National Park Service · Maryland
Horsepen Branch Hiker-Biker Overnight (HBO) Campsite
National Park Service · Maryland, United States · in Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
- Sites
- 1
- Season
- Year-round
- Cost
- Walk-in, tent-only site: free. First-come, first served.
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- No
- Dump station
- No
- Laundry
- No
- Elevation
- 230 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 5
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · Verizon weak · AT&T good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
- Nearest town
- Poolesville
- Address
- Poolesville, MD, 20837
- Phone
- (301) 739-4200
About
Mile 26.1 - 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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 26° | 6° | 57° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 45° | 30° | 12° | 69° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 56° | 38° | 17° | 75° | 7 of 11 |
| April | 69° | 47° | 29° | 90° | 2 of 11 |
| May | 74° | 57° | 42° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 82° | 64° | 55° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 89° | 72° | 61° | 102° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 86° | 71° | 62° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 80° | 65° | 52° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 66° | 50° | 38° | 84° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 53° | 38° | 27° | 72° | 4 of 10 |
| December | 44° | 32° | 16° | 65° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Chisel Branch Hiker-Biker Overnight (HBO) Campsite · National Park Service · 5 mi · 1 sites
- Turtle Run Hiker-Biker Campsite · National Park Service · 8 mi · 1 sites
- Lake Fairfax Park Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 9 mi · 136 sites
- Swains Lock Hiker-Biker Campsite · National Park Service · 9 mi · 5 sites
- Marble Quarry Hiker-Biker Campsite · National Park Service · 9 mi · 1 sites
All public campgrounds in Maryland · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.