Monocacy Aqueduct and C&O Canal

The Chesapeake and Ohio canal is one of the best places to get a somewhat easy hike/walk on. Along the trail there is plenty of wildlife and history to explore. One of the nicer places to explore is the Monocacy Aqueduct over the Monocacy River.

Monocacy Aqueduct closest to the parking lot.

The aqueduct, built between 1829 and 1833, spans the Monocacy for 438 feet. Today, one side of the aqueduct has a fence for walking, while the other for the more adventurous does not. For the bicyclists the middle part is opened.

Near the parking lot are the remains of a grain storage area. I've often wondered what those old ruins were.

Grain storage, with my bike in the background.

 The river also seems to be a great place to fish as I almost always see at least one person fishing when I'm there. Boating and kayaking, something I'd like to do there, is also quite popular. Plenty of wildlife can be seen in the area as well.

Some sort of salamander found under the aqueduct.

Old grill found near the confluence.

There should, if what I've been told is true, be a county boundary marker in the confluence area. I took a trip down there this past week and was not able to find one. However, the rain that he had the day before caused the rivers to be fuller and I wasn't able to go all the way out to the end of the point. It looks like there was areas for picnic tables and such near the point as there are some old grills still there. There are still some trails leading to the point.

The river has flooded part of the end of the point.

 For those bikers looking to make their way down there, there are a few large pot holes, the bridge over the railroad tracks is wood, though easy to go over when dry, and the railroad tracks that cross the road are in bad shape. It's not difficult to get to the aqueduct, but there are some things to watch out for.