We drove into Maryland to walk another section of the C & O Trail. This trip, we started at Dam 4 and walked to Big Slackwater. Dam 4 is located at milepost 84.4 on the trail.
We took Sharpsburg Pike, turned onto Bakersville Road. Then we turned onto Shaffer Road, a smaller road about 1.5 cars wide but well maintained, and finally took a sharp turn onto Dam 4 Road, which is wide and a great road. Near the end, the road heads downhill to the river. There is a large parking lot.
Just beyond, the road continues on for about another mile to the Big Slackwater parking lots, where there is a boat launch as well.
Once parked, walk up to the bridge building, a 1970 replica of the original Winch House (destroyed in a large flood). This building was used to stop floodwaters from heading down the canal.
Walk on the outside path to cross it.
Heading downriver, you can check out the area from below. In floods, wooden planks were lowered from above to stop the water flow.
You can take a side path out to the Potomac River to see the waterfall. Potomac Edison still produces power here.
Looking downriver and across to West Virginia across the water.
I walked back up to the overlook over the river, and we got on the trail. Does it head north? Well, due to all the river bends, it is all over the compass.
The trees are still changing color, and leaves litter the ground.
The trail is easy to walk on. With a breeze off the river, it is quiet. Just a dog barking in the distance. In this section, the canal has water. The trail is high above the river, with views, but no access. The trail comes to the Big Slackwater parking area/boat launch and crosses the road. There are port-a-potties there if one needs them. It also provides access down to the river. We returned here; we had the Golden Retriever with us and didn’t want to exhaust him – he is currently hiker training.
Big Slackwater sits at milepost 85.5.
Parking is free. Dogs are fine, on leash.
~Sarah