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Mile 30.5 - 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 drinking water. Please Note: Potable water may not be available at each campsite. Water is treated with iodine. Please plan to have water purification tablets with you. Water is turned off from November 15 to April 15 each year.
Chisel Branch Hiker-Biker Overnight (HBO) Campsite directions and information are available at .
Stays limited to one night per site, per trip.
A beautiful view of the Potomac River (other campsites can have obstructed views). Level and grassy space for numerous tents. One picnic table. Two grills/fire rings. Water pump: squeaky...treated with iodine...drank plenty of it and had no issues. One well kept port-a-potty. Bonus: Paw Paw grove immediately upstream. Short trail to the river, space for fishing, sitting and enjoying the view. You may hear Dulles air traffic...you may also hear road traffic across the river (Virginia side). Overall, we really enjoyed it and met our expectations.
It's very quiet this morning. I'm down here on the Towpath everyday. It's one of my favorite places to go.
Chisel branch doesn't have dedicated sites like Swains Lock but is spacious enough for easily 10 groups to set up tents. There's river access via two trails on either end of the campsite. Two picnic tables and two fixed fire pits and one standing grill. Well and porta John too. You'll get airplane traffic for bothe DCA and IAD but traffic noise is relatively low.
