National Park Service Trails Days

sponsored by the George Washington Memorial Parkway

C&O Canal / Capital Crescent Trail
Saturday & Sunday, August 2 & 3, 11am–3pm
Look for us at Fletchers Cove at the junction of the C&O Canal and the Capital Crescent Trail — Visit www.nps.gov/choh for directions.

Stop by our trailside activity tent to learn more about the extensive network of National Park Service trails in the area, including the Mount Vernon Trail, the C&O Canal, and all our Greater Washington National Parks. We welcome you to join us at either of our upcoming events where you can learn about safe trail use and how to be prepared for your travels. Pick up trail maps and park brochures, earn a free bike bell, meet the volunteer patrols, and pick up your very own trail pledge card.

CCT DETOUR : The NPS will begin work on 9/24 to repair and restore a portion of the supporting slope adjacent to the CCT near the Palisades section in DC.  A temporary Trail bypass will be constructed in the immediate area of the project site.  The detour is expected to last approximately 90 days.  Please note that the portion of the Trail between the construction area and the Dalecarlia Reservoir will be used by trucks to bring materials into the construction site.

A WEEKDAY FAVORITE:

One of the area's newest and best trail, the Capital Crescent, combines wonderful views, memorable bridges, a tunnel and a thick green forest environment with the area's smoothest surface. Built on the corridor of the old Georgetown Branch railroad, the Capital Crescent Trail climbs from the level of the Potomac River in Georgetown to downtown Bethesda (elevation 300 feet) at a imperceptible grade easy enough for even young children to handle. 

The trail connects to Rock Creek Park via the dirt/gravel extension called the Georgetown Branch trail (eventually it will be part of CCT and connect to Silver Spring and the Metropolitan Branch Trail)

Initiated by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, the effort to create the trail required ten years of collaboration between the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail, the National Park Service, Montgomery County, the Maryland Department of Transportation and the U .5. Army Corps of Engineers. Land acquisition and trail construction cost more than $25 million.

From its southern terminus, the Capital Crescent links with the Rock Creek Trail by traveling 0.9 miles east on K Street NW. It also links with Virginia's Mount Vernon and Custis Trails by traveling 0.5 miles south over Key Bridge to Rosslyn Circle. Although the paved trail currently terminates in Bethesda, a crushed stone interim trail (called the Georgetown Branch Trail), suitable for bikes, opened early in 1997, extending the trail east across Rock Creek Park and on to Silver Spring.

Because of its outstanding design and surfacing, the paved portion of the Capital Crescent Trail is heavily used not only by skilled cyclists but also by walkers, rollerskaters, children, parents with strollers, dogs and others. Excellent sight distance reduces the danger, but care, courtesy, defensive driving and respect are in order. During heavy-use times, DO NOT SPEED.

MAP: http://www.cctrail.org/CCT_Maps.htm

Report a problem:

CCT Unsafe Trail Conditions

STARTS: (Southern end) Georgetown, extreme western end of K Street NW (under Whitehurst Freeway and under Key Bridge). (Bethesda) Bethesda Avenue near Woodmont Avenue (adjoining Ourisman Honda). (Silver Spring) Stewart Avenue, one-half block south of Brookville Road. All starting points are within the Capital Beltway.

METRO STARTS: (Southern end) Trail start is equidistant from Rosslyn and Foggy Bottom Metro stations (Blue and Orange Lines). From Rosslyn, go one block east to North Lynn Street, north on North Lynn Street to Key Bridge. Cross bridge on east (downstream) sidewalk, take sharp right immediately at end of bridge, descend asphalt trail, and cross C&O Canal on small bridge. Make U-turn onto Towpath at end of bridge ramp. After about 100 feet turn right and descend long flight of stairs to K Street NW. Turn right towards Key Bridge. Trail begins 0.2 miles west. From Foggy Bottom, go north on 23rd Street NW to Washington Circle, then left (west) on Pennsylvania Avenue NW by traveling counterclockwise two-thirds of the way around Washington Circle. At 29th Street NW, turn left (south), cross over C&O Canal, and continue to bottom of hill. At K Street NW, turn right (west).