The 184-mile C&O Canal towpath is a peaceful, car-free, and beginner-friendly trail, making it one of the most popular bikepacking routes in the United States.

C&O Canal Byways is a collection of routes for anybody near the C&O who seeks more adventurous terrain and/or a change of scenery. The routes explore less-traveled areas beyond the canal, using the C&O as a bicycle superhighway to efficiently connect these scenic bicycle byways.

C&O Canal Byways routes minimize motor vehicle traffic, often via rougher and hillier alternatives in place of paved roads. Each route has a difficulty rating and suggested tire width, and the full collection spans every difficulty level with routes that range from several miles to a multi-day bikepacking trips.

To download routes, view the full route collection in Ride With GPS.