Explore historic canals of Washington D.C. by bike/scooter

Explore historic canals of Washington D.C. by bike/scooter

  • UNDER 16 WITH PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN

Learn about the 19th-century canals that enabled rapid growth of the Federal City (Washington D.C.) shortly after its founding.

By TommyToursDC
35 events hosted 📈

Select date and time

Saturday, April 12 · 2 - 4pm EDT

Location

1201 New Jersey Ave SE

1201 New Jersey Avenue Southeast Washington, DC 20003

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 3 days before event

About this event

  • Paid venue parking

Few people know that historic canals were critical to the growth of Washington D.C. in the early 19th century. These canals include the Washington City Canal, the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal and the Alexandria Canal. This bike/scooter tour explores the historic canals, canal boats, locks, and lockkeeper houses - and the people who built and used this incredible transportation infrastructure.

Bring your own bike/scooter - safety helmets are required. If you choose to rent a bike, there is a Capital Bikeshare docking station at our meeting point (more info about Capital Bikeshare in the FAQ section below). The ride is about 7 miles (11 kilometers) on flat ground and takes about 2 hours.

Here are the highlights of our tour:

From our meeting point, it is a very short ride to the Navy Yard Terminus of the historic Washington City Canal. From there we proceed as closely as possible along the path of the historic canal. We stop at Canal Park, a three-block stretch of 2nd St. SE which has several interpretive signs and historic photographs. From Canal Park, we ride around a section of the original path of the historic canal which was overtaken by what is now the Southeast Freeway (Interstate 695) and CSX railway. Along this detour we make a surprise stop at a place that predates the historic canal. Back on our bikes/scooters, we return to the historic path of the Washington City Canal on what is now Canal St. SE and ride to the Lockkeepers House. Along the way, we see the Washington City Canal memorialized at Freedom Plaza. Then we make a brief stop to see artifacts of the historic Washington City Canal discovered when the National Museum of African American History was under construction. At the Lockkeeper's House you will learn the history of the house as well as the massive project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to create West Potomac Park and East Potomac Park. After departing the Lockkeeper's House, we ride along a route approximating the path of the C&O Canal Extension to C&O Canal Mile 0, a stone marker at the C&O Canal's southeastern terminus. Here we see the ruins of Tide Lock A that connected the C&O Canal to the Potomac River. From there the final leg of our ride takes us to C&O Canal Lock 4. There we will see a working lift lock, where a canal packet boat will be docked near the National Park Service's Visitor Center in Georgetown.

Legal Disclaimer: By participating in this tour, you agree to:

  1. Provide your own bicycle or scooter in good mechanical condition and safety helmet.
  2. Obey all traffic laws.
  3. Hereby unconditionally RELEASE, WAIVE, and AGREE NOT TO SUE TommyToursDC or any of its employees.

Frequently asked questions

What should I bring with me?

You should bring (or rent) a bike or scooter and a safety helmet. Considering bringing suncreen and water. If you want to explore on foot a little bit, bring a lock for your bike or scooter.

What type of surface will we ride on?

The tour is mostly on paved surfaces (i.e., road or sidewalk). We will ride on natural surfaces such as grass or packed gravel in a few places.

Is the tour safe?

Yes, the tour route has been optimized for safety. Of course, it is very important to wear a safety helmet on the tour. When we ride on streets, we will avoid streets with a lot of cars.

How do I rent a bike from Capital Bikeshare?

Capital Bikeshare has regular (nonpowered) bicycles as well as ebikes (electric powered). The bikes are well-maintained and stored at docking stations all over the city. See the map of docking stations on the Capital Bikeshare website (https://capitalbikeshare.com) or on your smartphone map.

Tags

Organized by

TommyToursDC
35 events hosted

TommyToursDC was founded in 2025. I have created unique, active tours of Washington D.C. that you won't find anywhere else. Here are some of my tours:

  • Historic Canal Tours. Few people know the growth of early 19th-century Washington D.C. was enabled by canals; specifically, the Washington City Canal, the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal, and the Alexandria Canal. On this fascinating tour by bicycle/scooter, learn about the canals, canal boats, locks, and lockkeeper houses - and the people who built and used them.
  • National Mall at Night. The National Mall of Washington D.C. is visited by millions of people each year, but most people see the monuments and memorials in the daytime and miss out on the beauty and serenity of the National Mall at night. See all the famous (and some not-so-famous) monuments & memorials that exude a special character at nighttime.
  • Brewery Bike/Scooter Tour. How would you like to visit every brewery in Washington D.C. by bicycle/scooter? On this tour, you will see a few of the famous monuments and memorials of America's capital city, but you will mostly experience the 'real' D.C. where people live, work, and of course, drink beer.
  • Building Stones of Our Nation's Capital. The U.S. Capitol, the White House, the U.S. Supreme Court, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial... and many more buildings and memorials were built with stone. But what types of stone were used? And where did all the stones come from? Find out on this walking tour of the National Mall.