Chisel Branch Hiker-biker Overnight Campsite
Open — Open year-round with no reservations, first-come first-served only. One-night maximum stay. Water is turned off from mid-November to mid-April.
Wind Advisory issued December 30 at 12:34AM EST until December 30 at 12:00PM EST by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
* WHAT...West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts around 45 to 50 mph. There may be a lull in the wind gusts between 3 AM and 7 AM, but winds will increase again later Tuesday morning before gradually subsiding during the afternoon. * WHERE...Portions of DC, central, north central, northeast, and northern Maryland, and northern Virginia. * WHEN...Until noon EST today. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
Closures: Detours; Towpath; Points of Interest
Multiple items are closed due to hazardous conditions or maintenance. See below for more details.
Hiking in Gold Mine Tract
Visitors are restricted to the designated trails within the Gold Mine Tract in the Great Falls area. This location is generally defined as that area bordered by MacArthur Boulevard and Berma Road and depicted on the Great Falls Maryland Hiking Map.
Equestrian Traffic Temporarily Prohibited Milepost 173.37 to 184.5
Horses are prohibited between Spring Gap (mile 173.37) and Cumberland (mile 184.5) due to recent and ongoing towpath resurfacing. See more for details.
Scheduled Closure
From 6/27-7/1, CSX Transportation will close the railroad crossings at Point of Rocks (mile 48.2), Lander (mile 50.8), and Brunswick (mile 55) to perform repairs. Vehicles will be unable to reach the parking lot or boat ramp. The towpath will remain open.
About
Chisel Branch Hiker-Biker Campsite is a primitive overnight stop at mile 30.5 of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park towpath. This free campsite is exclusively for hikers, bikers, and equestrians traveling the towpath and operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations required or accepted. Overnight stays are limited to one night per visit. The campsite provides basic amenities including a portable toilet available year-round, a picnic table, and a grill for cooking. A water pump is present but water is non-potable and not treated for drinking or cooking. Visitors must filter, chemically treat, or boil water before use. Water is turned off from mid-November to mid-April each year, so campers should bring adequate water supplies during this period. Located near the Potomac River, the site is subject to flooding after heavy rains. Fires are restricted to the provided grill or portable grills positioned off the ground. Firewood may be collected from dead material on the ground for use in the campground only. This is a walk-in, tent-only site with no RV or trailer access, no electric hookups, and no ADA accessibility.
Directions
Located at mile 30.5 on the C&O Canal towpath. Accessible only by foot, bicycle, or horseback via the towpath. Detailed directions and maps available at nps.gov/choh.
Nearby Campgrounds
- Turtle Run Hiker-biker Campsite 3.4mi
- Marble Quarry Hiker-biker Campsite 5.5mi
- Horsepen Branch Hiker-biker Overnight Campsite 4.6mi
- Indian Flats Hiker-biker Campsite 9.1mi
- Calico Rocks Hiker-biker Overnight Campsite 12mi
- Bald Eagle Island Hiker-biker Campsite 14mi
- Swains Lock Hiker-biker Campsite 13mi
- Marsden Tract Group Campsite 16mi
- Carderock Recreation Area Pavilion 17mi
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $0 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| CHOH_information@nps.gov | |
| Phone | +1 (301) 739-4200 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | None |
Photos
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