Biking the C&O Canal Towpath

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O Canal) runs 184.5 miles along the Potomac River from Washington DC to Cumberland Maryland. Hundreds of original features, including locks, lock houses, aqueducts and other canal structures, are reminders of the canal's role as a transportation system during the Canal Era, which peaked in the mid-19th century.

[@SterlingStreams]

Awesome 👍

[@Iliketoadventure]

Hey thanks for watching and sharing a positive comment! All the best and enjoy the summer!🙏🏼😎👊🏼🌞

[@johnzale7748]

Nice ride. I’m supposed to be riding the C&O right now but had to cancel the trip. The kids and I got sick. Rescheduled for October.

[@Iliketoadventure]

Hey, thanks for watching! It was a great and memorable ride indeed, and the one day of dumping rain definitely made it more interesting - all a part of the adventure! Loved every minute tho! Sorry about your delayed ride, hope the kids feel better soon. October will be a terrific month to ride the C&O! Cheers and all the best!😎👍🏼🚲

[@gobybike99]

I rode the GAP a few years back. I hope to ride the C&O this year.

[@Iliketoadventure]

That’s awesome! I really enjoyed the GAP ride! Happy and safe adventures on the C&O this year! 🤘🏼🚲😎

[@keeperoftheflame4209]

Well done, thanks so much.

[@Iliketoadventure]

Thanks a lot for your feedback! Glad you enjoyed! It was an awesome adventure! Cheers!😎👊🏼

[@sargeroberts2430]

I rode the Gap and the C&O just a few weeks after you did - my first bike tour, and on a hybrid fitted with fenders. The GAP was sensational, and so was the C&O, but for different reasons. Lots of beauty that transitioned into a real adventure upon hitting the Towpath out of Cumberland the very next day after a storm hammered the trail. It was rough going and a real challenge heading over to Hancock through all of that. But, with all of those memorable moments coming out of that trip, I would do it all over again! And hopefully someday soon! Thanks for sharing your video. Nice job.

[@Iliketoadventure]

Congrats on completing the ride as well! An epic adventure for sure, and one never knows what the weather will bring! Had only one downpour day on the C&O and an exhilarating one at that! Glad to be alive! It was an aggressive flash flood. Made the trail quite a challenge on the final day. Wouldn’t change a moment either. All part of the adventure! Cheers!😎🙌🏼🚲 Any future trips planned?

[@FollowThomas]

I like how the drone following you, really cool. I rode C&O Canal Trail to Harpers Ferry on my bike tour, next time I will continue from there.

[@Iliketoadventure]

Drone technology is quite amazing these days! Thanks for watching! Hope you can complete the C&O someday. I’ve also been enjoying the videos on your channel. Great stuff you are doing! Keep up the exciting adventures! Cheers!😁👊🏼

[@blain5827]

What drone are you using?

[@Iliketoadventure]

@@blain5827 I was using the DJI Air2S. It worked amazingly-was quite impressed with it! Are you looking into drones? Doing any adventures? Cheers!😎🙏🏼

[@spaceghost8995]

I am doing this trail next week. (Sept. 2022) I think starting in DC.

[@Iliketoadventure]

That’s awesome! I hope you have a great ride! Beautiful time of year too!😎👍🏼🚲

[@TripleThreat58]

Nicely done, a trail to aspire to.....

[@TripleThreat58]

Do you know if the Erie Canal can be completely biked?

[@Iliketoadventure]

I hope you get to enjoy it one day! Thanks for watching! 😁👍🏼

[@Iliketoadventure]

That’s a great question! I don’t know, but please let me know if you find out. Sounds tempting!

[@Iliketoadventure]

Sorry for my delayed reply. Thanks for watching! I appreciate the positive comment! 😎👍🏼

[@Iliketoadventure]

Good question! I’d like to learn more too. Here’s a link that might help! Keep me posted!😎👍🏼🚲 eriecanalway.org/explore/cycling

[@josephvillarreal6392]

Sweet ride, nice video, my friend!

[@Iliketoadventure]

Thanks for taking the ride with me! 🚲 Cheers bro!😎👊🏼

[@morg52]

What I found remarkable and perhaps a little bit unsettling about the C%O, was that there were places where you have to be very careful and pay attention to where you are going. Lots of drop offs and structures that could really hurt you if you blundered into them in the dark. I remember a tree that looked like it was about to fall down in a campsite. I brought it up to the first Ranger I came to and he shrugged it off, saying, "can't fix everything".

[@Iliketoadventure]

Thanks for watching! I agree- I also found the C&O to be a rugged trail with plenty of obstacles as well as lots of beauty. Definitely had to ride with caution and pay close attention to the trail conditions. Safe and happy adventures to you! 😎👍🏼

[@walterlangston7866]

was on the train back in june but just A small part of it

[@Iliketoadventure]

Right around the same time as me! Might have seen ya on the trail! This was a memorable ride for sure! Hope you get back out there! 🚲💪🏼

[@DeniseLookingOut]

I’m doing this and the GAP in September. Thanks for the preview!

[@Iliketoadventure]

Thanks for watching! The C&O/ GAP are a blast! September sounds like an amazing month to do this ride! Safe travels and enjoy!🤘🏼🚲😎

[@davidrogers7137]

Im struggling with logistics on planning. Assuming you're not from that area: How did you get to start? Where did you leave vehicle if that was the method? How did you get back to start point.?

[@Iliketoadventure]

Thanks for watching! Also good questions! I am not from the area either. I started my trip from Champaign, IL and rode 7 days, 550 miles to Pittsburgh, PA. Next, I rode the GAP for 2 days, 150 miles from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, MD. From there, I rode the C&O towpath 3 days, 185 miles to Washington, D.C. After the 12 day ride, I hopped on an Amtrak with my bike and gear and traveled back to Chicago, IL. Stay tuned for my upcoming video release of this Champaign, IL to Washington, D.C. trip! Coming very soon! Are you thinking of doing a bike tour?😎👍🏼🚲

[@davidingram5965]

Just rode this last month (Sept 2021). Thanks for this excellent summary. We missed the rain and mud. Rough trail with varied surfaces compared to the GAP. I would not ride the C&O again.

[@Iliketoadventure]

Thanks for watching! I appreciate your positive comments. Glad you missed the rain and mud when you did the C&O ride! That trail can really get messy when the weather gets wet. All part of the adventure- never know what kind of weather might show up! Any future adventure plans? Cheers!😎👊🏼

[@rechuckg]

Nice preview. Be careful with the drone in National Parks. The FAA is fining KZbinrs that use them in parks 1000s of dollars.

[@Iliketoadventure]

Thanks for watching and commenting- I appreciate the heads up about the FAA and fines. Typically, I avoid the areas where drones are not permitted. As much as I'd love to capture the beauty in the National Parks, I'd rather not risk the fines! Cheers!

[@bobt2522]

Thanks for the preview of this trail. Based on the trail surface and my riding preferences, you have saved me from a trail that I would not enjoy.

[@Iliketoadventure]

Happy to share a preview! Thanks again for taking the ride with me. The C&O trail can definitely be more rugged than the GAP, especially during wet weather. Both trails are equally beautiful and full of adventure tho! Hope you find the right trail to ride! 🚲😎✌🏼

[@JRNY07]

Looking to bike to DC June or July ‘22. Great video!! I did the GAP in 2017 and just loved it.

[@Iliketoadventure]

Appreciate the comment…and thanks for watching! That’s awesome to hear you are planning the C&O ride next summer! Something to look forward to! Hopefully the rain holds off for you- trail conditions can get rugged and nasty with the rain. All part of the adventure tho! Cheers and happy trails!😁🚲👊🏼

[@francisc1854]

It's amazing the difference a few weeks makes, I don't know when you film but you uploaded it right before our trip and there was no downed trees or any obstacles, my issue was with the trail itself. It was ROUGH compared to the GAP. Mile 0 also had bums camped out and the marker had graffiti on it.

[@Iliketoadventure]

Pedaled into D.C. on June12th. All I saw at Mile 0 were a few cyclist. Just a beautiful day luckily! I agree, the C&O was much more aggressive than the GAP. Both uniquely awesome tho! Hope you have some more adventures in your future! 😎🚲👍🏼

[@francisc1854]

@@Iliketoadventure that was my first big one, before that I just did weekend trips so this was an adventure for me and it was awesome. That last 17 miles into DC was real cool.

[@gravelcasualbikepacking5475]

Going this June what was the weather like

[@Iliketoadventure]

That’s awesome! Weather was great except for the one severe thunderstorm and flash flood - which was crazy dangerous! Otherwise, It was mostly in the 70s and perfect for riding. Enjoy the ride!

[@gravelcasualbikepacking5475]

@@Iliketoadventure thanks I can’t wait

[@Iliketoadventure]

Keep me posted! Just subscribed to your channel.😎👍🏼

[@gravelcasualbikepacking5475]

@@Iliketoadventure thank you I will do a series of vids

[@allenbishop9154]

Having just attempted to ride the C&O from Cumberland, in which I got to mile 25, and gave up do to it being one GIANT mud bog. So please don't say the first 20 miles out of Cumberland are even remotely nice because it is a hog wallowing goat path.

[@Iliketoadventure]

Wow, sorry to hear about that. The rain/weather certainly can wreak havoc and change the trail conditions throughout the entire towpath, even where it’s usually ok. I can relate. I pedaled 72 miles from Hancock to Brunswick and witnessed flash floods along the trail. All day heavy, non-stop rain with lots of falling trees all around and never-ending mud. Conditions can definitely get ugly and aggressive. All part of the adventure. Hope you can get back on the trail. Safe ‘n happy travels!

[@danielduesterbeck4153]

I've had this ride on my radar for the last few years. Hope to do it next summer. Everything that I have read about this trail, the comments have been to be aware of the spring time rains. That you have to be careful of your tire selection, just for this reason. Late summer or early fall, would probably be a wise choice. Each and every ride is subjective. It may have been rainy and muddy for you, but the guy who is doing that ride next week, may never encounter any of that. Have to be able and willing to take whatever conditions are thrown at you. I just finished a loop of Lake Michigan, and we were lucky enough to have only one rain day, in a ride of 20 days.

[@Iliketoadventure]

​@@danielduesterbeck4153 Thanks for checking out my ride! The C&O was the final stage of my summer ride from Champaign, IL to Washington, D.C. Had a blast on this tour, rain or shine! Tire selection does seem essential for this trail. Also, so true that each ride is subjective! I try to embrace all aspects of the journey - all part of the adventure! Congrats on your recent tour around Lake Michigan! That was a fun ride! 19 days and a couple rain days for us when we did it. Loved the lush green UP! Where did you start? Which way did you go? Hope you get enjoy C&O next summer! Cheers!