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The National Park Service has completed the Great Falls Area (Maryland) Development Concept Plan, a major milestone that sets the long-term direction for stewardship, visitor experiences and education at one of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park’s most visited places.
This plan turns community and partner input into a clear, actionable vision for Great Falls. It identifies strategies to strengthen recreation and learning opportunities, support healthy ecosystems and protect the natural and cultural resources entrusted to our care so Great Falls remains inspiring, accessible, and resilient for generations.
| | Join the Trust for Canal Community Days at Great Falls | | Photo credit: Francis Grant-Suttie | | |
Celebrate spring with the Trust at Great Falls Canal Community Days on April 18! Canal Community Days is our annual community-building public volunteer program that brings people into the park for stewardship projects all along the 184.5 miles of the towpath from Georgetown, in Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, Maryland.
This event brings the community together to care for one of the most visited areas of the C&O Canal. From beautification to hands-on maintenance projects, your efforts will help keep Great Falls welcoming for all.
| | Community Explores Native Trees at Carderock | | Community members joined the Trust this month at Carderock to learn more about trees in the C&O Canal! Participants identified approximately 15 different species of trees and explored the vital role they play in our ecosystem. Participants also shared their local knowledge about our surrounding environment, making great conversation between all of us! We learned about why leaves persist, which fruits are edible, tree scars, and more. Thank you all for joining us on such a nice, sunny February day to talk about trees! | | Photo Credit: Trust Staff | | Volunteer at More Canal Community Days Events | | Photo Credit: Jane Mahaffie | | Can't make it our our volunteer event at Great Falls? Join us for these Canal Community Days events to make a difference in your local national park! | |
May 2 in Williamsport, MD
May 16 in Frederick County
| More information about these events will be coming soon! | | National Invasive Species Awareness Week | Photo Credit: Paul Graunke |
|  | Canal Community Story - Pete's Scouting Adventures |
| | Girl Scout Leave No Trace Workshop | Join the Trust at the Carderock Recreation Area on March 28 from 10 am - 2 pm and earn your Eco Camper (Juniors) or Eco Trekker (Cadettes) badge. Through hands-on activities, Girl Scouts will learn the principles of Leave No Trace, explore ways to reduce their impact on nature, and practice skills for safe, responsible recreation. | Photo Credits: Cary Beall | | Alice Ferguson Potomac River Watershed Cleanup | Join us on the morning of April 11 for the Alice Ferguson Foundation’s Potomac River Watershed Cleanup! This annual, watershed-wide effort mobilizes thousands of volunteers to care for hundreds of miles of vital riparian habitat along the Potomac River. Volunteer with the Trust in the C&O Canal and be part of this impactful day of service! | Photo Credits: Trust Staff | | Book a Stay in History with Canal Quarters | | LOVE THE PARK? HELP THE TRUST! | | | | March 20 - 27 is the 72nd anniversary of Justice William O. Douglas’ historic hike, ultimately saving the C&O Canal from being paved into a highway. Douglas’ involvement provided a focal point for media attention and intensified the efforts of conservation groups to preserve the canal. After focused efforts, the C&O Canal finally became a National Historical Park in 1971, protecting its beauty and biodiversity for present and future generations to enjoy. For his efforts in preserving and protecting the natural and historic resources, the C&O Canal was dedicated to Justice Douglas | | The Trust’s ‘William O. Douglas Society’ honors the advocacy of Justice Douglas. It is a circle of leadership donors whose generous sustaining investment demonstrates a commitment to preserving and protecting the C&O Canal, ensuring it remains, in the words of Douglas himself, “a place of refuge, a place of retreat, a long stretch of quiet and peace” for generations to come. | | Travel Back to 1971 - With Your Hot Coffee! | | Celebrate the history of the Historic Great Falls Tavern with a warm beverage! The Great Falls Tavern (also historically known as the Crommelin House) was one of the many lockhouses along the canal and serviced thousands of cargo and excursion boats that passed through Lock 20. The tavern was a hotel for travelers along the canal beginning in 1831 and also a popular meeting place for community gatherings during the late 19th-century. Today, the Great Falls Tavern is one on the park's visitor centers and provides opportunities to learn more about the history and recreational activities on the C&O Canal. | | Photo Credit: Francis Grant-Suttie | | Join the C&O Canal Trust in celebrating America’s 250th, by joining us for the launch of our inaugural William O. Douglas Historic Lecture Series, March 25, 2026 at Georgetown University. The evening includes stories and insights shared about the pivotal role Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas played in preserving and protecting the historic local treasure we all know as the C&O Canal, and his environmental legacy. The Honorable M. Margaret McKeown, United States Circuit Judge and author of “Citizen Justice: The Environmental Legacy of Justice William O. Douglas — Public Advocate and Conservation Champion” will share stories of how Douglas made a lasting contribution to both the physical environment and environmental law, allowing time for questions from the audience. William O. Douglas Society members receive one complimentary ticket, guests/non-William O. Douglas Society members may attend by making a donation of $125.The two hour event includes a presentation and discussion with the author, followed by a reception for Society members and guests. | | | | |
Each month, we'll be giving out clues about a creature that lives in the park! Guess which creature we are highlighting below and check out next month's Canal Connection for the answer.
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Clues:
This mammal is found throughout the eastern half of the United States and Canada. They prefer to live along the forest edges where they can access open fields and woods. They hibernate during the winter, and their burrows provide homes for other species. This species is an herbivore, eating grass, leaves, flowers, and your garden.
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Last Month's Answer:
Eastern Wild Turkey
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| | | Congratulations to Bill Hafker, our February photo contest winner! The winning entry this month was "Winter Sports on the Canal". Be sure to vote in our March Photo Contest on Facebook! |
| Love the Park? Help the Trust! | | Proud Partner of the C&O Canal National Historical Park | |
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The C&O Canal Trust is the official nonprofit philanthropic partner of the
C&O Canal National Historical Park.
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