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The C&O Canal Towpath Trail and Great Allegheny Passage

Is Leesburg VA accessible?


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GN on 8/22/2025 8:59:20 PM:
Is there any way to get to Leesburg VA by bike from the C&O trail (Poolesville area)? I know there used to be a ferry, but how can we cross the Potomac now?

 
Rivnuts from Homestead,PA on 8/23/2025 5:30:20 AM:
This question has been raised on this forum on several occasions. The short answer is no unless you can locate a shuttle service to come get you on the Towpath and take you to Leesburg. An adventurous sole could cross the river in Harpers Ferry, wind their way uphill on roads to Purcellville and ride the W&OD Trail to Leesburg and continue to DC on that Trail. I’ve done that but do’t recommend it for most riders.

 
WKR from Brunswick, MD on 8/23/2025 7:31:45 PM:
I would go to Brunswick, cross the Potomac there, and head to the W&OD. The bridge over the Potomac and the bit on Berlin Tpke may be uncomfortable, car-wise, for people who aren't accustomed to riding on the road (total distance for this bit is under 1.5 miles). Although Berlin Tpke takes you all the way to Purcellville where you can hop on the W&OD it's a 55mph road without much of a shoulder so I wouldn't go that way (even as an experienced road rider). You can take the first right off of Berlin Tpke onto Tollhouse Rd to get away from most of the traffic and then take backroads to Purcellville instead. That's what I would do.

 
Wayne from Aldie, VA on 9/6/2025 8:58:05 PM:
I recently rode from Shepherdstown to Aldie, crossing Potomac at Brunswick. Took Wenner Rd (first left off of Berlin Tnpk) to Lovettsville, then network of hilly, mostly gravel roads to Purcellville where I accessed the W&OD. In my case, I jumped off at Ashburn to get down to Aldie. Sure wish the ferry would be resurrected...