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Big Slackwater View – Big Slackwater loop from Martinsburg

Routes

Big Slackwater View – Big Slackwater loop from Martinsburg

Hard

5.0

(3)

riders

Big Slackwater View – Big Slackwater loop from Martinsburg

10:25

142km

650m

Gravel riding

Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: March 30, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 27.5 km for 54 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

27.3 km

Potomac River Reservoir

Lake

39.1 km

Dam Number 5

Highlight • Monument

Dam No. 5 is located along the C&O Canal Towpath near mile 106, between Williamsport and Hancock, Maryland. Constructed between 1833 and 1835, it was built to raise water levels in the Potomac River and ensure a steady supply for the canal's operation. Like the other dams along the canal, Dam No. 5 was crucial for maintaining navigable water levels for canal boats, allowing them to bypass the river’s natural rapids and shallow areas.
During the Civil War, Dam No. 5 became a strategic target for Confederate forces, who attempted to destroy it multiple times in an effort to disrupt Union transportation and supply lines. In December 1861, Confederate General Stonewall Jackson led an attack on the dam, but despite several attempts, Union troops successfully defended it, keeping the canal operational.
Today, Dam No. 5 remains a picturesque and historically significant site along the towpath. The area is known for its scenic views of the Potomac, with rushing water cascading over the dam and wildlife such as bald eagles, herons, and fish frequently spotted.

Tip by

48.9 km

Fort Frederick State Park

Nature Reserve

70.3 km

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Lake

89.0 km

Big Slackwater View

Highlight • Trail

Big Slackwater is a deep, smooth area of the C&O canal. It is the place that canal boats used to be launched into the canal.

After a flood destroyed the canal path in 1996, a rasied canal path was reconstructed in 2012. It is now open to the public.

Tip by

89.7 km

Big Slackwater

Highlight • River

89.8 km

Potomac River Trail

Highlight • Trail

90.6 km

Big Slackwater

Highlight • Cycleway

Ride in the morning or weekday, if possible. can get busy on weekends.

Tip by

94.8 km

Dam 4 C&O

Highlight • Monument

Great spot to see the Dam.

Tip by

119 km

Antietam Aqueduct

Highlight • Bridge

The Antietam Aqueduct, located at mile 69.4 of the C&O Canal Towpath, is a three-arch stone aqueduct that once carried the canal over Antietam Creek. Built in 1834, it is constructed from limestone quarried nearby and remains one of the best-preserved aqueducts along the canal. During the Civil War, it was near the site of Confederate troop movements before and after the Battle of Antietam in 1862. Though it suffered some damage over the years, it has been fully restored and now serves as a scenic and historic stop along the towpath, offering great river views and picnic spots.

Tip by

125 km

View of the Potomac River from the Shepherdstown Bridge

Highlight • Viewpoint

Scenic views from the bridge crossing the bridge from West Virginia to Maryland. The MD-side of the bridge offers access to the C&O Canal tow path.

Tip by

142 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

88.2 km

23.0 km

17.1 km

7.69 km

4.05 km

2.09 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

88.4 km

29.0 km

16.7 km

4.03 km

3.99 km

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (160 m)

Lowest point (90 m)

Weather

Today

Friday 12 June

33°C

19°C

95 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 22.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Big Slackwater View – Big Slackwater loop from Martinsburg

Dam Number 5

Big Slackwater View

Big Slackwater

Potomac River Trail

Big Slackwater

Dam 4 C&O

Antietam Aqueduct

View of the Potomac River from the Shepherdstown Bridge

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