HAGERSTOWN, MD. -The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (C&O Canal) is a great place to enjoy winter activities, but please place safety first. The park cautions visitors regarding ice skating. Ice conditions at the C&O Canal are not monitored by park staff. Ice skating and sledding are not permitted in the Widewater area (towpath mile 12.6 to 13.4) of the park. In other areas of the park, ice skating and sledding are permitted at your own risk. In most watered areas, the C&O Canal ranges in depth from 6 feet to 15 feet and the canal maintains a constant flow of water beneath the ice. Please use extreme caution, check the ice, and never ice skate alone or without an adult present. An ice thickness of at least four inches is recommended for skating.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
