Maryland / Montgomery County / Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park / Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve

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.

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