Bike Washington’s  C&O Canal Bicycling Guide

Food & Water

Trip Planning From which end should I start? Where can I leave my car? How many days to ride the entire trail? How do I get back to my car? Where can I stay overnight? Where can I camp along the trail? Is water available along the trail? Is food available along the trail? What kind of bike tires should I use? Can I rent a bicycle? Any tips for Scout leaders? What should I bring along? Trip Planning Mile-by-Mile Mileposts 0-10 Mileposts 10-25 Mileposts 25-40 Mileposts 40-50 Mileposts 50-70 Mileposts 70-82 Mileposts 82-106 Mileposts 106-116 Mileposts 116-130 Mileposts 130-150 Mileposts 150-168 Mileposts 168-184 Mile-by-Mile Trip Reports 2007 2004 2003 1995 Trip Reports Info-to-Go Print to Go Download GPS Waypoints Download to Phone/PDA Info-to-Go

Water Pump at Hiker/Biker Campsite

Where can I find water? Water pumps are located at each Hiker/Biker Campsite, roughly every 5 miles. This water is safe to drink. The pumps are tested weekly by the Park Service. If a problem is found, they will remove the pump handle. The water pumps are also shut down between mid-November and mid-April to prevent freeze damage.

Although safe to drink, the pump water is not always "Perrier quality". You will find that it is typically discolored and may have a funny taste. Some folks will add a sport drink mix to mask the flavor, or bring along a water filter. Also, keep in mind that some of these wells are pretty deep. As a result, it may take quite a few pumps before you actually see any water come out of the pump.

The other option is to load up on water at one of the food stops listed below. These stops are roughly every 15 miles, so if you go this route be sure to carry enough water storage. I used a two litter Camelback, with an additional liter bottle in my pack and a standard bicycle water bottle on my bike frame. This allowed me to carry a full gallon of water, which goes quickly during the hot summer months. The downside is this adds another eight pounds to your load!

Where can I find food? You can carry your own food with you, but money is a heck of a lot lighter! Food stops are located every 15 miles or so. We typically stopped for lunch at a deli or general store. However, we always carried some extra food with us for snack breaks.

If you are camping, then you should plan to bring along some "yummy" dehydrated food packets for breakfast or dinner. On my camping trips, I found that it is most convenient to cook dinners at the campsite. For breakfast, I would just have a powerbar while breaking camp. I would then stop at the next store for a more balanced mid-morning snack.

Here are some suggested food stops: