Trail Head

Here are some references:

Author: High, Mike.
Title: The C&O Canal companion.
Publisher: Baltimore : Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997.
I mostly used this book. very detailed information

Author: Kytle, Elizabeth.
Title: Home on the canal .
Publisher: Cabin John, Md. : Seven Locks Press, c1983.
A narrative based upon history

Author: Hahn, Thomas F.
Title: The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal--pathway to the Nation’s Capital
Publisher: Metuchen, N.J. : Scarecrow Press, 1984.

also check out this website. I got some very good information from it:
http://www.bikewashington.org/canal/

http://www.nps.gov/choh/