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| CO Canal MP 88.1-99.4, MD | |
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| | CO Canal MP 88.1-99.4, MD | | | |
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CO Canal MP 88.1-99.4, MD
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| Hiking | 13.04 Miles |
204 AEG |
| | Hiking | 13.04 Miles | 4 Hrs 21 Mns | | 3.00 mph |
| 204 ft AEG | | | | |
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none
[ show ]
| no partners | | I planned to hike this segment ast year , but had to bail due to the path repairs along Big Slackwater ( [ photoset ] ). When I complete my C&O Canal segment hike this upcoming Halloween, I want the final segment to BE the final segment into Cumberland, so today I went back to pick up this missing link.
Easily the best flowers of this segment were the first mile west of McMahon’s Mill, where the path is squeezed between a ~70 ft. cliff and the Potomac River. The vegetation-choked cliff must trap river moisture, because I found at least six flower species in that mile, four of them new to me.
MP 88.8: Lock 41 and, just past it, Lock 42. Together, the locks quickly drop the canal 19 ft., so boats could enter the Potomac River, before re-entering the canal at Guard Lock 4 [ photoset ] .
After Lock 42, some cattle were ahead of me, that must have got loose from the farm up the bluff. As cattle do, they kept their distance, scattering ahead of me. After a mile, all but a cow and her calf had disappeared. The calf actually turned and trotted towards me! The calf didn’t concern me, but I didn’t want to deal with mom, so I made myself small behind a tree.
MP 90.7: Opequon Junction Campground is small, with easy Potomac River access. The well gave water after only eight hand pumps.
MP 93.0: Lock 43. The Lockhouse is 8 ft. lower than the towpath, on the landward side of the canal. It’s odd it would be so low, like it would be prone to flooding. 
A ¼ mile past Lock 43, the towpath turns to gravel road as it enters the Potomac Fish & Game Club. They don’t have a website, so I’m not sure if it is private only, or how much membership costs. The lots are occupied by fifth wheels, mobile homes, modular homes and cinder block bungalows — some covered by RV carports. There’s a large cabana that looks like the one where Jim Jones handed out KoolAid.
MP 94.4: Falling Waters marker [ photo ] , where Lee completed his retreat from Gettysburg on July 14, 1863.
MP 95.2: I didn’t test the Cumberland Valley Campground well hand pump, as someone was camping there, but it must work as the concrete base was wet. As of Spring, 2023, all canal well water is non-potable. Back in April, I was wondering why that changed? 
I didn’t see a lot of flowers the last two miles to Williamsport, but it did some what pick up.
MP 98.1: For miles, I had been hoping to find a second bench -- the first was back in Opequon -- to stop for lunch. Here it was. After I was done eating. Of course.
MP 99.1: It seems like canal locks near major towns are better preserved, and more watered, than those that are isolated. Lock 44 is no exception. ⅓ mile past Lock 44 is the rusty railroad lift bridge which connects the towpath, across Cushwa Basin, to the big red barn that is the Williamsport Visitor Center ... where my loving shuttle drive was waiting. 
Hiking Video: https://vimeo.com/860625228 |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
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