Dog-Friendly Day Trips Along Maryland’s C&O Canal Towpath
A flat, shady path runs 184.5 miles from Georgetown to Cumberland, and leashed dogs are welcome on nearly every mile of it. The C&O Canal towpath hides stone aqueducts, mule-era lockhouses, a half-mile unlit tunnel, and river coves made for happy paw splashing.
Some spots have paw-friendly water bowls. A couple of trails politely say no. Here is where to park, what to pack, and which stops your pup will beg to repeat.
1. Great Falls Tavern and the Towpath
White clapboard walls, a canal lock out front, and a water bowl waiting by the door: the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center in Potomac sets a friendly tone right away.
Leashed dogs are welcome on the towpath and many trails here, but two important restrictions apply: pets are not permitted on Billy Goat Trail Section A or on the boardwalk to the Great Falls Overlook.
Parking requires an entrance fee. Fun bit: gold was once mined nearby.
2. River Trail at Great Falls
One mile, one way, and a calmer face of the Potomac: the River Trail rewards short legs and slow sniffers alike.
Leashed dogs are welcome, and parking sits at the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, where the entrance fee applies.
Currents here look mellow but can turn tricky, so keep the leash snug near water. High river levels sometimes flood the path, so check conditions before loading up the car.
3. Carderock Recreation Area
Climbers dangle from cliffs up to 80 feet tall while dogs below do their own version of scrambling.
Carderock sits near Mile Marker 10.5 and welcomes leashed pets on the towpath and trails, including dog-friendly Billy Goat Trail Section C.
Widewater, where the canal broadens into a glassy pool, draws plenty of splashing.
Picnic areas, a reservable pavilion, and modern restrooms make this an easy half-day base camp.
4. Pennyfield Lock
Bring binoculars and a patient pup. Pennyfield Lock, at Milepost 19.6, sits in one of the birdiest stretches of the whole canal.
Wetland, woods, and river habitats stack up close together, so warblers, herons, and woodpeckers all make appearances.
Parking is available right at the lock, and leashed dogs are welcome on the towpath.
Go early, walk quietly, and let your dog practice the fine art of sitting still.
5. Riley’s Lock and Lockhouse 24
Two structures, one clever design. At Mile 22.7, Riley’s Lock joins directly to the Seneca Creek Aqueduct, forming a single stone marvel.
Lockhouse 24 stands nearby, once home to the canal’s last lockkeeper.
A large parking lot makes arrival easy, and neighboring Seneca Landing Special Park adds accessible picnic areas plus kayak and canoe launches.
Heads up: Riley’s Lock Road floods after heavy rain, so check before you drive down.
6. Seneca Creek Aqueduct
Red sandstone gives this aqueduct its distinctive color, and it was the first of the C&O Canal’s 11 aqueducts built to carry the canal across a tributary of the Potomac.
A 1971 flood damaged the structure, and the westernmost arch was later replaced with steel beams.
Leashed dogs may cross on the towpath, and pets are also allowed in Seneca Creek State Park.
7. Edwards Ferry
Union troops once crossed the Potomac here, and the quiet feels a little heavier when you know it.
Around Mile Point 31, Edwards Ferry offers wide-open towpath for walking and biking, plus a boat ramp and roomy parking.
Poke around the ruins of an old store and Lock House 25.
Head north a short way to see the Broad Run Aqueduct, an unusual wooden structure that carried the canal.
8. Monocacy Aqueduct
Seven arches, 560 feet of pale stone, and a river sliding beneath: the Monocacy Aqueduct is the canal’s largest structure, dams aside.
You will find it at Mile 42.2, with vehicle parking right at the site.
Walk the towpath, or step down into the dry waterway itself for a truly odd stroll.
Old warehouse ruins linger nearby, quiet reminders of the freight that once moved through.
9. Point of Rocks
Free parking plus shade equals a happy dog owner. Point of Rocks keeps things simple with leafy trails and cool stretches of towpath.
Leashes are required, and a camping area sits nearby if you want to stretch the trip overnight.
Point of Rocks Community Commons Park also welcomes pets, offering a picnic shelter and restrooms.
Train fans get a bonus: the historic station and Baltimore and Ohio Railroad history are right here.
10. Brunswick and the Towpath
Canal town charm meets practical perks. Brunswick meets the towpath at Mile Marker 55, and free parking waits at the MARC commuter lot.
Food, shops, and lodging sit within easy walking distance for tired paws and hungry humans.
Your dog gets a treat too: a dog park lies just 0.6 miles from the towpath.
Campers can book tent or RV sites at Brunswick Family Campground. Museums stay human-only, though.
11. Dargan Bend
Paddlers know Dargan Bend for its boat ramps, and dog walkers know it for elbow room.
Access to both the canal and the Potomac makes this a low-key stop where leashed pets can amble along the water’s edge.
Amenities stay minimal, so pack water, snacks, and waste bags before arriving.
Quiet is the whole appeal here. Bring a camera and let your dog set the walking pace.
12. Antietam Creek
Slow water, shady sites, and picnic tables at every campsite: Antietam Creek Campground at Mile 69.4 near Sharpsburg makes lingering easy.
Leashed dogs are welcome among the fire rings and grills. Seasonal water pumps and pit toilets cover the basics.
Reach the sites on foot, parking along the shoulder of Canal Road.
Anglers 16 and older need a Maryland license. Leashed dogs also visit nearby Antietam National Battlefield.
13. Ferry Hill
Perched above the canal and the Potomac in Sharpsburg, Ferry Hill Plantation offers a view worth the short climb.
Leashed dogs are welcome outdoors, and benches plus restrooms make it a comfortable pause.
The 19th-century house is recognized as a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site.
A seasonal visitor center opens weekends from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, so time your stop accordingly.
14. Williamsport and Cushwa Basin
Mile Marker 99 brings you to Cushwa Basin, where a historic warehouse anchors one of the prettiest stretches of canal in Williamsport.
The restored Conococheague Aqueduct is the showstopper, holding water once again.
Leashed pets can wander around the Trolley Barn grounds, though only service animals go inside buildings.
A lift bridge at Mile 99.5 links towpath to town, where pet-friendly lodging and casual eats await.
15. Four Locks
Four locks in a quarter mile? That is engineering shorthand for a shortcut.
Built between 1836 and 1839 from blue-gray limestone, locks 47 through 50 lifted boats 32 feet and skipped a long river bend.
A lively community once stood here, with stores and a post office.
Today the picnic area serves tables, grills, and shade trees, plus a boat ramp. Lockhouse 49 can be reserved overnight.
16. Hancock and Western Maryland Towpath
Paved trail plus gravel towpath makes Hancock a two-surface treat for paws that prefer options.
The Western Maryland Rail Trail runs 10 miles east to Fort Frederick State Park and over 16 miles west toward Green Ridge State Forest.
Parking sits beside the rail trail, and the visitor center fills the 1785 Bowles House.
Restaurants, outfitters, a grocery, and a bakery famous for homemade pies keep humans fueled.
17. Paw Paw Tunnel Area
Named for a fruit, remembered for grit. The Paw Paw Tunnel at Mile 155 runs 3,118 feet through solid rock, skipping five horseshoe bends.
No lights inside, so pack a flashlight and expect echoing paw steps.
Prefer daylight? The Tunnel Hill Trail climbs over the top with gorge and river views.
River access lets dogs cool off, and nearby Paw Paw, West Virginia, offers food and lodging.
18. Cumberland Canal Terminus
Mile 184.5 marks the finish line, and it feels ceremonial even on a casual afternoon.
Cumberland’s terminus welcomes leashed dogs on the towpath, with parking at the visitor center inside the Western Maryland Railway Station at 13 Canal Street.
Remember the trash-free rule: everything you pack in, including waste bags, leaves with you.
Ambitious? The Great Allegheny Passage begins right here, rolling onward toward Pittsburgh.
