Famagogo - Bike-Packing the C&O Canal Towpath

Famagogo takes a bike-packing tour on the C&O Canal Towpath Trail. This is a 185 mile trail from Cumberland, MD to Washington DC. The family completed this tour in 5 days riding with all their camping gear on their bikes and camping each night along the trial in the Hike and Bike Campgrounds. This was a wonderful family adventure even with getting lost finding the end of the trail very near our Nations Capitol.
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Website and blog: www.famagogo.com
instagram: @Adventurous.Miss
@RoadTripTough

[@FollowThomas]

Cool. I enjoyed watching it. I'm heading there next week to ride it all away. Thanks for the heads-up video.

[@luketheduke5521]

it’s been a week hope u enjoy !

[@GMoneyLove]

A piece of advice for anyone watching. When Peter and his family first got to the '"end" of the trail and found a building in the way, go right down the street, down the hill to Water St. Turn left and follow along the river which will take you to Thompson Boat Center. On the far side of TBC you will find the marker as shown. You may not every inch of the path, but you'll bag the the whole thing none the less. There are lots of restaurants etc. in Georgetown. As an aside, when you go through TBC, please walk your bike vs. riding, You are advised to be very careful around those boats the kids in the video are moving around, and a spring afternoon is prime activity time for the HS rowers who are in season.

[@adamnorton748]

Yeah I got ahead of my group and rode the C&O to the actual mouth of the canal exactly where they got to and there was just.. an overpass and some dudes fishing. Called my friends later on and they guided me to TBC :-) It's definitely busy in Georgetown though

[@rechuckg]

I am planning on riding the GAP and C&O September 2022. I have watched a bunch of other videos of the ride. Yours was one of the most refreshing I have seen. Great job!

[@Famagogo]

Glad it was helpful! Have a great ride!

[@hemaccabe4292]

This is so useful. Thank you.

[@Famagogo]

Welcome! Are you going to ride the trail?

[@hemaccabe4292]

@@Famagogo I’d love to, but even though I live close by in Richmond, there are many barriers.

[@blain5827]

Your daughter and wife are surprisingly good commentators 👍✊✌️

[@Famagogo]

Yes they are, Thanks!

[@LesCyclopreneurs]

Great to see other family in bikepacking! Thanks for your video!

[@Famagogo]

Thanks for watching! Did you see the video this week? Its about backpacking the Colorado Trail and everything goes wrong...Still a fun time.

[@LesCyclopreneurs]

@@Famagogo ohhh not yet, but i Will going Watching this adventure with interest! Have good rides!

[@dba4a6d76]

well done!

[@20DYNAMITE06]

Fun fact: That grate thing that is visible as you cross the foot bridge at 8:29 is "The Water Gate" for the canal and the namesake for the Watergate Hotel across the street in the background... which I'm guessing you may have heard of :) Not sure if you're from the area, so I thought you might like to know. Thanks for sharing your adventure!

[@Curiosityuk]

Great to see a family doing this together. Great video.

[@eduardoduvoisin2238]

Muito legal

[@JRNY07]

Great video! I was like “it’s behind the Thompson Boat Center!” When you couldn’t find the mile O marker. :) Anyway, as to being lost in Georgetown: there’s a point where bikers need to go up a ramp and cross over the canal to the other side to continue on to the towpath’s end. I can’t post the pic I took from Googlemaps but it’s after the concrete arch bridge just as you get into Georgetown.

[@Famagogo]

Yes, We crossed that bridge. The hardest part of the trail in the last few miles. Thanks for the locals insight.

[@32campingusa84]

Great video and family . Thank you for information.

[@Famagogo]

Thanks for watching!

[@brentcollins9727]

What a nice family you have

[@Famagogo]

Thank you!

[@garypostell5268]

That would be a very enjoyable ride💯🇺🇸💪

[@TheTrakker]

Just found this video. Great video, and a really nice way to spend time together. My granddaughter and I may have to do this when she is a bit older.

[@lilianatkinson48]

Good morning!! Cheers from Brazil!!

[@garypostell5268]

It can be done!

[@jreda2000]

Awesome trip!

[@Famagogo]

It was! Thanks!

[@gaylenealis7268]

I did this trail in 2003 w/ 2 other people. Two of us were pulling trailers and the other one had panniers, by the end of the trip I had a trailer and panniers. I remember the campsites were nice when we got started at Cumberland, Maryland and the closer to DC the trashier they became. I was in charge of everything except the tent, and their bikes and personal items and we got to Cumberland and come to find out they forgot the tent. So we ended up with 2 tarps and ropes as the tent. We didn't sleep so good the first night as the made a lean to. The next night we got as far as Handcock, MD and someone had taken a old lumber yard and where they stored lumber the new owners made it an bunk area, then provided a toilet and shower stall, and tables to eat at. It was like staying at the Hilton compared to what we slept in the night before. Our last night we were at a campground that was like the hiker/biker camps but this time they figured out how to make an A frame tent. I remember the tunnel as well, there was sign to dismount and have your flash lights out. We didn't do either but as soon as we got in the tunnel we realized how dark it got and got off the bikes and pulled out the flashlights.(this was before head lamps really became popular. Also we didn't realize how long the tunnel was , it looked short but ended up about a mile long. When we got to Great Falls the other two people I was with bailed and one call her aunt to come get us. Thankfully the aunt saw my disappointment and told me to keep going (thankfully took the cart and panniers from me) and I was able to finish in Georgetown. I got there and had to ask for help on how to find the people I was with. I didn't even realize there was a mile 0 to find at that time. Oh well I have very good memories of that trip.

[@Famagogo]

Sounds like a great trip even without the tent. Thanks for watching.

[@bluemini73]

Great video. Thanks for sharing. I did the GAP/C&O from Pittsburgh to DC a few years ago. What beautiful trails. So good to see you doing the trip as a family. Shorter days and more time to see the sights and enjoy time together is great. If you are planning another bike trip, I highly recommend the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP). About the same distance and a different"feel"

[@Famagogo]

Thanks. The girls went back and did the GAP trail and had a blast. Great recommendation, what others do you like?

[@bluemini73]

@@Famagogo The only other trail I've done is the Silver Comet/Chief Ladiga trail in Georgia and Alabama. Very nice paved rail trail. About 90 miles end to end. I did a round trip over 3 days last fall. The only downside is that there are limited options for overnight. I camped in the woods, but I think that is generally frowned upon. My only other long trip was down the Atlantic coast of Florida from DeLand to Key West. Technically, the East Coast Greenway, but basically riding along A1A and US1 with some trails and local roads mixed in. It was a good trip. 3 nights camping, 3 air bnbs and 2 hostels. The trip was very different than either of the trails. A fair amount of traffic, no need to carry food. Plenty of sleeping options, lots of sun. The Miami to Key Largo section is not fun at all, but Key West is a great destination. I'm planning to do RAGBRAI next year. That should be interesting.

[@socaljoe]

Great adventure! Love the family aspect and their involvement. I road it last year and you brought back a lot of fresh memories. I remember the challenge of making that critical turn off the trail in Georgetown and navigating the last part to make it to mile marker 0! Thanks for sharing

[@tombukowski3839]

What an amazing video, and the way it told the story was amazing, and truly refreshing for youtube.✌️

[@Famagogo]

Thanks so much, that’s very inspiring for us to do more! Thanks for watching.

[@outdoorjunkie2483]

one of our family's favorite place to go to. Nice video I never thought about all those places to eat out along the way.

[@Famagogo]

It made for some interestingly nice glamping days.

[@outdoorjunkie2483]

Peter Holcombe Lol that still not glamping for some so I’m going to say just a different adventure for you guys😉. I’m planning a bike trip with our little guys. I just hope our camp stops are not crowded. Looks like you guys had them all to you self.

[@RealDocJames]

Great video. Nice to see the family having fun in the great outdoors. Awesome editing and cinematography too BTW. This trail is virtually in my backyard and I've done segments of it many times through the years, but this year I'm finally gonna go all the way. You guys have inspired me!

[@Famagogo]

Thats great! As you know its beautiful. Have a wonderful trip!

[@Veniguiribici]

Super cool! Been wanting to tackle it with my family too

[@Famagogo]

You should go for it. The C&O is such a wonderful family bike packing tour.

[@timparsons2741]

AWESOME ! Gonna have to add that ride to my list .

[@PathfinderGregg]

That is an awesome family adventure!

[@jimhemig7169]

GREAT VIDEO! I want to ride this and now I know what I'm getting into! Thank you for posting!

[@plumislandmichael729]

Awesome family adventure! Congrats

[@mwoolner]

What a great video :)

[@CrimsonKnight813]

Great video. I am planning to take my wife & father from Pittsburgh to NYC using bits of the C&O path this summer. I love these type of vids.

[@Naryosket]

Great Video....!!!

[@bocahkampungtulennew]

Amazing... Mantaps..

[@Chasing_The_Dream]

Great family adventure. We are hoping for a fall 2020 or spring 2021 run. Glad you found “0” Its not an easy find. Thanks for sharing.

[@Famagogo]

Thanks, I hope we left some mystery in finding the elusive "0 mile marker". Have a great trip!

[@wagnersantos8586]

Lugar bonito!!!

[@adriansmith38]

Looks a good route. Shame the canal has not been restored.

[@bluemountaindrivepae]

I saw the snake by that tunnel a few times.

[@donvincentjr]

Awesome video! I found and watched your video because I want to try this. But Im just trying to figure out....Did you bike all the way BACK? I was hoping to see a bus service with a big trailer running routes back. Lol

[@Famagogo]

That’s a great question. We had a friend shuttle us to the start and we rode back. There are shuttle services though. If you google you should find them. Thanks for tuning in and the great question.

[@Griggsy89]

Great video! My family is trying to plan a trip on the C&O with our one year old in May. Can you offer any advice planning for the trip?

[@bluemini73]

I found the trail guide very helpful. www.amazon.com/TrailGuide-15th-Official-Towpath-Allegheny/dp/099865342X

[@davidg.8745]

Nicely done vid. I will be doing the C&O for the first time in June as part of my retirement ride. What size tires did you use and did you feel that they were wide enough? Or did you want fatter tires?

[@Famagogo]

I'd have to look I think they were 1.75. Really just normal mountain bike tires.

[@sredniv]

Nice video, I have ridden sections of this trail and would like to bike-pack the entire length someday. How did you get back to your starting point after the trip?

[@Famagogo]

We had a friend drive us up and we rode back to DC. Thanks!

[@RealDocJames]

You can take Amtrak back to the start or beginning whichever the case may be. They let you bring you bike on board and check into the baggage car.

[@TapioBlue]

People with real food, lol.

[@K5Adventures]

I’m thinking about doing this trail with my 13 yo son next Spring. But I don’t know if he’ll be about to do 184 miles in 3-4 days. How did you prepare your daughter for the ride?

[@Famagogo]

Hi, this is always a concern with kids on expeditions. My daughter has done lots of big trips. Usually they are in a kayak not a bike. In fact this was her first bike tour ever, mine too. We hadn't been on bikes in over 9 months before this trip. I wouldn't recommend this approach and get out riding a good bit before tackling the C&O. Our first few days were the hardest but it was so exciting and fun it made the difference. After our initial sourness (mostly saddle sore) it got much easier. I think with any kids adventure it's really important to have goals or fun treats to look forward to along the way, this can be ice cream or time in the hammock, etc. Also picking a realistic pace to support this is important. If you need 3 more days to make it happen that's great and just 3 more days of fun with your kid. Let me know if you have any other questions? This is a great ride for kids.

[@K5Adventures]

@@Famagogo thanks for the tips and advances. I will be doing shorter trails 6-10 miles with my son before we tackled the C&O trail. My goal is for us to ride at least 40 miles a day before we face the C&O. I look forward to the challenge. You and your family have inspired us to try this adventure.

[@hemaccabe4292]

Do you always camp or do you use sometimes use hotels?

[@Famagogo]

We camped on this one but have done it using B&B's on other trails. It makes for a much lighter bike but less freedom to stop anywhere you like.

[@hemaccabe4292]

How do you get back to your car?

[@Famagogo]

We had a friend drop us off and we rode back to our van in DC. There are shuttle services for the C&O.

[@GoProMotions]

Mile 0 a stick in the dirt lol Welcome to the northeast where history and landmarks are cleared and forgotten to make way for condos and commerce. So glad I moved my family to the Cumberland Plateau