39.194685, -77.469402 Google map |
| Monocacy Aqueduct | 42.1 | Parking lot | 39.222563, -77.449987 Google map |
| Nolands Ferry | 44.6 | Small parking lot | 39.249948, -77.482726 Google map |
| Point of Rocks | 48.2 | Parking lot near boat ramp | 39.273218, -77.540045 Google map |
| Lander | 50.9 | Parking area near lockhouse | 39.306507, -77.558006 Google map |
| Brunswick | 55.0 | Parking lot | 39.311220, -77.630749 Google map |
| Weverton | 58.0 | Use caution crossing the railroad tracks. Trains go through this area very rapidly. | 39.329916, -77.681966 Google map |
| Access Point | Mile | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland Heights | 61.3 | About 10 spaces available at the trailhead on north side of Harpers Ferry Road. Use footbridge to access towpath. | 39.329395, -77.731919 Google map |
| Lock 34 | 61.6 | Best used for drop off or pick up. No more than three cars can park legally. | 39.333430, -77.738577 Google mapGoogle map |
| Dargan Bend | 64.9 | Parking lot near boat ramp | 39.364182, -77.740073 Google map |
| Mountain Lock | 67.0 | Small parking lot | 39.385295, -77.734451 Google map |
| Antietam | 69.5 | Parking spaces along Canal Road, which runs parallel to canal for next three miles | 39.419001, -77.74657 Google map |
| Railroad bridge (Shepherdstown) | 72.4 | Large parking lot on Canal Road near the railroad trestle | 39.433927, -77.795512 Google map |
| Lock 38 (Shepherdstown) | 72.8 | Small parking lot near Route 34 bridge | 39.436456, -77.799527 Google map |
| Snyders Landing | 76.7 | Parking lot near boat ramp | 39.465270, -77.777313 Google map |
| Taylors Landing | 81.0 | Parking lot near boat ramp | 39.499645, -77.767866 Google map |
| Dam No. 4 | 84.4 | Small parking lot | 39.496001, -77.826266 Google map |
| Big Slackwater Boat Ramp | 85.4 | Large parking lot | 39.501346, -77.845385 Google map |
| McMahons Mill | 88.1 | Small parking area | 39.530654, -77.823522 Google map |
| Spring Dell Road | 89.1 | No parking. Pick up or drop off only. Follow path 500 feet past red barn to towpath. | 39.530309, -77.844116 Google map |
| Lock 44 | 99.3 | Parking lot | 39.595037, -77.824712 Google map |
| Williamsport Visitor Center | 99.8 | Large parking lot | 39.600996, -77.826927 Google map |
| Access Point | Mile | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lock 44 | 99.3 | Parking lot | 39.595037, -77.824712 Google map |
| Williamsport Visitor Center | 99.8 | Large parking lot | 39.600996, -77.826927 Google map |
| Gift Road | 103.3 | Dirt road for last tenth of a mile. Small parking area near towpath. | 39.616863, -77.888503 Google map |
| Dam No. 5 Road | 106.2 | Limited parking along road | 39.604678, -77.911877 Google map |
| Dam No. 5 | 106.8 | Parking lot | 39.607079, -77.921117 Google map |
| Lock 46 | 107.4 | Small parking area near lock. If the gate is closed you many need to park on Dam No. 5 Road and walk 400 feet to the towpath. | 39.615866, -77.926626 Google map |
| Four Locks | 108.8 | Large parking lot | 39.615311, -77.947494 Google map |
| McCoys Ferry | 110.4 | Parking lot near boat ramp | 39.609261, -77.970065 Google map |
| Fort Frederick | 112.4 | Limited parking at towpath. Parking lot available at the fort, 0.3 mile away. | 39.605391, -78.005041 Google map |
| Ernstville Road | 114.5 | Very limited parking. Do not block gate. | 39.632970, -78.028951 Google map |
| Licking Creek | 116.3 | Parking area. Use Mile Marker Road off Route 40. | 39.655987, -78.053946 Google map |
| Little Pool | 119.6 | WMRT parking lot | 39.684430, -78.103796 Google map |
| Hancock Visitor Center | 122.8 | Turn south off Route 144. | 39.694227, -78.154046 Google map |
| Hancock | 124.1 | Easy access to towpath for a quarter-mile in cental Hancock. Large parking lots. | 39.698253, -78.181036 Google map |
| Access Point | Mile | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock Visitor Center | 122.8 | Turn south off Route 144. | 39.694227, -78.154046 Google map |
| Hancock | 124.1 | Easy access to towpath for a quarter-mile in cental Hancock. Large parking lots. | 39.698253, -78.181036 Google map |
| Berm Road | 125.6 | Road parallels canal from Hancock to this point. | 39.683618, -78.199002 Google map |
| Cohill Station | 130.7 | Small parking area. | 39.645446, -78.251711 Google map |
| Pearre Road, Dam #6 | 134.0 | Limited parking. Do not block gate. Walk 0.4 mile east on WMRT to access towpath at Dam #6. | 39.628174, -78.298256 Google map |
| WMRT Pearre parking lot | 135.9 | Large parking lot. To access towpath, use an informal path across prism or walk 0.3 mile west on WMRT to Lock 56. | 39.636480, -78.323262 Google map |
| Lock 56 (Pearre) | 136.2 | Small parking area | 39.637868, -78.328302 Google map |
| Little Orleans | 140.8 | Parking available alongside form railroad embankment on nearby road. | 39.625648, -78.385868 Google map |
| Kasecamp Road | 147.1 | Unpaved road. Park near gate alongside former railroad embankment. Walk past gate to reach canal. If conditions aren't too wet, you should be able to cross prism near railroad bridge. | 39.603639, -78.425820 Google map |
| Bonds Landing | 150.1 | Unpaved road. Some potentially muddy parking at towpath. More parking near boat ramp. | 39.582848, -78.411246 Google map |
| Roby Hollow | 151.2 | Difficult access point. Very limited parking. Unpaved road. You must walk through Culvert #208 (which could be wet) to reach towpath. | 39.590113, -78.429294 Google map |
| Twigg Hollow | 153.3 | Outdoor Club Road is unpaved and may not be suitable for your family sedan. Parking at Green Ridge Forest campsite #66. Follow sign for Great Eastern Trail to reach towpath. | 39.58128, -78.46154 Google map |
| Paw Paw Tunnel | 156.2 | Parking lot | 39.544450, -78.460806 Google map |
| Access Point | Mile | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paw Paw Tunnel | 156.2 | Parking lot | 39.544450, -78.460806 Google map |
| Lock 67 | 161.9 | Turn south off Route 51 at brown sign for "Town Creek Aqueduct" onto former WM rail right-of-way. Limited parking. Do not block gate. Footpath crosses prism. | 39.52560, -78.53626 Google map |
| Town Creek Aqueduct | 162.3 | Turn south off Route 51 at brown sign for "Town Creek Aqueduct" onto former WM rail right-of-way. Park at end of road. Follow footpath down to aqueduct. | 39.523862, -78.543122 Google map |
| Oldtown (Lock 70) | 166.7 | Parking lot | 39.540405, -78.611936 Google map |
| Spring Gap | 173.3 | Parking lot near boat ramp | 39.564306, -78.719289 Google map |
| North Branch | 175.6 | Parking lot near Lock 75 | 39.587698, -78.743462 Google map |
| River Road | 176.4 | Small parking area | 39.587303, -78.754629 Google map |
| Mexico Farms | 178.3 | Limited parking | 39.599369, -78.750544 Google map |
| Brehm Road | 178.9 | You may be able to park on the road shoulder nearby. | 39.603402, -78.741713 Google map |
| Candoc Recreation Area | 181.8 | Parking available nearby in park. | 39.625274, -78.759307 Google map |
| Canal Parkway | 182.6 | No pulloff area or parking. Path leads down from bridge to towpath. | 39.622741, -78.773223 Google map |
| Elizabeth Street | 183.1 | Limited parking | 39.629393, -78.773132 Google map |
| Cumberland Visitor Center | 184.5 | Large parking lot | 39.649348, -78.762800 Google map |
