Spring Gap is located in the valley of the North Branch Potomac River along the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal at mile marker 173. Just west of the community is the National Park Service Spring Gap Recreation Area, which offers camping sites and a place to relax for hikers and bikers of the C&O towpath. The park is easy to access by car and provides canoe access to the river. The Spring Gap Recreation Area is a popular location to pick up, drop off, or park when hiking or biking the C&O canal towpath to or from Cumberland, 11 miles (18 km) upriver.[4]
Some of the best fishing in the Potomac River is in the section from Spring Gap to Hancock.[5]