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C&O Trail Conditions
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Rivnuts from Homestead, PA on 5/13/2025 10:00:23 AM:
The trail conditions along the C&O Canal Towpath is a frequent question asked on this forum. I, along with others, have noted that conditions vary quite a lot depending on the weather. With a fair amount of rain, the C&O can have lots of puddles and mud especially leaving Cumberland MD in route to DC. In the vain of a picture is worth a thousand words, I recommend you watch the following YouTube video that depicts such conditions.

https://youtu.be/2trPOwBGf60?si=taDJPqkuCzszKIOu

For that matter, the entire series of videos of that particular trip depict the trail surfaces on both the C&O and the GAP trails quite well.
 
D.Moranz from Landrum, SC on 5/14/2025 7:50:04 PM:
Trail conditions from Cumberland to Hancook… just came into Hancook today after leaving Cumberland Maryland this morning. 12 miles outside of Cumberland going towards Hancock we ran into downed trees and flooding conditions across the trail.
There are a few closures which the park service has workaround for.
We did get on the Western Maryland rail trail, where it joins the C and O as the CNO trail was underwater in many areas. Even the Western Maryland rail trail had a few down trees across it, which were passable..
The western Maryland rail trail goes directly into Hancock.
We plan on taking the western Maryland rail trail from Hancock towards Williamsport tomorrow. It goes to within 10 miles of Williamsport.. we will see what detours are in place when we get there tomorrow.
 
Mac from Asheville on 5/15/2025 6:06:27 PM:
Are there any updates from Hancock to Williamsport, Harper’s Ferry?
 
WKR from Brunswick, MD on 5/17/2025 4:40:07 PM:
The trail just past harpers ferry (heading south/east) suffered a bit in the recent heavy rains with the canal overflowing across the tow path. There's some washboard erosion and places the top layer has been washed away completely leaving the large bluestone gravel exposed. I've just been through there running and I'm not doing any long runs at the moment but I would assume that more of the tow path has gotten chewed up with the recent flooding.
 
Luchs from Harpers Ferry on 5/18/2025 3:15:23 PM:
Harpers Ferry to Shepherdstown is a bit chewed up, but passable. Some downed trees. The trail under the Harpers Ferry bridge is not rideable, you'll have to walk a short bit.
 
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