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Reply to C&O towpath closures in Georgetown
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Straus Guide 1980 from Thornton, CO on 8/12/2025 11:31:12 AM:
For those starting or ending a C&O Canal ride in Georgetown, there are several closures in the last mile. I recommend adding a bit of time to your plans for your zeal to get your journey started or ended.

Those are not shown on the C&O Canal NHP site at:
https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Several sections of the towpath are closed for reconstruction. There are detour signs.

There is an overview of the Georgetown area projects at:
https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/construction-updates-georgetown.htm
but that's out of date and doesn't have block by block details or pictures of the detours.

You can go up the Rock Creek Parkway trail / sidewalk to get to the point where the towpath ends at Rock Creek and then originally headed down to the terminal lock (of Watergate fame) at the Mile 0 marker.

You can bypass all of that using the Capital Crescent rail to trail but then you miss the unique features of the canal route through Georgetown.
 
Rivnuts from Homestead,PA on 8/13/2025 3:18:40 PM:
The original post rings true as I’ve ceased trying to ride the towpath all the way into Georgetown with a fully-loaded bike. While it is typically quite busy, the paved Capital Crescent Trail is my preferred route into town toward Milepost 0. I would suggest that if you want to see/follow the Towpath all the way to its end in DC, just take some time and walk along the last stretch and its detours) before finishing or starting your ride.
 
Straus Guide 1980 from Thornton, CO on 8/14/2025 7:24:54 PM:
Update: Searching a bit more, I found a page with a detailed map at:
https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/repairs-to-locks-1-2-5-inlet-lock-1-and-georgetown-walls.htm

The alternative Capital Crescent trail actually ends as it crosses under the Alexandria Aqueduct remains and Key Bridge at the left of that labeled satellite view. The remaining alternate route is actually a two-way bike lane on the K Street under the elevated Whitehurst Freeway and then a parallel path.

Rivnut has a great suggestion to walk the open sections of the towpath if you have time.
 
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