Tour:  Free guided group bike ride along the path of the 19th-century Washington City Canal and its connection to the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal, thus connecting the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers through the city center.  (See Canals of D.C. for more information about the historic canals). 

Start Time:  We depart the Start Location at 12:00PM.  It is suggested that you arrive 15 minutes early to allow for any delays in Metro or difficulty finding parking.

Start Location:  Our Start Location is the southeast corner of M St SE and New Jersey Avenue SE.  It is on the footprint of the historic Washington City Canal, and is across M St. from the east exit of the Navy Yard-Ballpark Metro station (green line).    Scroll down to see a photo of our Start Location.

Please note:  If you take Metro, there are two exits at the Navy Yark-Ballpark Metro station.  Use the east exit which leads to the intersection of M St. SE & New Jersey Avenue SE.  Parking is limited in this area, so participants are encouraged to use public transportation.  Bikes are permitted on all Metro subway cars.  

• • Restrooms and food service are available at businesses nearby the Navy Yard-Ballpark Metro station.

  • Click here for information about Capital Bikeshare bike rentals at the start location.

End Location:  C&O Canal Lock 3 adjacent to the C&O Canal National Historical Park Visitor Center at 1057 Thomas Jefferson St. NW.  

Distance:  From the Start Location to the End Location, the tour is 6 miles.  Add an additional mile to reach our LocktoberfestDC Celebration.   

Tour Leaders:  Nathan Mathai, Trisha Kurtz

Route Highlights: From our Start Location, it is a very short ride to the Navy Yard Terminus of the historic Washington City Canal. From there we proceed as closely as possible along the path of the historic canal.  We stop at Canal Park, a three-block stretch of 2nd St. SE which has several interpretive signs and historic photographs. From Canal Park, we ride around a section of the original path of the historic canal which was overtaken by what is now the Southeast Freeway (Interstate 695) and CSX railway.  Along this detour we make a surprise stop at a place that predates the historic canal.  Back on our bikes, we return to the historic path of the Washington City Canal on what is now Canal St. SE and ride to the Lockkeepers House.  Along the way, we see the Washington City Canal memorialized at Freedom Plaza.  Then we make a brief stop to see artifacts of the historic Washington City Canal discovered when the National Museum of African American History was under construction.  We make another brief stop at the German American Friendship Garden.  At the Lockkeeper's House the house docent will explain the history of the house as well as the massive project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to create West Potomac Park and East Potomac Park.  After departing the Lockkeeper's House, we ride along a route approximating the path of the C&O Canal Extension to C&O Canal Mile 0, a stone marker at the C&O Canal's southeastern terminus.  Here we see the ruins of Tide Lock A that connected the C&O Canal to the Potomac River.  From there the final leg of our ride takes us to C&O Canal Locks 3 & 4.  There we will see a working lift lock, where a replica packet boat will be docked near the National Park Service's Visitor Center in Georgetown.  From C&O Canal Lock 3, participants are encouraged to ride to the LocktoberfestDC Celebration which runs 3:00PM-5:00PM.  

Sign Up:  Click here to sign up. Sign up is required for all tours, and is limited to 40 participants.

Bring With You: Bike helmet, water bottle, sunscreen, bike lock, and $$$ (for LocktoberfestDC Celebration). The majority of this ride is on paved sidewalks or streets.  We will ride only short distances on a natural surface (the National Mall and the C&O Canal towpath).