Rail Trail vs. Canal Trail
This post could also be titled paved trail vs. dirt trail or train trail vs. boat trail or modern trail vs historic trail… Whatever you call it and no matter how this trail comparison pans out, these are two of the world’s best trails. Before we show the trail contrasts, let’s take a look at the trail similarities. Both of these trails are:
- Maryland trails
Hancock is Maryland Trail Town
- long trails
- historic trails
- bike trails
- hiking trails
- fall foliage trails
- repurposed trails (canal to trail and railroad to trail)
- United States trails
- major trails
- part of Hancock Maryland’s claim to fame as Trail Town USA
Now Let’s look at the differences:
Western Maryland Rail Trail
The Western Maryland Rail Trail basically parallels the C & O Canal Towpath Trail. Both trails are spectacular and when combined, they form an excellent loop bike ride. But despite their similarities, the two trails are actually quite different. Here are some unique characteristics of the Western Maryland Rail Trail:
-
western entrance to trail
- It is an asphalt trail
- It is currently 23 miles long
- It goes directly through Hancock, Maryland
- It is scheduled to be expanded in the future.
- It is a rail trail.
C & O Canal Towpath Trail
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park provides us with one of America’s greatest canal trails. It is also in Maryland, but has numerous characteristics that set it apart from its sister trail the Western Maryland Rail Trail. Some of the differences include:
- It is a hard-packed dirt path
- The C & O Trail is 185 miles long
- It skirts the town of Hancock, Maryland
- It will never be expanded
- It starts near Cumberland, Maryland and ends in Georgetown District of Columbia (Washington D.C. area)
- It is a canal trail
