Inlet Lock 3

Mile 62.3 - Every dam has an inlet lock to keep the canal watered, and this is the one for dam 3.   The towpath between locks 35 and 36 has been rerouted to go by this lock.  The towpath here and for a couple of more miles is not the smooth ride it is further down the Potomac.  The path is covered with gravel, it's narrow and there's sometimes quite a falloff on either side.  It's not anywhere I'd call dangerous but you could get complacent.  I wouldn't recommend riding a bike at night without a light along this stretch.

Nestled away in the woods is the lockhouse for the inlet lock and lock 36.

Inside the lockhouse, two fireplaces share a single chimney and dominate the structure.  The start of the basement is marked where the red bricks give way to a stone foundation.