Potomac

Heritage Trail

Family

ADVENTURE

Guide
Page intentionally left blank.
Potomac

Heritage Trail

Family Adventure 

Guide

Produced by the

National Park Service

Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail Office

and Harpers Ferry Center

U.S. Department of the Interior

Washington, DC
Laurel Highlands

Great Allegheny 

Passage and

Eastern Continental 

Divide Loop

Chesapeake and Ohio 

Canal Towpath

Washington, DC

Northern Virginia 

Northern Neck

of Virginia

Southern Maryland

Chesapeake and Ohio

Canal Towpath

Southern Maryland Potomac

Heritage Trail Bicycling Route

Laurel Highlands

Hiking Trail

Potomac Heritage Trail

Potomac Heritage Trail

Northern Neck

Heritage Trail

Bicycling Route

 

Great Allegheny

Passage

Eastern Continental

Divide Loop

North

0 10 20

0 10 20 30 Miles

30 Kilometers

PENNSYLVANIA

WEST

VIRGINIA

VIRGINIA

OHIO

DEL MD

NJ

WASHINGTON DC

 Trail Extent

Eastern Continental Divide

B L U E

R I D G E

R I D G E A N D V A L L E Y

A L L E G H E N Y P L A T E A U

C O A S T A L P L A I N

P I E D M O N T

C H E S A P E A K E B AY

R iver

Rappahannock River

Youghiogheny

River

Potomac

River

Shenandoah

River

North

South

Branch

Branch

Potomac

Potomac

River

River

Youghiogheny River

River Allegheny

Deep 

Creek

Lake

Cacapon River

Conococheague

Monocacy River

Cree k

Potomac River

Potomac

Casselman River

SHENANDOAH 

NATIONAL PARK

DISTRICT OF

COLUMBIA BALTIMORE

PITTSBURGH

FREDERICKSBURG

HAGERSTOWN

ANNAPOLIS

WINCHESTER

SHEPHERDSTOWN

FRONT ROYAL

FREDERICK

UNIONTOWN

McKEESPORT

MORGANTOWN

JOHNSTOWN

CONFLUENCE

SEWARD

CUMBERLAND

OHIOPYLE

HANCOCK

FROSTBURG

LEESBURG

BRUNSWICK

COLONIAL

BEACH

POINT LOOKOUT

SMITH POINT

N O R T H E R N N E C K

Fairfax

Stone

S cenic Trail

Appalachian National

McHENRY

ROCKWOOD

HARPERS FERRY

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

MEYERSDALE

P E N N S Y LVA N I A

MARYLAND

V I R G I N I A

W E S T

V I R G I N I A

W E S T

 V I R G I N I A

M A R Y L A N D

M A R Y L A N D

V I R G I N I A
3

Hike, Bike, Paddle, and 

Explore the Potomac 

Heritage Trail

Few trails link land, water, and history as well as the Potomac Heritage National 

Scenic Trail. When he founded the Patowmack Canal Company in 1784, George 

Washington envisioned a corridor of commerce linking the Chesapeake Bay to the 

Ohio River. His dream was partially realized when the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal 

reached Cumberland. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad soon replaced the canal 

and completed the connection to Ohio at Wheeling.

At over 900 miles, the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail network links 

people and places from the tidal Potomac to the Allegheny Plateau. From 

plateaus and plains to ridges and valleys, family fun meets fascinating learning 

opportunities along the Potomac. Choose a region to explore on foot, bicycle, 

horse, or by boat and connect with history and nature along the way.

Page Explore by Region 

5 Laurel Highlands

9 Great Allegheny Passage 

and Eastern Continental Divide Loop

13 Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath

17 Washington, DC

21 Northern Virginia 

25 Northern Neck of Virginia

29 Southern Maryland

32 More Information
Laurel Highlands

Hiking Trail

Great Allegheny

Passage

Eastern Continental

Divide Loop

North

Green Ridge

State Forest

Trail System

Canal Place Visitor Center

Hancock Visitor 

Center

Ohiopyle State Park

Visitor Center

Laurel Ridge

State Park Office

Fort Pitt Museum

Fort Necessity

National Battlefield

Visitor Center

Youghiogheny

River

Potomac

River

North

South

Branch

Branch

Potomac

Potomac

River

River

Youghiogheny River

River Allegheny

Deep 

Creek

Lake

Casselman River

PITTSBURGH

UNIONTOWN

McKEESPORT

JOHNSTOWN

CONFLUENCE

SEWARD

CUMBERLAND

OHIOPYLE Ferncliff Peninsula

HANCOCK

FROSTBURG

Paw Paw

Bends

McHENRY

ROCKWOOD

MEYERSDALE

P E N N S Y LVA N I A

MARYLAND

W E S T

 V I R G I N I A

Fallingwater

4

Laurel Highlands Trail

Laurel Ridge State Park

Trailside shelter

NPS

NPS

NPS

0 10 Miles
5

Laurel Highlands

Laurel Highlands Highlights

 Hit the trail. Day hike through a Pennsylvania woodland paradise. Although 

the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail is 70 miles long, you can spend just a 

few hours on the route to enjoy fantastic forests, stream valleys, and high 

mountain ridges. Follow the blazes along the way. Yellow marks the main 

trail and blue marks connector routes. 

 Sleep under the stars. For a longer trek, strap on a backpack. Identify 

rocks and plants along the way, or just find peace and quiet. Campsites offer 

chances to rest, stargaze, and enjoy the sounds of nature. Eight Adirondackstyle shelters and tent areas—available by reservation—include water, fire 

rings, and wood for campfires. Many areas are located within a mile or two 

of a trailhead, providing an easy introduction to backpacking. 

 Get wild about winter. Skiers and snowshoers can find year-round fun 

at the Laurel Ridge Crosscountry Ski Center off Route 653. A groomed trail 

system invites people of all abilities and ages to explore the ridge in winter.

Discoveries abound on the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. PA DEPT. OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION
Go Trailblazing

Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail is well-marked and open year-round. Follow the 

2” x 5” yellow blazes that appear every 100 feet. Connector trails that lead to 

and from trailheads and shelter areas are marked with blue blazes. Each mile 

is marked with a concrete pillar.

NPS NPS NPS

Hiking the Head waters

6

Rain and snow that falls on Laurel Ridge feeds springs and 

wetlands that drain into the Potomac River watershed. 

Visitors can stay healthy and help protect water quality 

downstream by following some simple tips on any outing. 

Bring your own water on short outings. For longer 

adventures, plan ahead to use water from sources like 

pumps at shelters, parking area spigots, springs, and 

streams. Be prepared to boil or filter untreated water. 

Only a few sites offer treated drinking water.

Wash hands and dishes with soap and clean water 

away from streams. Where toilets are unavailable, 

bury human waste eight inches deep and at least 200 

feet away from natural waters. Go online for more 

information at www.nps.gov/public_health.
7

Whose Leaf is That?

Highland forests offer summer shade and a rainbow of fall colors. Search for 

different leaf shapes along the trail. Can you connect them to these native trees? 

White Oak

ALL LEAF IMAGES © NINJATACOSHELL/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Look for round lobes on curvy leaves that change from green to 

brown in fall. Usually, the trunk is gray, not white. Big and wide, 

white oak trees can grow over 100 feet tall and live for hundreds 

of years in eastern forests. Wildlife eat the small acorns.

Sweet Gum

© ROGER CULOS/

WIKIMEDIA 

COMMONS

Watch your step around these trees! Hard, spiky 

fruits can hurt your feet. Pointed, star-shaped 

leaves make sweet gum trees easy to identify. 

Sugar Maple

Five-lobed leaves bigger than your hand turn 

yellow, orange, and red in fall. Stands of sugar 

maple trees make up cool, shady forests and 

provide the best source for sweet maple syrup.

Red Oak

Pointier than white oak leaves, these leaves turn bright red 

or brown in fall. Older trees seem to have shiny red stripes 

down their rough bark. Red oak acorns also provide food 

for wildlife.
Big Savage

Tunnel

Chesapeake and Ohio

Canal Towpath

Great Allegheny

Passage

Eastern Continental

Divide Loop

Eastern Continental Divide

Canal Place

Visitor Center

Hancock Visitor 

Center

Ohiopyle State Park

Visitor Center

Fort Pitt Museum

Fort Necessity

National Battlefield

Visitor Center

Youghiogheny

River

Potomac

River

North

South

Branch

Branch

Potomac

Potomac

River

River

River

River Allegheny

Cacapon

River

Casselman River

Deep 

Creek

Lake

Youghiogheny

PITTSBURGH

UNIONTOWN

MORGANTOWN

CONFLUENCE

CUMBERLAND

OHIOPYLE Ferncliff Peninsula

HANCOCK

FROSTBURG

Paw Paw

Bends

McHENRY

ROCKWOOD

North

MEYERSDALE

Salisbury

Viaduct

New Germany

State Park Mason-Dixon Line

Meadow

Mountain

High Rock

P E N N S Y LVA N I A

MARYLAND

W E S T

 V I R G I N I A

8

New Germany State Park

Youghiogheny River

Frostburg, MD

Big Savage Tunnel

NPS

TIMOTHY JACOBSEN–GARRETT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

NPS

NPS

0 10 Miles
9

Cyclists enjoy the spectacular view from the Salisbury Viaduct near Meyersdale. NPS

GAP / ECD Loop

Great Allegheny Passage and Eastern 

Continental Divide Loop Highlights

 Go with the grade. Trace the tracks of time from rails to trails along 150 

scenic miles between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Cumberland, Maryland. 

Originally the route of the Western Maryland Railway, this nearly level 

corridor offers endless encounters for hikers, bicyclists, and history buffs. 

Visitors can ride today’s Maryland Scenic Railway from Cumberland to 

Frostburg with bicycles aboard and coast downhill on two wheels! 

 Bike the Divide. Bicycle over the Eastern Continental Divide from the 

Frostburg Train Station to spend the night in Meyersdale and return the 

next day. Enjoy the winding, gradual climb and the view of the Wills Creek 

Valley. Pass through the 3,100-foot Big Savage Tunnel (closed in winter) 

and remember to bring a light! For a longer trip, continue over the Salisbury 

Viaduct to Ohiopyle for rafting, fishing, and hiking. A gentle grade and 

several state parks makes this trail a winter treat for crosscountry skiers.
10

Discover Rails to Trails

Young George Washington dreamed of increasing commerce and industry by 

connecting the Ohio River to Chesapeake Bay. Washington’s vision was realized in 

the late 1820s with the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the Baltimore and Ohio 

Railroad. Today this route serves tourists and travelers as they experience the rich 

history and natural beauty of destinations along the Allegheny Passage.

© J.P. MUELLER

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad © P. DELOACHEFormer rail lines now provide trails.

Conservation Cloud

The “Leave No Trace 

Seven Principles”

1. Plan ahead and prepare.

2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces.

3. Dispose of waste properly.

4. Leave what you find.

5. Minimize campfire impacts.

6. Respect wildlife.

7. Be considerate of other visitors.
11

Bike, Hike, Walk, and Ski

There is something for everyone along the Great Allegheny Passage, whether you 

stay on the main route or head for adventure on one of many connector trails. 

Eastern Continental Divide

GARRETT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Cross the Allegheny Divide between the 

Atlantic and Mississippi watersheds as you 

travel on foot or cycle along this 150-mile 

route. Experience a continuous network 

of communities, trails, and waterways.

 

Mason-Dixon Line

NPS

Stand on the famous American boundary 

between North and South. In the 1760s 

Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon 

surveyed the official boundary, ending a 

dispute between two colonial landowners.

High Rock

NPS

Trek on the Big Savage Mountain Trail to 

scale a summit, visit the remains of a fire 

tower, and enjoy sweeping vistas. An easy 

two-mile roundtrip hike starts at the High 

Rock Fire Road parking area.

Meadow Mountain Overlook

NPS

Enjoy one of the most spectacular views 

in the region when you hike, snowshoe, 

or ski on the Meadow Mountain Trail. 

Climb to the site of a former lookout 

tower and view the Monroe Run 

watershed and ridges to the east.
Chesapeake and Ohio

Canal Towpath

Potomac Heritage Trail

North

Tuscarora Trail

Washington and

Old Dominion Trail

Green Ridge

State Forest

Trail System

Canal Place Visitor Center

Hancock Visitor 

Center

Williamsport Visitor Center

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Visitor Center

Great Falls Tavern

Visitor Center

Riverbend Park

 Visitor Center

Brunswick

Visitor Center

R iver

Potomac

River

Shenandoah

Monocacy River

Potomac River

DISTRICT OF

COLUMBIA 

BALTIMORE

HAGERSTOWN WINCHESTER

PURCELLVILLE

SHEPHERDSTOWN

FREDERICK

CUMBERLAND

HANCOCK

FROSTBURG

LEESBURG

BRUNSWICK

Paw Paw

Bends

Antietam

National

Battlefield

S cenic Trail

Appalachian National

HARPERS FERRY

Whites Ferry

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Killiansburg

Cave

Billy Goat Trail

P E N N S Y LVA N I A

MARYLAND

V I R G I N I A

W E S T

V I R G I N I A

M A R Y L A N D

12

Paw Paw Tunnel

C&O Canal Towpath

Potomac River

NPS

USFWS

NPS

0 10 Miles
13

C&O Canal Towpath

Visitors board the Charles F. Mercer on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.

C&O Canal Towpath Highlights

 Ride a canal boat at Great Falls. The 1870s are not so far away in 

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. Experience a 

memorable boat ride, meet the famous mules, and encounter canal history 

on the Charles F. Mercer at Great Falls Tavern. Imagine how people lived and 

worked along the canal during its heyday. Go fishing on the canal or add a 

paddle on the Potomac to complete your adventure.

 Stay overnight at a canal lock house. The C & O Canal Trust has restored 

six lock houses with period furnishings and each is easily reached from the 

towpath. Step back in time and reserve a lock house at www.canaltrust.org.

 Explore the Paw Paw Tunnel. In 1836 engineers estimated the 3,118-foot 

tunnel would take two years and $33,500 to complete. When the tunnel 

opened 14 years later, it had cost more than $600,000, but it brought the 

canal to Cumberland and economic success. Take a headlamp or flashlight on 

a walk south from the trailhead at MD Route 51 near Towpath Milepost 156. 

© BONNACHOVEN/WIKIMEDIA
14

Pick a Path

The C&O Canal operated for nearly 100 years along the Potomac River. Today it 

provides a pathway for enjoying historical, natural, and recreational discoveries. 

Ask a Ranger

NPS

Park rangers guide thousands of students 

and families each year as they explore the 

C&O Canal and the Potomac River. Junior 

Rangers learn about nature, geology, and 

history by completing special activities.

 

Climb the Billy Goat Trail

NPS

Take a hike on Section C of the Billy Goat 

Trail from the towpath at Carderock. Your 

reward will be memorable views of the 

Potomac River. Steep rocks make Sections 

A and B a more strenuous adventure. 

Encounter a Cave

© ROADTRIPPERS

Killiansburg Cave sits at mile marker 75.7 

where the canal passes beneath limestone 

bluffs. Hike 2.5 miles each way to the 35-

foot deep cave where civilians took refuge 

during the Battle of Antietam in 1862.

Meet the Mules

NPS

Mules were used to pull the canal boats 

in the 1800s. Families even lived on 

narrow boats towed by mules cared for 

by children. Mules live and work at Great 

Falls. You can meet the mules at Great 

Falls Tavern Visitor Center.
15

Learn About Locks

A lock is like a gate in the water. Seventy-five numbered locks were built along 

the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal to control the height of the water. Every lock on 

the canal has a number from 1 to 75. Working locks raise and lower the water to 

let boats through and control traffic on the canal. 

NPS

19th-century commerce on the canal © P. DELOACHELocks 18 and 19 at Great Falls today

Paddling Safety Tips

You can paddle several sections of the C&O Canal in a canoe and 

kayak, as well as much of the Potomac River. 

 Take an on-water course. Certified instructors teach canoeing, 

kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, rafting, safety, and rescue.

 Always wear a life vest (personal flotation device or PFD). 

 Cold water is extremely dangerous! Learn to protect yourself. 

 Discover how to share the waterways with other boaters.

 Know your limits, conduct a safety check, and file a float plan. 

Make sure someone not on the trip knows where you are going 

and when you plan to return.

Adapted from American Canoe Association “Safety Tips.” www.americancanoe.org.
50

Potomac Heritage Trail

North

Southern Maryland Potomac

Heritage Trail Bicycling Route

Chesapeake and Ohio

Canal Towpath

Mount Vernon Trail

Potomac Heritage Trail

(George Washington Memorial Parkway)

Potomac Heritage Trail

Civil War Defenses

of Washington Trail

P o t o m a c R i v e r P o t o m a c R i v e r

66

270

495

495

495

50

29

50

395

1

1

Washington and

Old Dominion Trail

Georgetown 

Visitor Center

Alexandria

Visitor Center

Fort Washington Park

Visitor Center

Accokeek Foundation at

Piscataway Park Visitor Center

Great Falls Park

 Visitor Center

ALEXANDRIA Ramsay House

Visitor Center

Mount Vernon

VIRGINIA

M ARYLAND

DISTRICT

OF COLUMBIA

Frederick Douglass

National Historic Site

Lincoln Memorial

National

Mall

Great Falls Tavern

Visitor Center

Riverbend Park

 Visitor Center

C H E S A P E A K E

B AY

River

Potomac

DISTRICT OF

COLUMBIA 

ANNAPOLIS

See Area

Detail Below

V I R G I N I A

M A R Y L A N D

District of Columbia Area Detail

16

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

Rock Creek Park Nature Center © MRTINDC/CREATIVE COMMONS

NPS

0 10 Miles
17

Locks on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal still guide water through Georgetown. USFWS

Washington, DC

Metropolitan Washington, DC, Highlights

 Visit Rock Creek Park Nature Center. Enjoy exhibits on plants and animals, 

and visit the only planetarium in the National Park Service. Encounter live 

turtles, fish, snakes, an active beehive, a bird observation deck, and a “waterwise” garden. Cross the street with care for a short hike on Milkhouse Ford 

loop and pass by the earthen remains of Civil War-era Fort DeRussy. 

 Head over to Georgetown. Sense the capital’s past as you stroll among 

1700s-era structures built as the nation began to grow. After the Civil War 

many newly freed African Americans migrated to Georgetown, adding to its 

cultural mix. Find Milepost 0 of the C&O Canal Towpath, a short walk south 

from the Thompson Boathouse parking area to the mouth of Rock Creek. 

 Listen for the voices of freedom. Stop at Cedar Hill for a great vista of 

the Washington, DC, landscape and learn about the life of African American 

abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Douglass escaped slavery as a young man and 

became a brilliant leader whose home is now a national historic site.
18

Imagine a Circle of Forts

Washington, DC, was built in a natural bowl shaped by the Potomac River. 

In 1861 the military built roads, rifle pits, and forts along the ring of high 

hills around the capital. Many of these “Civil War Defenses of Washington” 

were made from mounds of dirt called “earthworks.” Most of the forts were 

abandoned by 1866, but some locations still offer good views of the city.

NPS

Workers rebuild Fort Stevens in the 1930s. NPSTrees grow on earthworks today.

Conservation Cloud

Help Save 

the Earthworks

You can play an important role in the future of the circle 

of forts. Earthworks can be damaged by walking, riding, 

or climbing, so visit historic fort sites with care. 

 For your safety and to preserve fort structures, do not 

climb on earthworks. Some may be unstable.

 Plants and trees keep the historic earthworks from 

crumbling away, so leave them undisturbed. Stay on 

trails and keep dogs leashed.

 Leave any objects where you find them. Leave rocks, 

animals, and wildflowers in place. 
19

Visit a Civil War Fort Site!

Modern roads and tranquil trails now lead to most of the Civil War Defenses of 

Washington locations. Once heavily armed and operated by Union troops, the old 

earthen fortifications are now occupied by natural woodlands and parks. Take 

some short trips to discover the circle of fort sites around the city. Be ready to 

encounter reminders of the past and surprises from the present.

Discover History

Heavy guns positioned at forts around 

Washington, DC, once protected the city 

from Confederate troops. More than 800 

mounted cannons alone helped defend 

the nation’s capital. You can still see Civil 

War-era artillery on display at some fort 

locations like Fort Stevens and Fort Foote.

Parrott rifle NPS

Watch Wildlife

Once prepared for battle, the heights 

around Washington, DC, now nurture 

natural environments. Streams flow with 

water purified by forest soils. Plants and 

animals thrive close to the city. Listen 

carefully for migratory bird songs that 

mask the sounds of civilization. 

Blackpoll warbler USFWS

Explore Nature

During the Civil War, the Union Army cut 

down trees to open views of routes into 

the city. Trees and shrubs later reclaimed 

the earthen fortifications. Now woodlands 

protect remnants of the forts and provide 

shelter for plants and animals. Take a hike 

to see how forts have returned to forests.

Mountain laurel NPS
Mount

Vernon

Arlington

House

Southern Maryland Potomac

Heritage Trail Bicycling Route

Potomac Heritage Trail

Potomac Heritage Trail

Northern Neck

Heritage Trail

Bicycling Route

 

North

Washington and

Old Dominion Trail

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Great Falls Tavern

Visitor Center

Riverbend Park

 Visitor Center

Brunswick

Visitor Center

Prince William

Forest Park

Visitor Center

Stafford

Visitor Center

C H E S A P E A K E

B AY

R iver

Shenandoah

River

Monocacy River

Potomac River

Potom

ac

DISTRICT OF

COLUMBIA 

FREDERICKSBURG

ANNAPOLIS

PURCELLVILLE FREDERICK

LEESBURG

BRUNSWICK

Government

Island

George Washington’s

Ferry Farm

Monocacy

National Battlefield

HARPERS FERRY

White’s Ford

Regional Park

Potomac Overlook

Regional Park

George

Washington’s

Gristmill 

Occoquan

Bay National

Wildlife Refuge Mason Neck

National

Wildlife Refuge

Red Rock Wilderness

Overlook Regional Park

Ball’s Bluff

Battlefield

Regional Park

Leesylvania

State Park

V I R G I N I A

M A R Y L A N D

20

Prince William Forest Park

Potomac River Corridor

George Washington’s Gristmill

USFWS

© WIKI COMMONS

NPS

0 10 Miles
21

M A R Y L A N D

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge provides a quiet escape from the city. USFWS

Northern Virginia

Northern Virginia Highlights

 Explore more. Hike the Potomac River corridor from the Piedmont to the 

tidal sections below Great Falls. Many park trails lead to the river, including 

White’s Ford, Red Rock Wilderness Overlook, Ball’s Bluff, Riverbend Park, 

Great Falls, Pohick Bay, Veteran’s, Occoquan and Mason Neck wildlife refuges, Mason Neck and Leesylvania state parks, and Metz Wetlands Preserve.

 Take a tour. Visit George Washington’s Gristmill in the Woodlawn Historic 

District—a bus ride is included with admission to Mount Vernon Estate—then 

enjoy a short walk to view a mansion built for Washington’s niece, a Frank 

Lloyd Wright house, and a Quaker Meetinghouse. 

 Walk in the woods. Short trails in Prince William Forest Park, including 

Piedmont Forest Trail and Laurel Loop Trail, offer easygoing fun for small 

children. Older kids can enjoy the challenge of a day hike on the Farms to 

Forest Trail. Letterboxing courses provide another exciting activity. Follow the 

clues to learn more about the history of the park.
22

Meet a House with History

Walk through the doors of notable homes where American inspiration lives on 

through outstanding examples of historic preservation. 

Arlington House

NPS

President George Washington’s adopted 

grandson, George Custis, started building 

this mansion in 1802. It was later passed 

on to his daughter, Mary, who married 

military leader Robert E. Lee in 1831. 

 

Pope-Leighey House

NPS

This suburban home is actually a work 

of art designed by American architect 

Frank Lloyd Wright. Completed in 1941, 

its design brings nature indoors using 

Tidewater red cypress, brick, and glass.

Quaker Meetinghouse

© RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS AT ALEXANDRIA

Established before the Civil War, the 

Woodlawn Quaker Meetinghouse remains 

an active place of worship. Its “Quaker 

Plain Style” architecture reflects the 

Religious Society of Friends’ values of 

simplicity and lack of adornment.

Woodlawn Manor House

NPS

George Washington gave Woodlawn as 

a wedding gift to Eleanore “Nelly” Custis 

Lewis, his wife’s granddaughter, and her 

husband. Nelly, one of America’s foremost 

needleworkers, spoke many languages. 

An annual exhibit honors her legacy.
23

Branch Out!

Seek some shade on warmer days along the Potomac in northern Virginia. Gaze 

up at the green forest crown and try to name the trees you see. 

Blackgum

Smooth, waxy, dark green leaves on this widespreading tree offer relief from the hot summer 

sun. Small blue berries provide food for a variety of 

wildlife from birds to mammals.

© CALPOLY.EDU

River Birch

This fast-growing tree likes to keep its feet 

wet by growing along swamps, streams, 

and river banks. Silvery bark and branches 

up to 50 feet wide make it easy to spot. 

© D. RAMSEY

American Hornbeam

Look for worm-like butterfly larvae growing on the 

graceful, drooping branches of this tree. The name 

“hornbeam” refers to its very hard, tough wood, but 

it is also called an “ironwood.”

© RICHMOND.EDU

PawPaw

Growing lower than most forest trees, the 

shrubby pawpaw lives along ditches and 

ravines. The name “pawpaw” comes from the 

woody plant’s plump, oval shaped fruits that 

look like tropical papayas.

© DEPAUW UNVSTY.
Southern Maryland Potomac

Heritage Trail Bicycling Route

Northern Neck

Heritage Trail

Bicycling Route

 

Potomac Heritage Trail

George Washington Birthplace

National Monument

Visitor Center

C H E S A P E A K E

B AY

Rappahannock River

River

Potomac

DISTRICT OF

COLUMBIA 

FREDERICKSBURG

ANNAPOLIS

COLONIAL

BEACH

POINT LOOKOUT

SMITH POINT

N

O

R

T

H

E

R

N

N E C

K

Stratford Hall

Historic St. Mary’s City (visitor centers and museums)

Reedville

Rice’s Hotel/

Hughlett’s Tavern

Saint Clements

Island State Park

Westmoreland

State Park

North

V I R G I N I A

M A R Y L A N D

24

Bicycling on the peninsula

George Washington Birthplace

Reedville Fishermen’s Museum

© VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION

NPS

© REEDVILE FISHERMEN’S MUSEUM

0 10 Miles
25

Cliffs rise above Fossil Beach on the Potomac River at Westmoreland State Park. USFWS

Northern Neck of Virginia

Northern Neck Highlights

 Visit George Washington Birthplace National Monument. Learn how a 

lifelong connection to the land inspired the nation’s first president. Find out 

how colonial-era crops like tobacco grew and see livestock related to animals 

the Washingtons raised in the 1700s. 

 Go biking. Journey through centuries of history and miles of memorable 

landscapes on the Northern Neck Heritage Trail Bicycling Route. The 125-mile 

network takes bicyclists by farms, fisheries, forests, museums, and more. 

From Colonial Beach in the north to the Chesapeake Bay in the south, the 

Northern Neck peninsula shows cyclists an amazing slice of American life.

 Explore from ship to shore. Visit the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum to get 

a taste of hundreds of years of maritime history. Stories about the region’s 

watermen and local maritime heritage come to life with special activities 

and educational programs. An on-site fleet of boats includes the John Smith 

barge, a replica of the Chesapeake explorer’s 1608 “discovery barge.”
26

Go with the Flow!

Paddle the Potomac to discover the way water flows to the Chesapeake Bay.

© VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION

Conservation Cloud

Share Your 

Watershed Moments

A watershed is an area of land, like the Northern Neck of 

Virginia, that drains into a body of water. Everyone lives 

in a watershed. Watersheds of streams or creeks may be 

quite small. Others, like the Chesapeake Bay watershed 

(64,000 square miles), are very large. 

 Spread the word in your neighborhood. Don’t dump 

chemicals that could pollute water. Connect with 

others to pick up litter wherever you find it.

 Join in on citizen science. Visit www.inaturalist.org 

online to record your plant and animal sightings with 

the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Biodiversity project.
27

Who’s Wild About Water?

While exploring the Northern Neck, you may encounter wildlife in or near the 

water. Give wild animals some space and observe their behaviors from a distance.

American Eel

© ELMER MONTEGOMERY

A smooth, snake-like fish between two 

and five feet long, this eel lives in fresh 

water throughout the Chesapeake Bay 

watershed. Male eels swim to the salty 

waters of the Atlantic Ocean to spawn. 

Bottlenose Dolphin

© MEGAN WALLEN

Sleek and gray with a beak-like snout 

and a blowhole on top of its head, this 

dolphin can grow to 12 feet long and 

weigh 300 to 400 pounds. Dolphins use 

sound to communicate and navigate.

Diamondback Terrapin Turtle

USFWS

The terrapin is an aquatic reptile with 

webbed feet, strong claws, and diamondshaped rings covering its shell. This turtle 

lives in and around the Chesapeake Bay’s 

tidal waters, rivers, and marshes.

North American River Otter

USFWS

This large, brown, furry mammal lives 

on both land and water throughout the 

Bay watershed. Great swimmers, otters 

stay underwater several minutes to catch 

fish and other prey. Their playful actions 

include rolling and tumbling on the shore.
Point Lookout

State Park

Southern Maryland Potomac

Heritage Trail Bicycling Route

Northern Neck

Heritage Trail

Bicycling Route

 

Potomac Heritage Trail

North

George Washington Birthplace

National Monument

Visitor Center

Stafford

Visitor Center

C H E S A P E A K E

B AY

Rappahannock River

River

Zekiah

Swamp

Potomac

FREDERICKSBURG

ANNAPOLIS

COLONIAL

BEACH

POINT LOOKOUT

SMITH POINT

N

O

R

T

H

E

R

N

N E C

K

Douglas Point 

Special Recreation 

Management Area

Caledon

State Park

George Washington’s

Ferry Farm

Thomas Stone

National Historic Site

Stratford Hall

Historic St. Mary’s City (visitor centers and museums)

Reedville

Rice’s Hotel/

Hughlett’s Tavern

Saint Clements

Island State Park

Smallwood State Park

Westmoreland

State Park

V I R G I N I A

M A R Y L A N D

Mount

Vernon

Piscataway

Park

National

Colonial

Farm

28

Thomas Stone National Historic Site

Piscataway Park

(view of Mt. Vernon)

Point Lookout State Park

Historic St. Mary’s City

© SO MD TRI-COUNTY COUNCIL 

NPS

© VISITMARYLAND.ORG

© VISIT MARYLAND.ORG

0 10 Miles
29

Celebrating the Maritime Heritage Festival at Historic St. Mary’s City. © SO MD TRI-COUNTY COUNCIL 

Southern Maryland

Southern Maryland Highlights

 Play at Piscataway. Piscataway Park preserves the viewshed from Mount 

Vernon and provides habitat for bald eagles, beavers, deer, foxes, ospreys, 

and other wildlife. Discover wetlands, meadows, and woodlands when you 

fish from a pier, stroll on a boardwalk, or hike on a nature trail. Visit National 

Colonial Farm for a glimpse of 18th-century rare breeds of animals and crops. 

 Experience Historic St. Mary’s City. Spend at least half a day uncovering 

all that Maryland’s first capital has to offer. Learn how English colonists 

arrived in 1634 and go aboard the Maryland Dove to discover life on a ship 

before electricity and modern navigation. Visit the Woodland Indian Hamlet 

to learn how the native Yaocomaco helped the first English settlers survive.

 Go to Point Lookout State Park. Camp, fish, boat, hike, and watch wildlife 

where an 1830s lighthouse overlooks Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac. 

Fort Lincoln and a Civil War museum take visitors back in time with stories of 

African American freedom seekers, wounded soldiers, and prisoners of war. 
30

Practice Oystering

Watermen use hand tongs to harvest 

oysters. These tools have large metal 

baskets mounted on long wooden handles.

Try making your own small hand tong. You 

will need:

• A few small objects like pebbles or 

marbles

• Two forks (plastic or metal)

• Tape LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Pick up the forks and place them tines pointed down. Tape the tops of the forks 

together so that the tines make a basket. Try to pick up the objects. Now you are 

ready to go oystering!

Conservation Clou

Help Keep d

Oysters Healthy

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Oysters are only as healthy as the water they live in. Help 

keep Chesapeake Bay healthy. Follow the lead of scientists 

and citizens that are working hard to help oysters. 

 Try not to use chemicals on your lawn. When it rains, 

chemicals can wash into the Bay and hurt oysters.

 Recycle oyster shells. Old oyster shells make new 

homes for baby oysters.

 Encourage friends and family to be good stewards of 

the Chesapeake Bay by recycling and not polluting.

 Try oyster gardening! “Maryland Grows Oysters” 

and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation offer oyster 

gardening programs for homes on the water.
31

Name the Boats

While exploring the Potomac Heritage Trail you may see different types of boats 

at historic sites and on the water. Rent a canoe so you can get on the water!

Skipjack

© ROBERT HURRY

Skipjacks were designed for dredging 

large numbers of oysters on the Bay’s 

floor. Of the estimated 2,000 built from 

the late 1800s through the 1950s, fewer 

than 30 sail the Chesapeake Bay today.

Deadrise

© ROBERT HURRY

Easy to recognize, the deadrise remains 

one of the most popular crabbing and 

oystering boats. Watermen also use this 

traditional work boat to catch fish and 

eels year-round. 

Buyboat

© ROBERT HURRY

Captains of these boats would buy a 

waterman’s harvest while still out on the 

water, then take the harvest to a nearby 

processing center. Buyboats have a rear 

wheelhouse and a long deck for cargo.

Canoe

USMC

Canoes have been used to travel the 

Potomac River and its tributaries for 

thousands of years. These boats help get 

you close to nature on the water’s edge.
32

Find Out More

The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail network includes over 900 miles of 

existing and planned trails administered by federal, state, local, and nonprofit 

organizations. Trail segments are managed by many agencies and organizations. 

For information about a specific section of the trail, contact the segment 

manager. Visit www.nps.gov/pohe for details.

Accessibility

Partners that manage the network of experiences along the Potomac Heritage 

National Scenic Trail are encouraged to make facilities, services, and programs 

accessible to all.

Safety

Your safety is your responsibility. Watch children near streams banks, cliffs, and 

busy roads. Be aware of poisonous snakes and spiders. Learn to identify and avoid 

poison ivy and poison oak. Observe regulations and wear a life jacket (personal 

flotation device or PFD) when near and on the water.

Get Involved

Between the mouth of the Potomac River and the Allegheny Highlands, many 

volunteers, agencies, organizations, and businesses maintain the Potomac 

Heritage Trail network. Work ranges from conservation efforts to improving 

recreational opportunities. Visit www.nps.gov/pohe/getinvolved/partners.

Contact

Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail Office 

National Park Service 

PO Box B 

Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 

ww.nps.gov/pohe

Front cover: Mockley Point, Piscataway Park NPS / MONICA LARCOM 

Back cover: (top) Kayakers on the Potomac River © VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION,

(center left) Fossil Beach, Westmoreland State Park USFWS, (center right) Paw Paw Tunnel NPS, 

(bottom) Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park NPS ✩GPO:2018—540-484 New in 2018

 Printed on recycled paper.
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Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

Pennsylvania

Maryland

Virginia

Washington, DC