Lock Island–Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, 3 lakes is a 4.4-mile out-and-back near Lake Potomac, MD. The route passes Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, Lock Island, Lock 21: Swains Lock and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi161 – 174 ft4.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 39.03795, -77.25516
Nearest town Lake Potomac, MD
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Lock Island–Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, 3 lakes
4.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 28 min
Elevation 162–175 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 39.03795, -77.25516
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:56 AM · sunset 7:11 PM
Bikes allowed on the whole route
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 50 ftPass Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail, heading E.
- 0.8 miPass Lock Island.
- 50 ftPass Lock 21: Swains Lock.
- 50 ftPass Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
- 1.4 miReach Lock Island, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 2.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
100% gravel
Weather
Sunrise 6:56 AMSunset 7:11 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~11 min). Leave by 6:40 PM for the 7:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:37 PM — 1 min before dark.
Good to know
- Bikes allowed on the whole route
More from this trailhead
- Lock Island–Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, 5 lakes 6.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Paw Paw Viewpoint–Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, 7 sights 10.1 mi · ▲ 387 ft
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