Join Jon Wolz for a C&O Canal pop-up walk on Wednesday August 14th at 10:00 a.m. We will meet at Riley’s Lock 24 parking lot and walk over the Seneca Aqueduct to the canal boat basin where they used to load boats for the Seneca quarries. We will then walk back across the aqueduct and down to Violette’s Lock at mile marker 22.12. Walking a little farther down the towpath, we will visit the historic milestone carved with “22 MILES to W.C.” at mile 22.02. Then we will return to lock 24. We will head back to lock 24 and depart. The roundtrip walk is about three miles. Expect to see a variety of birds along the way. Registration is required and limited to 15.
Location: 13015 Riley’s Lock Rd, Poolesville, MD 20837
Jon Wolz, our local expert on the C&O Canal and leader of our “pop-up” walks, has a long history with the canal. As a Montgomery Blair High School sophomore and Eagle Scout, he had already hiked the entire canal. In 1970, Jon was the Boy Scout chosen to testify before a Senate subcommittee on behalf of the bill to protect the C&O Canal as a National Historical Park. Maryland Congressmen Gilbert Gude and J. Glenn Beall sponsored the bill.
Since 2015 Jon has volunteered as a level walker with the C&O Canal Association (COCA). His two levels encompass the area from White’s Ferry to Monocacy Aqueduct.
Meet at Riley’s lock (the only combination Lift Lock and Aqueduct) walking to the Stone Cutting Mill. From there, walk along the Seneca Quarries and return. Walking from the mill to the quarries is on a rough path and round trip is about 2.5 miles going back to Riley’s lock.