Photo credit: Steve Dean

Along the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, Maryland is the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park preserves America’s early transportation history while being surrounded by nature. 

With 184.5 miles of adventure the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (C&O Canal) is a great pathway for discovering historical, natural, and recreational treasures. The C&O Canal operated for nearly 100 years as a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River. The river is surrounded by habitats including rocky outcrops bluffs, floodplains, and wetlands. It is one of the most biologically diverse parks in the National Park system both with plants and animals. Over 1,500 different species of plants, including a significant number of state and nationally rare plant species can be found in the many habitats surrounding C&O Canal. 

https://www.nps.gov/choh/index.htm