AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Blockhouse Point Conservation Park

Lock Island–Paw Paw Viewpoint, 9 sights

13.3 mi · ▲ 529 ft · 4 hr 42 min

Lock Island–Paw Paw Viewpoint, 9 sights is a 13.3-mile out-and-back in Blockhouse Point Conservation Park near Potomac Hunt Acres, MD. The route passes Lock Island, Lock 21: Swains Lock, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and 3 more. It climbs 529 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade. It scores 4/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi167 – 394 ft · steepest grade: 28%13.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.03152, -77.24345
Nearest town Potomac Hunt Acres, MD
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lock Island–Paw Paw Viewpoint, 9 sights

13.3 mi · ▲ 529 ft · 4 hr 42 min

Elevation 166–392 ft

Out & Back · Blockhouse Point Conservation Park

Trailhead: 39.03152, -77.24345

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:56 AM · sunset 7:11 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 50 ftPass Lock Island.
  3. 50 ftPass Lock 21: Swains Lock.
  4. 50 ftPass Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
  5. 50 ftTurn right onto Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail, heading NW.
  6. 3 miPass Lock 22: Pennyfield Lock.
  7. 50 ftPass Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath, heading NW.
  9. 1.7 miTurn right onto Paw Paw Trail, heading NE.
  10. 50 ftPass Paw Paw Viewpoint.
  11. 0.3 miTurn right onto Calithea Trail, heading SE.
  12. 150 ftSharp left onto Blockhouse Trail, heading N.
  13. 0.3 miBear right onto Turkey Fan Trail, heading E.
  14. 0.1 miTurn left onto Upland Woods Trail, heading E.
  15. 0.1 miSharp right onto Old South River Road Trail, heading NE.
  16. 0.3 miBear right onto Muddy Branch Greenway Trail, heading SE.
  17. 0.8 miTurn right, heading S.
  18. 200 ftReach Lock Island, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  19. 0.9 miBear left onto Old South River Road Trail, heading NW.
  20. 0.3 miSharp left onto Upland Woods Trail, heading NW.
  21. 0.1 miTurn right onto Turkey Fan Trail, heading NW.
  22. 0.1 miBear left onto Blockhouse Trail, heading W.
  23. 0.3 miSharp right onto Calithea Trail, heading S.
  24. 150 ftTurn left onto Paw Paw Trail, heading SW.
  25. 0.3 miTurn left onto Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath, heading S.
  26. 1.7 miContinue straight onto Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail, heading SE.
  27. 3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  28. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/lock-island-paw-paw-viewpoint-out-back-15-lakes

Trail surface

45% gravel38% dirt17% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:56 AMSunset 7:11 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~10 min). Leave by 6:41 PM for the 7:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:36 PM — 2 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Potomac Hunt Acres, Maryland