Paw Paw Viewpoint–Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, 4 lakes is a 4.9-mile out-and-back in Dierrsen Wildlife Management Area near Rive Gauche Estates, MD. The route passes Paw Paw Viewpoint, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and Lock 22: Pennyfield Lock before reaching Chesapeake and Ohio Canal at the turnaround, 2.3 miles in. It is mostly level, with 188 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 11/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi174 – 381 ft · steepest grade: 22%5.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 39.06781, -77.31345
Nearest town Rive Gauche Estates, MD
Directions
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Paw Paw Viewpoint–Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, 4 lakes
4.9 mi · ▲ 188 ft · 1 hr 44 min
Elevation 173–381 ft
Out & Back · Dierrsen Wildlife Management Area
Trailhead: 39.06781, -77.31345
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:56 AM · sunset 7:11 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Calithea Trail, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Paw Paw Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Paw Paw Viewpoint.
- 50 ftPass Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
- 1.7 miSharp left onto Muddy Branch Greenway Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Lock 22: Pennyfield Lock.
- 50 ftPass Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
- 0.1 miReach Paw Paw Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath, heading NW.
- 1.7 miTurn right onto Paw Paw Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Calithea Trail, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
73% dirt27% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:56 AMSunset 7:11 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:51 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:11 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:38 PM.
More from this trailhead
- Blockhouse Trail–Calithea Trail, 5 sights 2.5 mi · ▲ 174 ft
- Chesapeake and Ohio Canal–Calithea Trail, 4 sights 5.1 mi · ▲ 446 ft
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