Some hikes stay with you long after the boots come off. The Paw Paw Tunnel hike is one of them. You walk more than half a mile through a hand-dug, brick-lined tunnel that took fourteen years to build, then climb over the ridge for views of the Potomac River bending back on itself like a lazy ribbon. It’s part history lesson, part backcountry adventure, and it sits within easy reach of Berkeley Springs, making it a perfect anchor for a weekend in West Virginia.
At Blue Maple, we send guests down this trail all season long, and they come back full of stories. This guide covers everything you need to make the trip smooth: how to find the trailhead, what the walk really feels like, where to eat afterward, and how to pair the hike with the springs, spa town, and state parks that make our corner of the mountains so worth returning to.
A Quick Primer on the Paw Paw Tunnel
Before you lace up, a little context makes the walk more meaningful. The Paw Paw Tunnel is a 3,118-foot canal tunnel carved through Sorrel Ridge on the Maryland side of the Potomac River, directly across from the small town of Paw Paw, West Virginia. It’s the largest structure on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, lined with more than six million bricks, and it took canal crews from 1836 to 1850 to finish. Engineers originally thought the job would take two years. Fourteen years, several riots, a cholera outbreak, and a budget overrun of roughly twenty times later, the tunnel finally opened, and boats used it until commercial canal traffic stopped in 1924.
Today the tunnel is preserved as part of the C&O Canal National Historical Park, and the towpath that mule teams once trudged is open to hikers and cyclists. You can walk straight through the tunnel on the flat canal path, or take the steeper Tunnel Hill Trail up and over the ridge for a loop with sweeping views of the Paw Paw Bends.
Getting There from Berkeley Springs
From Berkeley Springs, the drive is a scenic hour on WV Route 9 west through rolling farm country and small mountain towns. You’ll pass through Paw Paw, cross the Potomac, and enter Maryland, where WV-9 becomes MD-51. Just past the railroad overpass, watch for the well-marked entrance to the Paw Paw Tunnel Campground on your right. That’s where the hike begins.
A word of navigation wisdom, straight from the National Park Service: type “Paw Paw Tunnel Campground” or “Paw Paw Campground, Oldtown, MD” into your GPS, not “Paw Paw Tunnel.” Otherwise you’ll be sent to a dead end on Tunnel Hill Road, then have to backtrack. Multiple guests have learned this the hard way.
Parking is a free gravel lot with room for about thirty cars, and overnight parking is allowed for anyone camping or doing a longer C&O Canal ride. It fills up on peak weekends, so an earlier start is your friend.
Walking the Trail: What to Expect
The Paw Paw Tunnel hike has two personalities, and you can experience one or both. The flat towpath through the tunnel is easygoing and short. The Tunnel Hill loop up and over Sorrel Ridge is a proper climb with a payoff. Together, they run about three to four miles and take a comfortable half day.
Paw Paw Tunnel
The main event. From the campground lot, walk south on the C&O Canal towpath for roughly half a mile until the mountain rises up in front of you and the tunnel mouth appears. Step inside and the air drops several degrees. The brick arch stretches into darkness, water drips from the ceiling, and the sound of your own footsteps echoes off the walls. Look for rope marks and brass plates along the interior, where tow lines and mule hardware wore grooves into the brick over seventy years of canal traffic. It is genuinely one of the coolest half hours of walking on the East Coast.
- Rating: 4.7 stars (540+ Google reviews)
- Length: 3,118 feet through the mountain
- Address: C&O Canal Towpath, Oldtown, MD 21555
- Phone: (301) 722-8226 (C&O Canal NHP)
- What to bring: A flashlight or headlamp, sturdy shoes, and a light layer for the tunnel chill
- View on Google Maps
One recent visitor put it plainly: “The tunnel is impressive. Definitely worth taking a look. Take a flashlight.” Another warned that the interior “is very uneven and had puddles, so make sure you have a flashlight of some sort and sturdy shoes on.” That’s the whole safety brief in two sentences.
Tunnel Hill Trail
When you emerge on the downstream side of the tunnel, you have a choice: turn around and walk back through, or climb over. The Tunnel Hill Trail runs about two miles over Sorrel Ridge with roughly 375 feet of elevation gain, which the National Park Service classifies as strenuous. In practice, it’s a sustained but manageable climb for anyone with basic trail fitness, and the ridge-top views of the Paw Paw Bends (the horseshoe curves of the Potomac the tunnel was built to bypass) are the reward for the effort.
- Rating: 4.5 stars (Google)
- Length: About 2 miles, 375 ft elevation gain
- Address: Tunnel Hill Trail, Oldtown, MD 21555
- Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous, expect roughly an hour
- View on Google Maps
Paw Paw Tunnel Campground
If you feel like extending the trip, the campground where you park is also the trailhead’s overnight option. Ten walk-in tent sites sit right beside the canal, water is available roughly April through November, and reservations are open year-round. It’s a dramatic place to sleep, with the tunnel mouth just a short walk away and the Potomac rustling through the trees. Even if you don’t camp, the picnic area is a nice spot to eat afterward.
- Rating: 4.5 stars (86+ reviews)
- Address: C&O Canal Towpath, Oldtown, MD 21555
- Sites: 10 walk-in tent sites, reservable year-round
- Water: Potable water April through November
- View on Google Maps
Where to Eat, Sip, and Explore Nearby
The tunnel is the headliner, but half the fun of a Paw Paw weekend is what happens before and after. Here are the local spots worth building into your day.
Bill’s Place
The unofficial post-hike institution. Bill’s has been serving canal travelers, cyclists, and hikers on the C&O Towpath for generations, and it still feels like walking into a friend’s kitchen that happens to have a bar. Order a burger, grab a cold drink, and swap trail stories with whoever pulls up next to you. It’s about twenty minutes from the tunnel toward Little Orleans.
- Rating: 4.5 stars (302+ reviews)
- Address: 12719 High Germany Rd, Little Orleans, MD 21766
- Vibe: Rural bar and grill, no pretense, real hospitality
- What to order: Burger, cold beer, and the daily special
- View on Google Maps
Paw Paw Welcome Center
If you’re the type who likes to know what you’re looking at, stop here first. The Welcome Center in Riverfront Park hands out a self-guided walking-tour brochure that points out several National Register of Historic Places buildings in town, including the 1893 Old Mayor’s Office and Lockup and an early 20th-century two-room schoolhouse. It’s a low-key twenty-minute stroll that gives context to the tunnel just across the river.
- Address: 105 Henry W Miller Hwy, Paw Paw, WV 25434
- Setting: Riverfront Park, walking-tour brochures on hand
- Good for: Historical context before the hike
- View on Google Maps
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Green Ridge State Forest
You’ll drive through the edge of Green Ridge on the way to the tunnel, and it’s worth a proper stop if you have time. Maryland’s second-largest state forest covers roughly 47,000 acres of ridges, hollows, and hardwood stands right next door to the C&O Canal. Wildlife watching is excellent, and if you’re on a mountain bike, this is one of the best backcountry riding networks in the Mid-Atlantic.
- Rating: 4.7 stars (1,397+ reviews)
- Address: 28700 Headquarters Dr NE, Flintstone, MD 21530
- Highlights: Ridge-top overlooks, wildlife viewing, extensive mountain biking
- Good for: A second-day outing after the tunnel
- View on Google Maps
Berkeley Springs State Park
Back on the West Virginia side, this is the reason our town has been called “America’s first spa” since George Washington himself came to soak. The warm mineral springs flow at a constant 74 degrees, and you can book a Roman-style bath, a private tub, or a massage in the historic bathhouses right in the middle of town. It’s the perfect way to unwind trail-tired legs.
- Rating: 4.7 stars (2,710+ reviews)
- Address: 2 S Washington St, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
- Highlights: Historic Roman baths, massages, and the mineral spring pools
- Good for: A post-hike soak, ideally booked in advance on weekends
- View on Google Maps
Cacapon Resort State Park
About ten miles south of downtown Berkeley Springs, Cacapon is a full-blown mountain retreat inside a state park: 6,000-plus acres of hardwood forest, an 18-hole golf course, a lake for swimming and paddling, a lodge, and a full trail system with sweeping ridge views. It also sits roughly nine miles from the Paw Paw Tunnel as the crow flies, which is why so many guests weave the two together into a single weekend.
- Rating: 4.7 stars (2,570+ reviews)
- Address: 818 Cacapon Lodge Dr, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
- Highlights: Ziler Loop Trail, Prospect Peak overlook, lake beach, and golf
- Good for: A full day of easy trails and scenic drives
- View on Google Maps
The Country Inn of Berkeley Springs
If you’d rather have coffee than campfire smoke in the morning, the Country Inn sits directly across from Berkeley Springs State Park and has been a downtown fixture for nearly a century. Even if you aren’t staying there, the front porch is a lovely spot for a drink before or after your spa treatment.
- Rating: 4.4 stars (1,351+ reviews)
- Address: 110 S Washington St, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
- Highlights: Historic inn, front porch, walking distance to the springs
- Good for: A relaxed evening drink or breakfast in town
- View on Google Maps
Tari’s
For dinner in Berkeley Springs, Tari’s is a longtime favorite. It’s a warm, art-filled space on North Washington Street with a menu that leans local and seasonal, plus one of the more interesting cocktail lists in the region. Reservations are smart on weekends, especially in leaf-peeping season.
- Rating: 4.7 stars (670+ reviews)
- Address: 33 N Washington St, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
- Highlights: Local, seasonal menu, thoughtful cocktails, live music some nights
- What to order: Trout when it’s on the menu, and the crab bisque
- View on Google Maps
When to Go and What to Pack
Season by season:
- Spring (March through May): Comfortable temperatures and green everywhere. Expect a muddier towpath and slick tunnel floor after rain.
- Summer (June through August): Warm and humid outside, but the tunnel interior stays refreshingly cool. Wear insect protection for the ridge.
- Fall (September through November): Our favorite season. Cooler air, low humidity, and fall color across the Paw Paw Bends from the Tunnel Hill overlook.
- Winter (December through February): Quiet and moody, but ice can form inside the tunnel and on the ridge. Best for experienced hikers with traction devices.
What to pack for the Paw Paw Tunnel hike:
- A headlamp or flashlight (essential, not optional)
- Sturdy hiking shoes or boots with real grip
- A light jacket for the tunnel, even in summer
- Water, snacks, and basic first-aid
- Bug spray if you’re hiking the ridge in warm months
- A camera, because the tunnel portals and Potomac overlooks are stunning
Plan Your Trip
The Paw Paw Tunnel hike is one of those rare outings that lets you touch history, get a real workout if you want one, and finish the day with a soak in a mineral spring or a plate of fresh trout in a downtown restaurant. Pair it with a cabin close to the springs and you have the makings of a weekend guests write to us about long after checkout.
When you’re ready to plan the trip, browse our Blue Maple cabin rentals across West Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and we’ll help you find the place that turns a good hike into a memory that lasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Paw Paw Tunnel hike?
The tunnel itself is 3,118 feet, or about 0.6 miles, and the round-trip walk from the Paw Paw Tunnel Campground parking lot through the tunnel and back is roughly 1.5 to 2 miles. Adding the Tunnel Hill Trail loop over Sorrel Ridge brings the total to about 3 to 4 miles.
Do you need a flashlight for the Paw Paw Tunnel?
Yes. The tunnel is unlit and more than half a mile long, with an uneven, often wet floor. A headlamp is the smart choice because it leaves your hands free. Without a light, most visitors turn back partway through.
How difficult is the Paw Paw Tunnel hike?
The tunnel-and-towpath portion is easy and family-friendly, essentially a flat walk on a wide gravel path. The Tunnel Hill Trail over the ridge is rated strenuous by the National Park Service, with roughly 375 feet of elevation gain over two miles. Fit hikers handle it comfortably; young children may prefer to skip the loop.
Where is the Paw Paw Tunnel and how do I get there?
The tunnel is on the Maryland side of the Potomac River, at mile marker 155 to 156 of the C&O Canal, directly across the river from Paw Paw, West Virginia. From Berkeley Springs, take WV Route 9 west through Paw Paw, cross the Potomac (WV-9 becomes MD-51 in Maryland), and turn right into the Paw Paw Tunnel Campground. Set your GPS to “Paw Paw Tunnel Campground” or “Paw Paw Campground, Oldtown, MD,” not “Paw Paw Tunnel.”
Is there parking at the Paw Paw Tunnel?
Yes. The gravel lot at the Paw Paw Tunnel Campground holds about 30 cars, is free, and allows overnight parking. It can fill up on peak weekends, so an early start is a good idea.
When is the best time of year to hike the Paw Paw Tunnel?
Fall is the top choice for most hikers, with cool temperatures, low humidity, and vivid color across the Paw Paw Bends. Late spring and early summer are close behind. Winter is quiet but can bring ice inside the tunnel, so it’s for experienced hikers only.