Unusual Nights Out
Try something different in Washington County for a quick getaway
By Jennifer Mellace
Winter offers us a chance to spend evenings by a cozy fire or curled up on the couch watching a good Netflix series. Of course, when the days get longer and the nights colder, cabin fever can sometimes set in and those quiet evenings at home become mundane.
Olden Slumbers: Lockhouse 49
The silence of dusk on the C&O Canal isn’t really silence at all. It’s just that there’s no din of rush-hour traffic or no clamor of getting dinner on the table. So, the ambient noise of daylight fading is birds singing their way back to their nests, cricket chirping, and bullfrogs in their full-throated baritone resonance.
If you’ve ever hiked or biked along the canal, you know the peacefulness that comes with it. But what you might not know is that many of the lockhouses you pass are available to overnight stays, including Lockhouse 49 at towpath mile 108.7 near Clear Springs, Maryland.
This unique getaway is part of the Canal Quarters program established by the C&O Canal Trust for guests to experience what life in a lockhouse might have been like during the heyday of the canal. The canal necessitated four locks being built within 1,530 feet of each other, which created a small community in which families, merchants, and people of all classes came together to build a neighborhood.
Lockhouse 49 was part of the Four Locks neighborhood and now offers guests a look back in time. In its heyday, Four Locks boasted two stores, two warehouses, a dry dock for boat repair, a school, a post office, plus a dozen houses.
The lockhouse sleeps eight in two bedrooms with two twin beds and two trundles each. Furnished in the 1920s style, the home offers a stove, electric baseboard heat, a nearby outdoor toilet, and a water pump that is available year-round. While the indoor fireplaces are not functional, outside there is a fire ring and picnic table.
The lockhouses in the Canal Quarters program offer an alternative to the park’s hiker-biker campgrounds by allowing visitors to experience the history of the canal in a more meaningful way.
The Cross Trail Hostel near Knoxville welcomes travelers along the C&O Canal and the Appalachian Trail with rooms or tents.
“The C&O Canal can be a magical place during the winter,” says Aidan Barnes, director of programs and partnerships. “Staying in a lockhouse during the winter allows guests to witness the subtle activities of wildlife, the sun and shadows, and the night sky that are missed by those who go home before dark. If there’s enough snow, the towpath can be a fantastic place to go snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or even have a snowball fight.”
Where the Trails Cross: A Homey Hostel
At the crossing of the area’s two most significant long-distance trails, hikers can make an overnight pitstop (or can linger longer) on a cliff high above the trails with a panoramic view of the Potomac River and Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia.
This isn’t luxury accommodations, but the Cross Trails Hostel is a unique way to spend a night or two, whether you’re a thru-hiker on the Appalachian Trail, moseying along the C&O Canal, or local who just wants to spend time in a tranquil setting.
Set on four and half acres in Knoxville, this rustic-yet-cozy hostel includes 30 beds (two are queen-sized) and sleeps 32 people. The shelter opened in June of 2021 under the ownership of Potomac Area Hostels Inc., a nonprofit organization, but the property has operated as a youth hostel since the early 1970s and has accommodated thousands of travelers, hikers, and cyclists from around the world.
“We pride ourselves on offering comfortable accommodations with a rustic, homey atmosphere,” says Brandt Kindness, an outdoor enthusiast who has managed Cross Trails Hostel since 2021. A certified raft guide and an Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail thru-hiker, Kindness has logged 4,000-plus miles on U.S. trails, so he is well-equipped to offer suggestions for those looking for an outdoor adventure.
Located near Harpers Ferry, the hostel sits atop a cliff near where the Appalachian Trail and the C&O Canal cross. At that point, the C&O Canal is also carrying the cross-country American Discovery Trail, and the eastern regional Potomac Heritage Trail, both of which diverge at the end of the C&O Canal.
Spend a night among the trees at the Tree House Camp at Maplewood Campground.
As well as being the cross-point for hiking and biking, the hostel is close to shopping, dining, wineries, breweries, and plenty of outdoor activities. But for those who just want to lay low, the grounds offer sweeping views of the surrounding landscape.
“We have great views of the Potomac River, as well as the states of Virginia and West Virginia,” says Kindness. “In the cooler months, the leaves unveil their curtain, and you can see the entire valley that surrounds us.”
While the hostel closes December 15 through March 1, owners will open for private groups during that time.
Living in the Limbs: A Treehouse Camp
As kids, we all want to have a treehouse. As adults, we realize it’s a lot less work to just rent someone else’s treehouse. In Washington County, that’s possible.
The Treehouse Camp at Maple Tree Campground offers charming lodgings, including the Dragonfly Fairy House, the Firefly Deluxe Tree House, or the one-of-a-kind Hobbit House. While located close to home, in Rohrersville, these dwellings offer that magical experience you always wanted as a kid—or transport you to wherever your imagination takes you.
Maple Tree Campground was founded in 1971 and remains in the family today. Owner Louise Soroko took what her mother created and continues to offer customers rustic camping options, including tent camping, older rustic treehouses, and the three newer specialty dwellings. The campground’s facilities include indoor bathrooms, private outdoor hot showers, indoor heated winter showers, and a multi-use pavilion.
Located on 20 acres at the top of South Mountain, the campsite is just a half mile from the Appalachian Trail.
“Every season is very different, but winter camping is really quite good for rest,” says Soroko. “People come and have a fire and read, cook, and just relax. You can still hike, but it’s a nice time to just escape and be cozy. Our location on top of the mountain also offers wonderful sunset views in the winter.”
Nine of the structures come with wood stoves, including The Hobbit House that gets plenty of natural light, has a mural of an enchanted forest, and a unique hand-made harvest table that can seat eight people. The other specialty homes offer stained glass windows and additional unique touches.
“Nature works wonders for people, and these houses are just an extension of that,” says Louise.
Bears, Bungalows, Boo-Boo (and Yogi)
If you don’t mind a smarter-than-average bear in search of pic-a-nic baskets roaming around with your kids, the family-friendly offerings of Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Camp Resort in Williamsport offer something different. There’s tent camping or spots for RVers, but if unique is what you’re looking for, grab one of the 18 cabins available to rent.
With names like Boo Boo Bungalow and Bear-Themed Cottage, some of the cabins are more luxurious, with full bathrooms, kitchens, screened-in porches, and hot tubs. Others, like the Camping Cabin, are perfect for those who want a rustic camping experience without getting too outdoorsy.
No matter what camping experience you choose, the park has tons to offer visitors, including a huge water zone with slides, pools and a pirate ship, an 18-hole mini golf course, laser tag, a ninja course, sports courts and other seasonal offerings. Families can add an educational element to their days at Jellystone as the camping resort is near the Antietam National Battlefield and Harper’s Ferry. The Appalachian Trail and C&O Canal are nearby, and there are adult activities like wineries, breweries, and tons of restaurants to explore
Just make sure to keep your food safely tucked away. Ranger Smith is around, but as usual, he has trouble keeping up with Yogi.
Cabins at Jellystone Park will keep your food safe from prowling Yogi.
FIND OUT MORE:
Cross Trails Hostel
19123 Sandy Hook Road, Knoxville, MD 21758
443-221-8382
www.xtrailshostel.org
C&O Canal Quarters
Lockhouse 49, Towpath Mile: 108.7
Clear Spring, MD 21722
www.canaltrust.org
Treehouse Camp at Maple Tree Campground
20716 Townsend Road, Rohrersville, Maryland 21779
301-432-5585
www.thetreehousecamp.com
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Camp Resort
9550 Jellystone Park Way Williamsport, MD 21795
301-223-7177
www.jellystonemaryland.com