Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

United States

Maryland

Washington County

Big Slackwater – Big Slackwater View loop from Dargan

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

United States

Maryland

Washington County

Big Slackwater – Big Slackwater View loop from Dargan

Hard

4.9

(1896)

12,991

riders

Big Slackwater – Big Slackwater View loop from Dargan

05:32

68.5km

330m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: May 27, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

20.3 km

Dam No. 4

Highlight • Monument

Dam No. 4 is located around mile 84 of the C&O Canal Towpath. Built in 1856, this dam was crucial for maintaining water levels for canal operations and remains an …

Tip by

24.5 km

Big Slackwater

Highlight • Cycleway

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

Tip by

25.3 km

Potomac River Trail

Highlight • Trail

25.4 km

Big Slackwater

Highlight • River

26.1 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 …

Tip by

47.0 km

Horseshoe Bend campsite

Highlight • Rest Area

58.5 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

64.6 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 …

Tip by

68.5 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

40.7 km

12.9 km

7.85 km

6.63 km

417 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

41.0 km

11.9 km

8.04 km

7.52 km

< 100 m

Elevation

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

Highest point (150 m)

Lowest point (90 m)

Weather

Today

Saturday 30 May

21°C

12°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 24.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

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

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Edit route

Download GPX

Move start point

Embed on a website

Report an Issue

Nearby routes

Easy

Monocacy National Battlefield Auto Tour

00:49h

11.5km

70m

Easy

4.8

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath

01:26h

18.2km

30m

Moderate

4.5

Campaign Ride

01:39h

27.7km

170m

Hard

Gran Fondo Maryland

08:14h

118km

2,020m

Hard

3.0

Shepherdstown and Williamsport C&O Canal Loop

05:02h

68.1km

450m

Hard

Frederick City Watershed loop

03:13h

46.2km

560m

Moderate

5.0

Martinsburg to Shepherdstown loop

03:41h

60.7km

430m

Moderate

Buckeystown and C&O Canal Loop

02:42h

43.6km

330m

Moderate

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath: Poolesville Loop

03:38h

58.7km

230m

Hard

3.0

108

Big Slackwater – Big Slackwater View loop from Martinsburg

10:44h

144km

840m

Moderate

4.4

104

W&OD Trail — Leesburg section – The End of the W&OD loop from Purcellville

02:04h

35.2km

230m

Hard

5.0

101

Big Slackwater View – Big Slackwater loop from Antietam National Battlefield

09:43h

114km

470m

Big Slackwater – Big Slackwater View loop from Dargan

Dam No. 4

Big Slackwater

Potomac River Trail

Big Slackwater

Big Slackwater View

Horseshoe Bend campsite

View of the Potomac River from the Shepherdstown Bridge

Antietam Aqueduct

Nearby routes

Sign up or log in to keep exploring this route

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️