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Swains Lock – Pennyfield Lock loop from Watts Branch

Swains Lock – Pennyfield Lock loop from Watts Branch

Easy

4.6

(3871)

7,859

riders

Swains Lock – Pennyfield Lock loop from Watts Branch

01:32

22.6km

30m

Gravel riding

Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: June 8, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment that goes up or down a series of steps

You may need to carry your bike.

After 12.7 km for 7 m

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

58 m

Swains Lock

Highlight • Historical Site

These are hard to come by along the C&O canal and usually hidden. Always nice to know where to get water.

Tip by

4.93 km

Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal Towpath — Blockhouse Point Park

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Stretching for a total of 184.5 miles alongside the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O), this trail was initially constructed for mules to walk beside the canal while towing the canal boats, nowadays, the trail offers captivating vistas along the Potomac River's path.

Tip by

9.94 km

Riley’s lock

Highlight • Monument

Riley’s Lock is a fun, happening place. Every time I pass by it is bustling with activity. There are two row boat clubs along Seneca creek. There are kayak, jet ski and canoe rentals, there is a pub with live music every Sunday, there are Girl Scouts at the lock house. People swimming in the canal and sunbathing by the river. As of mid-April the NPS has not turned on the water fountain though, something really important for Cyclists. There was a woman at the lock that handed me a bottle of water and saved my bacon as I had another 15 miles to go on the MTB to get to my car and was seriously considering drinking the Seneca creek.

Tip by

10.4 km

Seneca Quarry Stone Mill Ruins

Highlight • Historical Site

Built in 1837 by the Seneca Sandstone Company, this mill was created to process the distinctive red sandstone quarried nearby. Today, the ruins, easily spotted by their red sandstone walls, are accessible via the C&O Canal towpath and are especially visible during the winter months when vegetation is dormant.

Tip by

10.6 km

Old Seneca Quarry Stone Mill

Highlight • Historical Site

Seneca Quarry provided the stone for hundreds of buildings in and around Washington DC. The stone was lilac grey when removed, but turned a red color over time.

The quarry is located along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. It's an interesting place to stop off on a bike trip.

Tip by

13.8 km

Inlet Lock

Lake

17.8 km

Pennyfield Lock

Highlight • Monument

Lock 22, aka Pennyfield Lock, was built between 1829 and 1831, and the name came from the misspelling of the Pennifield family name. It has been restored and offers overnight stays to recreate the rustic feeling from that period.

Tip by

21.3 km

Potomac River Memorial

Highlight • Monument

22.6 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

21.1 km

1.26 km

341 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

21.4 km

1.23 km

< 100 m

Elevation

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

Weather

Today

Wednesday 8 July

28°C

21°C

52 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

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Swains Lock – Pennyfield Lock loop from Watts Branch

Swains Lock

Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal Towpath — Blockhouse Point Park

Riley’s lock

Seneca Quarry Stone Mill Ruins

Old Seneca Quarry Stone Mill

Pennyfield Lock

Potomac River Memorial

Nearby routes

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