There are so many scenic areas on the 184.5-mile long C&O Canal that it is difficult to decide which portion to tackle for your next adventure. If you are after scenery, history, and feats of engineering you could always start with the canal’s iconic aqueducts. They include the Alexandria Aqueduct, Seneca Aqueduct, Monocacy Aqueduct, Catoctin Aqueduct, Antietam Aqueduct, Conococheague Aqueduct, Licking Creek Aqueduct, Tonoloway Aqueduct, Sideling Hill Creek Aqueduct, Fifteen Mile Creek Aqueduct, Town Creek Aqueduct, and the Evitts Creek Aqueduct. Read more the aqueducts and their locations.

Rather than focus on improvements in one specific stream, the Upper Gunpowder Watershed Brook Trout Conservation Partnership takes a watershed-wide approach to habitat conservation. The project encompasses some 60 miles of stream across 48 square miles. Presented by Mark Staley, Central Region Manager, Freshwater Fisheries Program, DNR Maryland Zoom presentation and discussion on brook trout streams of the Upper Gunpowder watershed; life history, habitat needs, past and present population information. Nov. 15, 7:00 pm. More information and registration.

American Indian Heritage Day celebrates the historical, cultural, and social contributions of American Indian communities. The event teaches the public about pre-colonial American Indian culture in the Eastern region through archaeological interpretations. Hands-on demonstrations and exhibits include flint knapping, cooking and basket making. Activities include atlatl throwing, pottery, cordage, soapstone, canoe scraping, and Indian Village exploration. The Piscataway Nation Dancers and Singers will also be featured at this year's event. The event is free and open to the public. Nov. 6, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm; Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, St. Leonard, MD. More information.

Hike to two summits in Shenandoah National Park with. First, hike to Turk Mountain from Skyline Drive. This 2.2-mile round-trip (690 feet of elevation gain) will take you to the top of Turk Mountain at 2,981 feet for views of the Shenandoah Valley. Next, hike to Blackrock Summit with views of Madison Run and Dundo Hollow. This is an easy one-mile hike with only 175 feet of elevation gain. Finally, take another hike to Doyles River Cabin, a round trip of just 1.2-miles. This hike will be led by Dutch Gap Conservation Area and will depart from Rockwood Nature Center in Richmond. $32 includes guides and round trip transportation. Nov. 11, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm; Rockwood Nature Center, Richmond. More information and registration.

This is your chance to get hawk watching tips from the pros! Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory volunteers staff the hawkwatch at Kiptopeke State Park from sunrise to sunset everyday from September 1 to November 30 - weather permitting. Stop by at any time to learn about CVWO, the Kiptopeke hawkwatch, or just birds in general. Free and open to all ages. The Hawkwatch platform (pictured above) is staffed with volunteers from approximately sunrise to sunset from September 1 - November 30. Read some interesting Kiptopeke Hawkwatch field notes. Now until Nov. 30, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm; Kiptopeke State Park, Cape Charles, VA. More information.

This Harpers Ferry guided hike – from Bolivar Heights to the Nash Farm – will take you through woodland and meadows, starting with scenes of September 1862 and ending at a farm donated to Harpers Ferry NHP by a prominent family that may be used in the future as an environmental education center. Along the way, walk through paw paw groves, see some of Harpers Ferry’s biggest trees, and catch occasional views of the Potomac River below. Then return to Bolivar Heights walking along Prospect Street with its collection of historic and modern houses. Hike leader Chris Craig is a Certified Tour Guide in Harpers Ferry and a regular hike leader for the Sierra Club.2.5 miles, rated moderately easy on dirt trails over rolling terrain. $10 donation per person. Nov. 6, 10:00 am to 11:30 am; Harpers Ferry Historical Park, Harpers Ferry, WVA. More information.

Let nature inspire you to experiment with natural materials. Learn to make art supplies using nuts, charcoal, twigs, pigments and more. This Irvine Nature Center program will be led by Karen Dillon, artist and maker. Materials will be providedprovided and samples can be taken home. Dress for a mess. $30 per person. Nov. 13, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm; Irvine Nature Center, Owings Mills, MD. More information and registration.

The Anne Arundel County Master Gardeners invite you to attend this demonstration at Quiet Waters Park on the Wildwood Trail. Learn how to make compost in your backyard and receive a free compost bin courtesy of the Anne Arundel County Recycling office. Demonstrations may be cancelled in the event of heavy rain or excessive heat warning. Gate fees apply. Nov. 3 and 20, 10:00 am to 11:00 am; Quiet Water Park, Annapolis, MD. More information and registration.

Whether you drive through the refuge on the special wildlife viewing route, ride a bicycle, or prefer to hike, late fall and early winter seasons have alot to offer at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. According to the refuge website from October through December you can expect see an increasing number of ducks and geese, tundra swans arriving in November (with many over-wintering), white-tailed and sika deer (breeding season), and increasing numbers of bald eagles arriving from the north (nest building time!). If you are planning to bicycle through the refuge (it is a great place for riding), be sure to check out, A Wild Goose Chase Through Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, which will not only give you some guidance on where to ride and what to see, but explain how sea level rise will impact this fragile environment.

Use this annual celebration timed with Halloween to teach kids about the important role bats play in nature. As insect eaters, pollinators, and seed spreaders, bats provide critical services for our ecosystem. Project Learning Tree not only has fascinating facts about bats – like the fact that they fly over 60 mph – but also has activities, arts and crafts, writing ideas and other projects for children to learn about bats and bat conservation during Bat Week. Activities include how to make a bat mask, bat coloring pages, a habitat work sheet and a Bat Week Cook Book, that has recipes with bat-dependent ingredients. Project Learning Tree Bat Week facts and activities.

Head out on the water and learn firsthand the experiences of Captain John Smith's Voyage on NOAA's Chesapeake Bay interpretive Buoy System. CBIBS provides real time weather and environmental information, as well as a glimpse into living Chesapeake Bay History. You can also download the app for your Android or iPhone from the website. Note: some buoys may be offline with no data currently available.

Take a virtual tour of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail from your computer or mobile device! To help you plan your trip before you go, the Chesapeake Conservancy partnered with Terrain360 to bring you virtual tours of the trail’s great rivers. Sit back and virtually explore the Elk, James (sponsored by the James River Association), Nanticoke, Northeast, Patapsco, Patuxent, Potomac, Rappahannock, Sassafras, Susquehanna, and York rivers. Check out some of the Chesapeake’s special places like Werowocomoco, Fones Cliffs, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and Mallows Bay. We hope to eventually bring you a virtual tour of the entire Chesapeake Trail! Explore the Chesapeake's great rivers on our website.