John W. from Pittsburgh, PA on 6/22/2017 10:20:19 PM:
Worry not on the C&O, I've never seen any homeless or crime. The hiker/biker sites (with a couple of exceptions that have car parking) are really remote and you have to walk or bike to get to them. I've always felt safe on the trail. I have no idea about ticks. You are in a woodsy, wet Canal area so take precaution as if you were on a hike in the woods. But I've never gotten any.