Horseshoe Bend Hiker-Biker Campsite
National Park Service campground in Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, near Mercersville, Maryland.
Freenightly fee
Not itemizedfirst-come area, sites not listed
First-comebooking
Not statedseason (agency text)
No RV datamax RV/trailer length
41named USFS/NPS trails within 5 mi (34.6 mi)
62.7 mibike trails within 5 mi
How it compares
- There are 39 other campgrounds in our data within 25 miles.
- Straight-line distance: Winchester ~29 mi, Washington ~56 mi, Baltimore ~64 mi.
Amenities & rules
The agency hasn't published an amenity list for this campground.
Trails within 5 miles
| Trail | Closest point | Mapped miles within 5 mi | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Towpath, Milepost 80-81 (080.00) | 0.3 mi | 0.9 | NPS |
| Towpath, Milepost 79-80 (079.00) | 0.3 mi | 1.0 | NPS |
| Towpath, Milepost 78-79 (078.00) | 0.7 mi | 0.9 | NPS |
| Towpath, Milepost 81-82 (081.00) | 0.9 mi | 1.0 | NPS |
| Towpath, Milepost 82-83 (082.00) | 1.0 mi | 0.9 | NPS |
| Cornfield - J. Poffenberger Farm Trails Connector | 1.3 mi | 1.2 | NPS |
| Towpath, Milepost 83-84 (083.00) | 1.3 mi | 1.0 | NPS |
| West Woods Alternate Trail | 1.3 mi | 0.2 | NPS |
| West Woods Trail | 1.4 mi | 1.0 | NPS |
| Towpath, Milepost 77-78 (077.00) | 1.4 mi | 1.0 | NPS |
| Towpath, Milepost 76-77 (076.00) | 1.4 mi | 1.0 | NPS |
| Cornfield - West Woods Trails Connector | 1.4 mi | 0.1 | NPS |
+ 29 more named trails.
Mountain biking nearby
62.7 miles of bike-legal trail lie within 5 miles (0.1 mi on unnamed paths). Difficulty mix: Unrated: 62.7 mi
| Trail | Closest point | Miles within 5 mi | Difficulty (as tagged) | Kids | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail | 0.0 mi | 41.0 | Unrated | OSM | |
| Towpath, Milepost 80-81 (080.00) | 0.3 mi | 0.9 | Unrated | NPS | |
| Towpath, Milepost 79-80 (079.00) | 0.3 mi | 1.0 | Unrated | NPS | |
| Towpath, Milepost 78-79 (078.00) | 0.7 mi | 0.9 | Unrated | NPS | |
| Towpath, Milepost 81-82 (081.00) | 0.9 mi | 1.0 | Unrated | NPS | |
| Towpath, Milepost 82-83 (082.00) | 1.0 mi | 0.9 | Unrated | NPS | |
| Towpath, Milepost 83-84 (083.00) | 1.3 mi | 1.0 | Unrated | NPS | |
| Towpath, Milepost 77-78 (077.00) | 1.4 mi | 1.0 | Unrated | NPS | |
| Towpath, Milepost 76-77 (076.00) | 1.4 mi | 1.0 | Unrated | NPS | |
| Towpath, Milepost 75-76 (075.00) | 2.0 mi | 1.0 | Unrated | NPS | |
| Towpath, Milepost 84-85 (084.00) | 2.3 mi | 1.2 | Unrated | NPS | |
| Towpath, Milepost 74-75 (074.00) | 2.5 mi | 1.0 | Unrated | NPS |
+ 12 more.
Ratings come only from OpenStreetMap mtb:scale / IMBA tags. Untagged trails show as "Unrated", and we never guess. Check conditions and maps on Trailforks or MTB Project.
Activities listed
BikingBoatingCampingFishingHikingHorseback RidingPaddlingWildlife Viewing
Nearest campgrounds
| Campground | Miles | State | Fee/night | Sites | Hookups | Max RV | Pets | Booking | Trails ≤5 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Woods Hiker-Biker Overnight (HBO) Campsite Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park |
1.1 | MD | Free | — | — | — | — | First-come | 42 (35.7 mi) |
| Rohrbach Group Campground Antietam National Battlefield |
1.8 | MD | $10 | 10 | — | — | — | Reserve | 36 (29.8 mi) |
| Killiansburg Cave Hiker-Biker Campsite Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park |
2.3 | MD | Free | — | — | — | — | First-come | 41 (33.9 mi) |
| Antietam Creek Campsite Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park |
4.9 | MD | — | 20 | — | — | yes | Reserve | 37 (29.8 mi) |
| Opequon Junction Hiker-Biker Overnight (HBO) Campsite Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park |
5.0 | MD | Free | — | — | — | — | First-come | 20 (19.7 mi) |
| Cumberland Valley Hiker-Biker Overnight (HBO) Campsite Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park |
6.7 | MD | Free | — | — | — | — | First-come | 24 (23.6 mi) |
Hookups: E = electric (max amps), W = water, S = sewer. "—" means the agency doesn't publish it. Trail counts are named USFS/NPS trails within 5 miles. 🟢 = kid-friendly (green-rated) bike trail nearby.
From the managing agency
Mile 79.2 - Hiker-biker campgrounds are located along the towpath approximately every 5-7 miles. No fee or reservation required. Overnight stays are limited to one night. All sites include a chemical toilet, picnic table, grill, and water.
Please Note: Water at hiker-biker campsites is non-potable. Water is not treated and not for drinking or cooking. If you use this water, you are advised to filter, chemically treat, or boil before use. Water is turned off from mid-November to mid-April each year.