Circumnavigating Lake Bernard Frank

I have hiked around the Lake Needwood area a few times, but had never visited its sister lake, Lake Bernard Frank. Last weekend, I finally did. 

I started from the southern end of Lake Needwood, walking on the Rock Creek Greenway. Then I took an offshoot trail east, to the shore of Lake Bernard Frank. All of this is paved, as is the first part of the trail circumnavigating the trail.

It's a pretty lake, and mostly easy going except one wet stream crossing. Be warned that LBF has no restrooms - the nature center is closed except to reserved, organized groups, and there are no port-a-potties.

After the circumnavigation, I took the same trail back. All told, it was 10 miles.

C&O end-to-end, miles 19-27

This next section of the C&O starts off with another really nice stretch. Between Pennyfield Lock and Rileys Lock, the scenery is varied. Much of the canal is watered, and the Potomac is pleasantly rocky and unnavigable. Occasional rock cuts add vertical visual relief.

Past Rileys Lock, the path becomes more monotonous. It's pretty, but less variable. On one side is the Potomac, looking more placid, and on the other is the dry canal and trees. At quiet Sycamore Landing (nothing but a boat launch, not even a port-a-potty), I turned around.

I did this one on a weekday, so it was uncrowded.

C&O end-to-end, miles 12-19

This section of the C&O starts off with what is possibly the most scenic part of the entire towpath, so it's a good thing I had done it before and didn't get distracted by side trails or by too many photo stops!

Since this was right after the time change, I started a little later than ideal - at least for Old Angler's parking area, which fills up fast. But I managed to get a spot, and headed west through the crowds. Although sunny, it was quite windy; my hat tried to blow away.

The trail itself is very pretty heading to Great Falls, and of course Great Falls is, well, great. The best views of it aren't had from the C&O Towpath itself. Normally, I would spend some time detouring here.

Once past Great Falls, the crowds thinned out considerably. Most of the rest of the trail to Pennyfield Lock is what I think of as typical C&O: It's pretty, with views of the Potomac, the canal at various water levels, and the occasional rock cut.

I walked a little past mile 19 to Pennyfield Lock, had lunch, and turned around. This is a section with no efficient alternative route back. There are lots of side trails that up the mileage considerably. I did change up the last mile and a half or so by taking the Berme Trail on the other side of the canal. 

The hike was a little over seven miles each way, but with a few side trips to restrooms and the like, it came in at over 15 total.