Frequently Asked Questions
revised October 13, 2009
1.
How
do I register?
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Registrations are available on a first-come, first-serve
basis and may be made up to twelve months in advance. Registration must be done with a credit card, either
online or by telephone. Online registration shows “real time”
lockhouse availability. Follow the
guided process and be sure to have your credit card ready. Your confirmation will be emailed to you with
detailed instructions.
Telephone registrations are available on a limited basis between
9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. A Trust representative will be available only
during those times to answer questions regarding the Canal Quarters Program,
discuss lockhouse availability, and take registrations. You may leave a voicemail during non-business
hours and a Trust representative will return your call.
Only one party (8 person maximum) may register per lockhouse
per stay. There is a three-night maximum
stay. The fee is the same regardless of
the number in your party. The person
registering is considered the group leader and must remain with the group at
all times.
The Trust does not keep a wait list.
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2.
How
does the key system work?
In your confirmation email, there will be a 4-digit code for
the lockbox where the key is stored. The
lockbox is afixed to the doorframe of the front entrance of the lockhouse. The key must remain attached to the bottom
piece of the lockbox. Do not try to
remove the key from this piece. You may
use the lockbox as much as you like during your stay, but it is very import to RETURN THE KEY TO THE LOCKBOX PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.
Failure to do so will result in a
$50 charge to your account. Any damage
to the lockbox must be reported immediately and may be subject to an additional
fee.
3.
What
is the maximum occupancy?
The maximum occupancy for Lockhouse 22 and Lockhouse 49 is 8
persons. Lockhouse 6 has beds for 6 and
a pull-out couch that could sleep an additional 2 persons. Camping around the lockhouses is strictly
prohibited. If your party exceeds the
maximum occupancy, those individuals are encouraged to stay at a nearby
approved park campground or make other arrangements.
4.
What
do I do with my trash?
The C&O
Canal National
Historical Park
is a trash-free park. There are no trash
cans in the park. The trash cans in the
Canal Quarters lockhouses are for your convenience during your stay and must be
emptied upon departure. Therefore, it is
the visitors’ responsibility to take all trash with them. The Trust asks all visitors to be considerate
of the visitor staying after them by leaving the building cleaner than they
found it.
5.
What
do I do for firewood?
Cutting of standing trees or limbs, dead or alive, is
strictly prohibited in the park, and because of concerns about Emerald Ash
Borer (http://www.emeraldashborer.info/),
wood may not be brought into the park. Visitors
are permitted to use the bow saw and maul to cut dead and down trees around the
lockhouses. Wood is delivered on a
semi-regular basis and will be found stacked near the lockhouses.
6.
Can I
use this program if I am a through-hiker or biker?
Absolutely. The C&O Canal welcomes over 3.5 million people
every year who come to hike and bike the towpath. With the recent opening of the Great Allegheny
Passage, many recreational enthusiasts now regularly make the trip from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
to Washington DC. The
lockhouses in the Canal Quarters program offer an alternative to the park’s hiker-biker
campgrounds by allowing a visitor to experience the history of the canal in a
more meaningful way. While the Trust
cannot make any special considerations for someone who wants to register for
multiple lockhouses in a several day period, the online registration provides a
calendar to show each lockhouse’s availability.
With enough prior planning, a multi-day trip should be feasible.
7.
Can I
drive to the lockhouse?
All lockhouses are located immediately adjacent to the
C&O Canal Towpath. Lockhouses 6, 22,
and 49 are accessible by car and include nearby parking. Lockhouse 28 is located on the towpath about 3/4
of a mile from available parking. Visitors
may not drive on the towpath.
Canal Quarters parking is available near all locations and
is marked by special signs. A parking
permit will be included in the confirmation email and should be displayed on
the dashboard of your vehicle throughout your stay. National Park Service law enforcement rangers
will check to see this permit, as overnight parking is not permitted within the
Montgomery County and Washington, DC sections of the park.
8.
What
should I bring?
Each lockhouse varies in amenities. Lockhouse 6, for instance, has a full kitchen
and bathroom while Lockhouse 22 offers a completely rustic experience. Please review the information provided on the
registration website for details so you don’t encounter any surprises.
9.
What
is there to do in the area?
The C&O
Canal National
Historical Park
offers a variety of programs and activities suited for any person, any age. Enjoy scenic hikes or bike rides along the
C&O Canal Towpath. Visit remaining
canal structures, such as locks, aqueducts, and the Paw Paw Tunnel. Take a mule drawn canal boat ride in Georgetown or at Great Falls
in Potomac, Maryland. There are also many national and state parks
located short driving distances away. Visit the C&O Canal NHP’s official website
for suggestions for making your trip a success:
http://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/things2do.htm.
You can also visit these sites to explore more things to do
in the area:
10.
Is
there a store nearby?
Grocery stores accessible by vehicle can be found relatively
near all locations. They may not be
easily accessible by foot or bike, however.
Near Lockhouse 28, there are only smaller convenient stores, while
Lockhouses 6 and 22 are located near shopping centers in Potomac, Maryland.
11.
Are
pets allowed?
Park rules specify that all pets be on leashes in the park. Pets are not allowed inside the lockhouses at
any time.
12.
Are
linens provided?
Although beds are provided, linens and pillows are not. Please arrange to bring your own.
13.
What
do I do for cooking?
Check the amenities chart on the registration pages to see
what is provided at each lockhouse for cooking arrangements. With the exception of Lockhouse 6, each
lockhouse has a fire ring with a grate for outside cooking. Pots, pans, dishes, and utensils are provided
along with areas for kitchen prep at all buildings.
14.
Is
water available?
Visitors are strongly encouraged to bring their own water during
their stay since only Lockhouse 6 has indoor plumbing. Pumps are available at nearby hiker-biker
campgrounds, but some are located a considerable distance away from Canal
Quarters lockhouses. Further, these
pumps are only available April 1 to November 11 and are not operable during the
winter. Also note that the water from
the pumps is treated with iodine, so visitors with iodine allergies should not
drink the water. Pumps are tested once
every two weeks. If the pump fails the
test, the pump handle will be removed. The
Trust is not able to notify visitors if the pump nearest to the lockhouse is
unavailable, so bringing your own is the safest option. Water may be taken from nearby streams and
rivers and treated with water purification tablets, but neither the Trust nor
the Park can assure the safety of the water.
15.
Are
there bathroom facilities?
Only Lockhouse 6 has indoor plumbing, including a bathroom
and a shower located in the basement. All
other lockhouses have outdoor toilet facilities. There are no showers at these other locations.
16.
Is
there river access?
There are various Potomac River access points all along the C&O Canal. Visit the C&O Canal NHP’s website for
deailed information (http://www.nps.gov/choh/index.htm). Visitors are asked to use existing trails and
not create any social trails.
17.
Will
my cell phone work?
Visitors should not rely on cell service anywhere along the
C&O Canal Towpath, especially in western Maryland.
However, AT&T, US Cellular, and Sprint typically work at Canal
Quarters locations.
18.
Can I
cancel my stay? Are there refunds?
Upon making a registration, you will
receive an email confirming your registration and detailing your
itinerary. It is the group leader’s
responsibility to review this information upon receipt. If there is an error in the itinerary, contact
the Trust immediately.
Any changes or cancellations require 30
days advance notice. Cancellations more
than 30 days in advance of your arrival will receive a refund upon request,
less a $15 processing fee. Cancellations
made less than 30 days prior to the scheduled arrival date will result in full
forfeiture of the advance payment.
In the event that the Park unexpectedly
closes, such as in the event of flooding, and registrants are not able to
access their reserved Lockhouse during the period of their reservation, the
Trust will rebook or provide a full refund upon request.
19.
What
do I need to do when I leave?
The Trust asks all visitors to be good stewards of these
historic buildings during their stay and be respectful of other visitors. Departure time is 10:00 a.m. Please leave the lockhouse in better condition
than you found it. Leave no trash or
other items. Make sure all fires are
completely out if you use the fire ring. Sweep out any dirt or mud that may have made
its way into the building. Move
furniture back to its original position if moved during your stay. Clean all cooking items thoroughly. Make sure the wood pile is restocked. Turn off all lights. Close all windows and screens. Shut and bolt shutters. Ensure all doors are locked. Return lockhouse key to lockbox.
If anything is broken or damaged during your stay, please
notify the Trust immediately.
20.
Are
there volunteer opportunities for the program?
Each lockhouse is overseen by a group of volunteer
Quartermasters who regularly check on the building assigned to them and take
great care to ensure the building is in great shape for visitors. Please contact the Trust if you would like
more information about this important volunteer opportunity.
21.
Who
do I contact in an emergency?
Call 911 immediately in the event of an emergency. Additionally, when arriving at the lockhouse,
make sure to find the locations of first aid kits and fire extinguishers as
well as emergency evacuation routes.
22.
Is
there bike or boat storage available?
There is bike storage available at all lockhouses in the
basement of the buildings. Smaller boats, such as kayaks and some canoes, may fit into the lower level of
Lockhouse 22. They may also be stored
outside the building, but it is advised to bring a lock and a chain for
security. Do not store bikes or boats in
the main floors of the buildings.
Note that use of electric motorized vessels is allowed only
at Big Pool, Little Pool, and canal waters from Lock 68 to Town Creek Aqueduct.
Gasoline and propane motorized vessels
are prohibited within the park. Personal
floatation devices should be used as required by the state of Maryland. Use special care if boating on the Potomac River. Canoeing on the Potomac
should be done under the direct supervision of an experienced adult canoeist. The U.S. Weather Bureau provides a taped
message on river conditions in the lower Potomac Valley
at (703)260-0305.
23.
What
happens if I lose a key?
If you lose the key to the lockhouse, you may try to contact
the volunteer Quartermaster to request assistance. Their number will be found in the
confirmation email you will receive after you complete your reservation. However, please do not call after 10:30
p.m. Keep in mind, there is no guarantee
a Quartermaster will be available to assist, so take great care with the
key. As with any damage or loss, please
immediately report a lost key to the Trust. A $50 replacement fee will be assessed.
