A Haunted Ferry Run

December 7, 2014

A beautiful, spur-of-the-moment run on a cold winter day:  Edward's Ferry to White's Ferry. It's 10 miles round trip on the towpath between the C&O Canal and the Potomac River, and I loved it!

This particular stretch of the towpath is a peaceful run through the woods, that eventually winds closer to the river. It's also said to be haunted!

Once upon a time, this section of the trail near mile post 30 was known as "Haunted House Bend," according to the C&O Canal Trust:

In October of 1861, Union troops were driven down the infamous Ball's Bluff into the river on the other side of Harrison's Island. Some of their bodies floated downstream all the way to Washington, DC... Boatmen in later years reported hearing strange noises in these parts, including blood-curdling screams and moans. They'd say mules passing through became restless and spooked.

So apparently this "danger" marking on the old ferry ramp applies to more than just high water!

 

Adding to the spook factor:   thousands of people reportedly were buried along the canal in unmarked graves during the mid-1800s. Freaky!

 

White's Ferry has its own rich history. The ferry service began in 1786, transporting people across the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia.  It was used by troops during the Civil War and gets its name from confederate General  Jubal A. Early. Back then, dozens of ferries worked the river.

  Today, White's Ferry is the only one still operating on the Potomac.

But back to the running part of this story...

 

 I absolutely love running on the C&O towpath! Not the busy sections between Georgetown and Great Falls, but the not-so-popular sections to the north. I didn't see a single soul on this run, but that doesn't mean I didn't have company!