Farther Sites Worth the Drive
C & O Canal National Historic Park
Great for hiking and bicycling, the park offers 184.5 miles of towpath that is readily accessible. There are other hiking trails off the main towpath. See the website for a list of these trails, which are too numerous for me to mention here.
Point of Rocks
This is one of my favorite access points. It is on the Maryland side of the Rt. 15 bridge over the Potomac River. The access is to the right after crossing the bridge and right again along a little access road that first crosses the railroad tracks, and then crosses the canal. Proceed to the boat landing parking area and enjoy the trail.
Harper's Ferry
This historical park is the site of John Brown's raid and is one of my favorite outing destinations. I prefer to park on the Maryland Heights side and cross the railroad bridge back to Harper's Ferry with my bicycle. This is a great place to observe trains as the pedestrian bridge is attached to a working railroad bridge and you get up close and personal with freight train traffic. (Don't worry, the fencing protects all from danger.) There is ample parking in the National Historical Park visitor center on the West Virginia side. The town is fun to bike or hike through, with historic homes and buildings, and interesting shops and restaurants.
Maryland Heights
Across the river from Harper's Ferry is the Maryland Heights trail. This is a nice climb up the mountain opposite Harper's Ferry. It allows spectacular views of the valley and shows the confluence of the Shenandoah River and the Potomac River.
Brunswick Maryland
This is a quaint town on the Maryland side where Rt. 287 crosses the Potomac River. This is a great place to access the towpath and it has lots of parking. The town is quaint and fun to explore as well. As usual the access is across the tracks under the bridge, so turn right in town and right again, then follow the hills down to the tracks and past the commuter lots to the canal access area.
Great Falls Maryland
http://www.nps.gov/archive/gwmp/grfa/faqs/directions.htm
This is just a fun place to see the falls and wander out among the boulders. It is a bit crowded for bicycling but great for a stroll along the canal and to see a working canal boat and how the canal was used as a conduit of commerce and transportation to the West.
Carderock
This is where I learned to rock climb. It is between the American Legion Bridge and Great Falls Maryland. It is easily accessed by crossing the Potomac on Rt. 495, then taking the first exit - Clara Barton Parkway. Go west to the exit for Carderock. After crossing the canal turn right and go to the furthest parking lot. The cliffs are close and you will usually find climbers practicing their skills as this area is a very popular climbing location. It is also an easy access to the towpath for hiking and biking.
Washington and Old Dominion Railroad trail (W & OD trail)
http://www.wodfriends.org/trail.html
This is a great running, bicycling, and rollerblading trail. There are 45 miles of continuous off road trail. Except for multiple at grade road crossings, this trail is uninterrupted splendor through the area. Very popular, and unfortunately in a high growth area, this once rural path has had lots of development along its sides. The areas near Leesburg and Purcellville are still quite remote and lovely. As you get closer to the beltway the congestion increases, but if you want to ride from Purcellville to Washington DC, the W & OD is the trail for you.
Elizabeth Furnace
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/lee/maps/elizabeth_furnace_brochure.shtml
Visit the furnace where iron was smelted. From hiking, camping, fishing, and mountain biking, this National Forest recreation area has a lot to offer. This park offers a challenging mountain bike trail up to Signal Knob. (You can also hike this trail.)