The C&O Canal Companion

by Mike High

A comprehensive guide to one of America's unique national parks, The C&O Canal Companion takes readers on a mile-by-mile tour of the 184-mile Potomac River waterway and towpath that stretches from Washington, D.C., to Cumberland, Maryland, and the Allegheny Mountains. Making extensive use of records at the National Archives and the Park headquarters, the author demonstrates how events and places along the canal relate to the history of the nation, from Civil War battles and river crossings to the frontier forts guarding the route to the West. With photographs and drawings, he introduces park visitors to the hidden history along the canal and provides practical advice on cycling, paddling and hiking―all the information needed to enjoy fully the park's varied delights. The new edition of this popular book features updated maps and the latest information on lodgings and other facilities for hikers, bikers, and campers. For a weekend excursion or an extended outdoor vacation, this guide remains indispensable for visitors to the C&O Canal park.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Travel, Reference

Paperback

First published March 22, 2001

Reviews

[Phill Melton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book on the history and sights of the C&O Canal; an indispensable companion for anyone traveling the Canal. As a travel guide, however, it shows its age; the Big Slackwater section of the towpath has been completed, so the section on the detour no longer holds true; the Western Maryland Rail Trail near Hancock is no longer a matter of idle speculation, but rather a concrete (asphalt?) reality; and, perhaps most notably, the Great Allegheny Passage, which was still very much a proposal when this book was published, has been completed. Perhaps a new edition that takes these changes (and the changes in the canal towns) into account, perhaps going all the way to Pittsburgh, is in order.

But the history is beyond valuable for understanding the Canal, its significance, and the motley cast of characters who lived along it. High's writing is lively, as befits many of the complicated and sometimes other than strictly law abiding figures from the Canal's history whose stories he tells, and his research of over 200 years and 184.5 miles makes the significance of this waterway clear. While of somewhat dubious value as a travel guide (grab the C&O/GAP Trailbook for that), as a traveling companion, it can't be beat.

[Ibtisam helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks for lending this to me, Sheffy.... I think my favorite line in the book was from the section on the Pittsburgh extension: "If George Washington were alive today, I have no doubt he'd have traded in his matchcoat for Spandex." Ha!

[Alger Smythe-Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely a quarter of a century out of date (and a lot has changed), but this guide is a wonderful companion to the canal: its highlights, its history, its path through a lost world. One of the key charms of the canal for me is that it travels through a landscape of an abandoned past. Once there were communities, factories, mines, taverns, inns, stables... an entire world supported by the canal. Now most of it is inexplicable holes in the ground and overgrown foundations. Even the places that came to exist because of the canal have largely turned their back to it and now face the highway. It is a rare walk along the Potomac that doesn't uncover some wonder. At one location there is a grave along the towpath that no one can explain, at another you discover a cliff walk, or the location where Lee encamped by a flooded river and prepared for an attack by Meade after Gettysburg.
The joy of this book is that it explains those things that I have seen without knowing their significance. One such is the incline plane close in to Georgetown. I saw it, read the Park Service's signage, and walked away without really grasping what it was. Now I understand.
Is this a book I would take with me on the trail? No. I prefer to use it as a resource for when I get home and look up what I just stumbled upon. This keep alive the chain of happy discovery that keeps bringing me back to the C&O time and again.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The maps and descriptions in this book were helpful while my partner and I hiked portions of the towpath along the canal. The description of towns and their history along the canal helped us decide where to go. Highlights were Great Falls, the Monocacy aqueduct, the lockhouse at Williamsport, Fort Frederick and the Big Pool, and the Paw Paw tunnel. I’m sure we missed a lot of interesting sites, but we’ll be back to see more another time.

[Sheffy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This appears to be the best book (if a little Cumbersome) to take on a hike/bike trip on the C&O canal, but I don't know if there is much competition--although check out the web http://bikewashington.org/canal
He's fine on history and has done a lot of work marking points of interest to the tenth of a mile along the canal. However, his section describing the mechanics (how a lock works, what a guard gate does) leaves a lot to be desired. Some descriptions are outdated, but that's understandable.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

We live about four miles as the crow flies from the C&O canal, and I've spent literally hundreds of hours walking, biking, and riding horseback on it. This guide takes readers on a mile-by-mile tour of the towpath and also provides a comprehensive history of the planning, building, decline, and then rebirth of the canal as a unique national park. There's also practical information for hikers, bikers and campers on facilities and campsites along the 184 miles of the canal.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The canal is only a few miles from us, and we go biking on it frequently. This book has been a pretty decent resource for finding new access points, and giving information on where the next campground/water pump is located. My goal is bike the upper 90 miles in this fall, and the remaining 90 miles in the spring, with this book tucked in my pack!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting history of the canal along with good hiking info.