The Maryland side of the Potomac River is pretty much all national park land. A hiking/biking towpath runs the whole way along the C&O canal, with points of interest dotted throughout, usually at the site of a canal lock. Needless to say I didn’t come close to doing the area justice in the past several weeks, but I got in a few.
Riley’s Lock
Furthest upriver I visited was Riley’s Lock/Lock 24, off River Road, in mid-March. It was a record high 80 degree day, it was furiously windy, and we were under a tornado watch, but even with a looming storm there were plenty of people here. This is where Seneca Creek reaches the river.
Where it meets the river, an old aqueduct serves as a bridge over it to connect the towpath.
Lockhouse.
History.
And, of course, the Potomac River in the late afternoon.
With a looming storm, probably not the best idea to stay too long, but nonetheless I crossed the aqueduct and followed the towpath a short way.
Riverside campfire spot.
Following the towpath this way with the river to the left and the canal to the right.
Back at the aqueduct, there was a separate path leading around behind the canal. I turned back and decided to check that out a bit before leaving. I could swear I saw a building through the trees but then couldn’t see it anymore.
I’ll just go check it out real quick-
And… that was thunder. Going the fuck home now!
Violette’s Lock
I came to Lock 23, also off River Road (and up a scary tall hill on the little narrow road to get there), the following week, on another day threatening storms. All the storms were earlier, and this was the one brief reprieve during the day, and what luck it was just after work at my usual time of getting to these places. Even so, there were a few other people here.
The lock itself.
And the river.
I wandered up the towpath a short way, the river to my left, the canal to the right. And the canal? It was loud! Almost deafening when I got close. Sounds like tons and tons of frogs. I couldn’t actually see any, and they must have been little ones that live in the swampy waters right here. They make a big noise, though!
Back to the lock, I passed over the little bridge to check out the areas closer to the riverside.
Despite the fierce storms earlier in the day, the dirt path down here was still firm.
But the storms likely weren’t done yet, and I had to go over that scary hill again, so time to head back.
Blockhouse Point
I’ve been to Blockhouse Point many times, though it has been a while. There’s two different entrances a short way away from each other on River Road. I usually had gone to the trailhead further up the road at the smaller roadside lot but this time I went to the bigger lot a little bit down the road.
There’s some historical plaques here about the Civil War.
I decided against following the trail through the woods as it was very muddy so I opted for the wide open Canyon Trail, following this gap through the trees. It was muddy, too, but the sun helped.
Oh, by the way, I was here literally the next day after Riley’s Lock above, when it was 80 degrees and I had to flee a severe thunderstorm. And this next day… there’s snow on the ground?!
Yeah. The raging storm the night before was the cold front, shoving the weather hard back into the winter it technically still was. Such that it was snowing hard for a little while earlier in the day, much to our amusement back at the office.
The path wound around, some areas snowier than others depending on what patches got what amount of sunlight.
End of the line.
There was no bridge across the canal to get to the area by the river. On either side were very muddy trailheads leading into the woods, some or both likely leading to a means of crossing. Not today, though.
Pennyfield Lock
Off River Road and down another narrow road past a historic community and into the park area.
And through a very bumpy gravel road to the parking area at the end. Then another walk.
Ah, here we are.
Canal.
Lock 22.
Creepy old lockhouse.
Apparently you can reserve it to stay the night in there.
It was in the past occupied by a drunken lockkeeper and Grover Cleveland.
The path led behind the lockhouse and into the woods to a creek offshoot from the river.
I couldn’t see a way to cross over to that other wooded area closer to the riverside. Unless I wanted to walk across a fallen tree.
I returned to the towpath and followed it downstream a ways, the canal on my left, the woods by the river to my right.
I found other little paths into the woods as I went, granting more views of the river.
Back out to the towpath. Check out that rocky cliff! I think there’s houses up top, too.
Alright, time to head back.
Whoa! What was that?!
Something swooped out of the trees toward the canal to my right.
Oh.
It’s a Great Blue Heron!
You know what? I’m not in any huge hurry. I’ll stay here and watch this cool looking bird.
The bird walked slowly, toward the lock and parking lot, as I stayed with it on the path, staying quiet to avoid scaring it away. A couple times it lunged its beak into the water, finding something tasty.
Finally, it flew off to somewhere ahead. I reached the bridge in front of the lockhouse, and there it was.
Then it flew off into the woods again. Bye, bird!
Carderock/Billy Goat Trail C
I’ll finish with the one I actually did first. On a lovely Saturday, since I was heading that direction for something else later in the day, I swung by Carderock, just off the Beltway just before the American Legion Bridge into Virginia. I’m going to do the Billy Goat Trail!
Well, it’s Billy Goat Trail C, which is the easiest one. Billy Goat Trail A is the notorious difficult one. Maybe at some point. Billy Goat Trail B is somewhere in between, and I actually intended to include it this spring but couldn’t make it work. There’s a number of other riverside trails in the Great Falls area, but it’s the section of this park where you have to pay a fee to get in.
Anyway, on to the trail!
And the views of the mighty Potomac from around all this rocky outcroppings.
There are some islands in the river. Not sure if accessible or not. I wonder what’s there. Protected habitat? Secret FBI or CIA activities? Eventual data center? Who knows?
The river appeared rough in places and calm in others. Of course, it’s never really calm. It’s all a trick. The river will fucking kill you.
(Maybe it should have been on this list?)
Anyway, the path continued. I came to this very narrow bridge, wondering how a woman walking three dogs I had just passed got across.
The path wound closer to the riverside, leading around some big rocks.
Then back toward the woods to a crossroad. One way led to a pavilion close to one of the parking areas. Could have done that if I wanted to end the hike here. The other way? Looks like it was to go over a bridge that didn’t seem to exist anymore. Hmm.
Oh, no, wait, there’s where it continues. Across that rocky stream. The one rock even has the blue blaze on it.
Alright, I think I can step over these. Seem sturdy enough. One is wobbling! Oh, it’s fine. And… made it!
Back to the path and back to river views.
Some rapids coming up.
After a little while, came to this big rocky outcropping. If I had more energy, I might have climbed all over that.
I had to pause here anyway, since I could see three people coming the other direction I wanted to let pass. They seemed to be stalled at a spot I couldn’t quite see just around a bend. Eventually, they finally went by, so I went over to where they were.
Oh. That’s what was taking them so long.
It’s another stream crossing, only this time under a small waterfall and across bigger slanted rocks.
Okay, this one is tricky. How slippery are the wet rocks? How well can my shoes grip the big angled rock? Why did I bring this heavy ass tote bag with me that’s just going to throw off my balance?
It took a little back and forth, stepping one direction and then deciding against and returning. Finally just crawled across the big angled rock and hoisted myself up the other side. Made it!
Some jogger was coming the other way, so I wished him luck.
It was just about the end, as the path curved leftward more and more, away from the river.
And back to the towpath!
From here, just a long but straight shot back to the parking lot.
As, through the trees, the sun set over the Potomac River. But I at least finally made it back to my car before it set completely.
For sure there’s so much more along the river to explore, just as there’s more in the region altogether, even plenty of places that despite my four decades of living here I still haven’t been to.
But I think you know where I’m going tomorrow…