C&O / GAP Forum

The GAP Trail website is now reporting that the GAP Trail closure between Homestead and Duquesne will be extended. The target date for reopening is now August 20.

The closure of the GAP Trail between Homestead and Duquesne has been extended until late September according to the latest update on the GAP Trail website. The paid shuttle will continued to be offered through September 30.

I see them riding on the shoulder on 837 past Kennywood. I say a prayer every time.

Talk about a major screw-up. How many people had to change their plans, then change them again, and probably cancel them. How many businesses have been hurt? Who makes these decisions?

Anecdotally, I’ve seen far fewer touring riders along the trail between Pittsburgh and Homestead or gathered at the terminus at Point State Park this summer. Even I have not ridden east of Homestead/Whitaker since the trail closed which I would normally do two or three times per week. I’ve not actually seen the Bill’s Shuttle operator loading or unloading any bikes in Homestead but rather just sitting and waiting for fares.

Curiously, since the trail was originally expected to be closed for four weeks, the latest estimate through the end of September totals to twelve weeks. This suggests the assessment of the work required was notably underestimated or that the execution of the work has been hampered.

Having, nearly been hit by a rock slide in that area some time ago, the short term inconvenience to reestablish a safe trail is appreciated. The only question is what required the work to be scheduled during the peak touring/riding season?

I would love to have some feedback on how well the shuttle system has been working. I suspect a lot of people are not crazy about having to pay for the service, but it would be good to know about how many people they shuttled, was it worth the time of the people that provided the service, etc.

And I do feel for people who planned trips and had to change their plans. Hopefully when the work is done it will indeed be safe.

And finally, I am incredibly impressed with the people who maintain the GAP and many other trails in this region. They are volunteers, depending on contributions to 501 C-3 organizations. I lived in Missouri and biked the Katy Trail that is maintained by the state's park service. To see our trails in PA taken care of through volunteer effort is amazing. Especially when you consider the constant storms we've had this year and the frequent issues with trees down on the trails.

Any idea if the trail behind Kennywood will reopen at the end of September?

It is very unlikely as there is no scheduled date for it to open. It's closure remains indefinite.

Thanks. The wife and I ride to Pittsburgh for our anniversary and stay in the South Side. Looks like not this year

I wish I could convince my wife to bike to West Newton and spend the night for our 50th anniversary next spring! You'll have to school me on how to convince her to do that. :-)

Following on the previous post to this forum about unavailability ot bike reservations on Amtrak’s Floridian route from Washington DC to Pittsburgh and the recent feedback about Meta’s Muse AI agent, I initiated the following query in Muse:

“When are the next five available days that I can get a bike reservation on Amtrak’s Floridian Route 40 starting in Washington DC”

It successfully found the first of those days, tomorrow 9/23, but responded that the Amtrak booking system crashed/errored in searching further and offered to continue searching but ultimately stopped as the Amtrak booking system failed to respond. The agent appears to do just what you or I have to do which is to try to make a reservation each day in succession looking for available bike spaces which is painstaking and slow. Surely Amtrak can/should do better in this regard.

The response it did provide does suggest that you may be able to find bike reservations that become available after being cancelled by others but it’s a hit or miss, and time consuming process.

We were planning on taking the Amtrak and our bikes from Harper’s Ferry to Pittsburgh on Saturday 10/10/26 or Sunday 10/11/26. However there are no tickets available with bikes. I’m not sure why it’s such a limited number of passenger with bike tickets for such a popular location. We have looked into other options but finding it way too expensive. We were looking for suggestions or others that might be interested in splitting a shuttle or something.

I appreciate your dismay in the unavailability of bike reservations on the Amtrak westbound Floridian route. This is very common especially during the fall touring season and I’ve yet to hear a good explanation. I seem to recall having heard it was related to the availability or application of railcars that carry bikes. I encounter that situation frequently unless unless making my reservation months in advance or reverse my trip and take the eastbound train from Pittsburgh to DC and bike back to Pittsburgh as I will do next week. While still limited, bike reservations in that direction are generally more available on shorter notice.

Unfortunately, my only suggestion I have is to look into a rental car. Occasionally I hear that some bikers find they can get a not too crazy, one-way rental car/truck/van to Pgh from Reagan Airport in DC. It may be worth investigating given multiple bikers to share the cost.

Good luck.

Hello,
I am thinking of dong the Gap for the first time and go from Cumberland to Pa but not go into PA so what who'd be the last campsite heading towards PA and how many miles would that be in total?
Thank you all for your time

I presume you meant from Cumberland toward Pittsburgh (Pgh). The closest campground to Pittsburgh is at the Dravo Cemetery/Camp Aliquippa. This is a nice, quiet, trailside camp site. It has a couple of Adirondack shelters, a water pump and chemical toilets. There are fire rings and there is usually free firewood available.

It is near Buena Vista which is about 26 miles from the terminus of the Gap trail in Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh. Note the GAP trail is currently closed in Duquesne PA which is about 13 miles beyond Dravo Cemetery/Camp Aliquippa toward Pittsburgh.

The last campground approaching Pittsburgh is Camp Aliquippa at Dravo Cemetery just beyond Buena Vista, PA. It is about 124 miles from Cumberland.

Hey it sounds like he wants to start in Cumberland MD, bike to the state line with Pa., I tried to figure milage on this sites maps.,, it kept showing zero at frostburg..

It is 21 miles from Cumberland to the Mason Dixon Line on the GAP where you leave Maryland and enter Pennsylvania. The only campground along the way is in Frostburg which is a pay-to-stay campground and not one that, I, personally, recommend.

Hello everyone,

Any information on hammock camping the entire C & O would be appreciated .
Was hard to find trees at the campsites ?
And anything else you could tell me.
Thank you for your time.

In general, the free hiker/biker (H/B) campsites are grassy areas closely surrounded by trees of various sizes, brush and weeds. Thus there are few locations within the grassy, open camping areas to tie up a hammock but a number of trees nearby with various distances between. Of course there are some exceptions where you likely could do so. There are no shelters within those campsites with support columns from which a hammock could be tied. Some of the lock house porches might facilitate a hammock but will no doubt draw the ire of the national park service rangers that patrol the towpath.

Others may be able to offer advice or recommendations for specific H/B camp sites or facilities.

Like rivnuts said lots of trees along edges.. I want to do the same.. Hammock camping.. I've studied and ridden by. Chunks of the canal primary from damn no. 5 to turtle run.. several times looking for places to hang.. my hammock..although not directly in the hiker biker sites. Off along the edges I found plenty of areas if you find suitable tree distances...lay out a ground cloth and have at it., we aren't the only hammock users.. whats very nice is that if you absolutely can not find a place..most hiker biker sites are 5 or so miles apart.,there are a few exceptions..Huckleberry to bald eagle,, Huckleberry mm 62.9 Bald eagle mm 50.3 a bit over 12 miles also ya might wanna bring some
Extra Long straps ..remember some of these beautiful giants are over a century old., plus extra ridge line for rainfly..large trunks. Always check over head for deadwood...trees are minimally maintained..feel free to contact me

A popular Fall ride in my home state of Michigan is the trails and routes from South Haven to Ann Arbor. Some highlights of it along with October scenery are the Kal-Haven Trail, the Kalamazoo River Trail, Linear Park, backroads with a good shoulder into Albion and pretty manageable and safe routes to Ann Arbor. I'm planning on the 160 miles or more this Fall myself. I recommend taking the train from Dearborn to Kalamazoo, MI then cycle back and forth to South Haven. About eighty miles total. Very pretty. Come join me.

While vacationing in South Haven, I have ridden the Kal-Haven Trail. It is very quiet and nice and VERY straight as I recall.

Since the family has vacationed in various locations along the shores of Lake Michigan as well as having ridden the Shoreline West Tour, I’ve found riding in Michigan to be very nice. The Dalmac tour is still on my bucket list.

Also, if one were seeking gravel rides I’ve encountered a number of gravel roads during my rides there….some planned and some unplanned.

Enjoy your trip.

Any suggestions for a day-long parking spot near the end of the C&O? Will be Monday Sept. 14.

While there is an NPS parking lot adjacent to Thompson’s Boathouse at Milepost 0, it is a pay lot and limited to 4 hours. If you are looking for multiple nights of free parking you might consider:

1. Fletcher’s Cove — free, ~3–4 mi to Georgetown
2. Bon Air Park/Westover — potentially free, ~7–9 mi
3. Unrestricted residential street in Arlington — potentially free, but verify signs carefully
4. Rosslyn-area paid parking — very convenient but probably not free

Hopefully others in the DC area can offer some additional local options.

Philip K. Lussier. you have raised a great question in regards to parking along the canals entirety....Especially for a few days..I'm curious about parking west or upriver of Hancock..Say little Orleans
or woodmont rd..
Id like to do short trip from Cumberland to Hancock or just west of Hancock.. I realize most would do more than that in a single day....I'm just starting ..As well as traveling in comfort Trailer etc....I'd just have someone drop me in Cumberland before the end of September like on a Tuesday and relax and enjoy...20 couple set up enjoy a nice meal sleep TaaDaa 66 years old as well...

Ohhhh and I love the tunnel and Greenridge state forest as well..gotta check out Sorrel ridge,,,stick pile I've stayed there when canoe camping.
nice site for hammocks. devils alley indigo neck

I understand you can park overnight at the 15-Mile Creek campground in Little Orleans.

Thank you Rivnuts..I went there over the summer.. have not been for close to 2 decades...new parking lot. New circle of campsites for campers or tents., limited.. pit toilets I believe. Always the nagging thought of security..I know its a shame...very secluded area..

The GAP Trail website is reporting a future disruption in Amtrak service between Pittsburgh and Washington DC as follows:


“Amtrak has announced that its Floridian route will be disrupted and will operate only between Chicago and Pittsburgh from October 16 to 26. In other words, it will not operate any trains between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. during that service disruption. If you’re traveling the Great Allegheny Passage in that timeframe and are seeking return transportation, inquire with one of the shuttle services listed at https://gaptrail.org/where-to-go/sites-amenities/shuttles/“

So, where have all the posters to this forum gone? For the last several months I’ve been surprised by the inactivity on this forum. I struggle to explain why this might be the case. Is it because the associated Facebook groups have drawn away future and current cyclists or has the trail closure outside Pittsburgh limited interest in the GAP/C&O during this touring season?

If someone knows why or has some thoughts, drop a note. This website still provides a single source of valuable information for those planning for or making a trip along this popular trail.

Rivnuts, you are right, there have been fewer posts this summer, although the number of posts through winter and early spring were pretty typical.

It may just be a slow season - these things do fluctuate - but the causes you suggested (Facebook groups and trail closure) no doubt have some effect.

But there's also another factor at play: AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, etc. Some people now simply do their trail research and pose their questions to these AI tools, when in the past they would have delved deeper into actual search results and visited the websites like BikeCandO.com. So fewer people end up here, because they started by asking their questions to AI tools and went no further.

This is a documented issue at many websites: fewer website visitors over the last couple of years due to people getting their answers directly from AI tools, without spending as much time in actual websites. It's espcially happening at websites offering travel info, product reviews, news, "how to" and other info-based sites.

This is ironic because the AI tools have "learned" much of their data from these very websites -- and now AI is drawing visitor traffic away from those sites, resulting in less traffic and therefore less advertising revenue. In other words, AI is choking out a lot of the very sources that provide its data.

I'm not saying AI tools are bad - I use them all the time myself. But it's the new reality that websites need to deal with: lower traffic / lower revenue due to people using AI instead of the websites in Google results.

But you can't beat the human touch, and I appreciate those of you who come here to discuss the trail! The information you share is extremely helpful to lots and lots of trail users.

Good point. I hadn’t considered that potential cause even though I, too, used AI to help plan my trip earlier this year across Illinois. However, there wasn’t a trail forum associated with the route I was considering.

This summer has slipped away... Its been a crazy time ... I check here periodically ...Your right it has slowed way down. It seems all my questions are answered completely... Its great to talk with others with similar interest.. Rivnuts you have been instrumental in quit a bit of my questions ..along with a few others..Hope you had a safe trip through Illinois. Looking forward to 70 degree days and cool nights..

Thank you for raising this question, RivNuts. And thanks for the proposed answer. I check here all the time - to ask a question or offer a comment AND to learn from what others are bringing up. The lack of traffic has been disappointing. I also follow related FaceBook pages, but I always include this page when I am seeking info. I am grateful to everyone who keeps sharing.

Thanks for asking the question Rivnuts. I think like Ray said AI has a lot to do with it. Also I notice a lot of discussion on a facebook page I follow. I frequently direct people on facebook to this site. And I am noticing others doing the same. This forum is much more effective at assisting people planning trips on the GAP or C&O, in my opinion. And I hate to expose my fuddy duddy mindset, but I hate AI. If I google something I try to go to Wikepedia instead of getting sucked into the AI info. Anyway, I won't go down that rabbit hole. I hope this site survives the AI tsunami. And as Doug mentioned, this summer has flown by, I haven't gotten to ride or check in here as much as I would have liked to. But fall is here, and I hope to get back out on the trail.

Does or had anyone heard about the "Miles to Freedom Bikepacking" group. A person I spoke with had said they lead about 6-8 veterans annually along the entire Gap/Co Trail. Wersell's Bike Shop in Toledo, OH had some info. But it was unclear when they do this. Perhaps in the Spring or Fall?

Following various searches for the Miles 2 Freedom bikepacking ride, there does not appear to be a published date for an upcoming ride. Previous rides occurred in early October.

When I see that a lodging site is out of town or a little distance from the trail I wonder if there are problems getting there - Hills (like you might find in Brunswick) or a highway with no shoulder ? I write to share that the Quality Inn Shepherdstown is easy and safe to reach. However, inside the town I would use High St, not the main street (German St). On German St there are areas with no shoulder, but High is a quiet side street and where it meets the highway ("Martinsburg Pike"), there is a very wide shoulder and it is easy to reach the motel.

I agree. There are places to eat and get good along the way as well. The strange thing I recall when I stayed there was that they had me store my bike in the indoor utility room.

I think this has been mentioned, but I am going to mention it again because it is happening.

Traffic in Pittsburgh from July 10 to August 3, 2026 will be very bad. PennDot has closed Interstate 376 (what we call "the Parkway") from Beechwood Blvd on the west (right before the Squirrel Hill Tunnel) to the Braddock Ave exit on the east (I think that's the Swissvale exit). There are detours. One goes through Homestead and would affect people trying to get to the Pump House or locations near that. Of course there is also the issue of the GAP trail being closed near the Pump House, which I believe Rivnuts has posted about.

The purpose of closing I376 is to replace the Commercial St. Bridge. You can go to pa.gov/CommercialStBridge for updated information, call 1-800-FIX-Road or email CommStBridgeProject@pa.gov.

I suggest that if you are going to be riding the GAP trail starting in Pittsburgh you try to see if this road closure will affect where you are trying to get to and from via car. The first day it was closed was yesterday, Sat. 7-11-26. A lot of people were trying to get to Homestead to see the "Big Boy" train traveling through the area. They missed it sitting in traffic. It's too bad no one at PennDot considered postponing the closing by 24 hours so people could get to see that event. But I guess we don't pay folks at PennDot to think like that. But as much as we pay the expert traffic engineers at PennDot, you'd think one of them would have figured that out.

Here's an update on the affect of closing a segment of I-376 ("the Parkway") on traffic in Pittsburgh:

I've driven during rush hour (4:30 pm - 6:00 pm) as well as other times. There are traffic backups during rush hour, but in my opinion if you do not have to be at a certain place by a certain time, the traffic is not over the top bad. It simply sucks. That said, I have not driven in Homestead during rush hour. I think that's the most likely place that can impact GAP bicyclists.

During non-rush hour times, I've been able to get places that are on or close to the detour routes in a decent timeframe. Keep in mind I am a local and know where to divert off the detour route to neighboring streets. Non-locals may not be able to do that.

Now, about the air quality, it's really bad. But we should get some rain tomorrow which will help. But the Canadian wildfire smoke will probably return. Of course with the new tariffs for Canada, maybe the smoke will stay in Canada. Who knew you could control wild fire smoke with tariffs?

The ability of tariffs to restrict the smoke from crossing into the US is similar to building a wall to keep out the migrant Canadian geese. ????

Woo hoo!!! (sp?) Anyway, the parkway (I-376) opened ahead of schedule last night. The Commercial Street Bridge is complete. Because it opened early the contractor gets a $2M bonus, which in my opinion is well deserved. There was news coverage about the first car to cross the new bridge (an unsuspecting couple just trying to get home). And to add interest to the story, today workers "inadvertently" came into contact with dynamite that had not exploded during the bridge demolition. I don't think there were any injuries. This whole thing has been fascinating. So now all anyone needs to worry about or deal with is normal run of the mill Pittsburgh traffic. Let's all remember it definitely could be worse.

I want to arrange a C&O history lecture on October 17 for a private group of 10-12 persons visiting from Ohio. Anyone interested in presenting this for an honorarium? Also need advice on a venue.

Posting your question here is a good start. You might also check Facebook. There's at least one, and probably more, Facebooks groups devoted to the GAP/C&O, for example Great Allegheny Passage / C&O Canal Enthusiasts. Also, if you are interested in a particular location, try looking for local historic associations in that area, and reaching out to them. If they don't have "docents" who do that type of presentation on a regular basis they might have someone willing to put together a talk for your group on the history you are interested in.

You may also wanna try the Williamsport visitor center. the canal is divided up into sections for coverage ... I think they cover from D.C. to Williamsport.. 301-739-4200 or at least they may point you in the right direction

I want to recommend Enterprise Car Rental as an option if you want to get yourself and your bikes to the GAP near PGH. Good locations are:
--Homestead. This is right near the trail, so you can leave your vehicle and ride away.
--Belle Vernon, PA. 7 min by car from Cedar Creek Campground.
--Uniontown, PA. 15 min by car from the start of the Sheepskin Trail in Dunbar (by Dunbar Historical Society), which connects to the GAP near Connellsville.
Enterprise boasts that they will pick you up or drop you off. Be sure to phone ahead of time to be sure they can and what time you should arrive so that someone is there to drive you. We drove to Uniontown and Josh drove us to the Sheepskin Trail. Learning about these (and other) options gave us much more flexibility.
I would rather take a train to Connellsville, but the scheduled arrival is ~10 pm, and it is often 2 or more hours late.

Fred: Did you take in the small history museum in Dunbar? They have a blue, glass carved sculpture inside that has a very interesting history. Google it. Quite interesting and in such a small, old town with its own history itself.

Thank you for the suggestion. It was closed when we started out. No one there except the black snack sunning by the bench.

You may need to call ahead so one of the docents can/will be there, it’s not heavily visited. ????

I once rented a van from a rental place near my house in Pittsburgh and ended at Dulles Airport. From there I rode my bike on the W&OD to Arlington and then connected to the C&O for the ride back. I’m sure National Airport could accommodate car rental drop offs also.

John

Indeed one-way rentals (in both directions) are an option especially if there are multiple riders to share the cost and vans/trucks are available to transport your bikes, assuming you are not renting bikes. The train offers less flexibility, more time and, possibly, more frustration as its on-time performance seems to be deteriorating particularly with the merger with the Floridian route.

Thanks to Adam Travels the World, the following video provides an excellent view of of the stairs that form part of the detour at Dam 5 on the C&O Towpath.


https://youtu.be/f0CvnxvphN4?is=iIL8C5eZ-n1eQsO8

Any idea of completion of Damn 5 repair..I did see the work around 4 locks is completed. Wonderful!!!!!

This is a reminder that the GAP Trail will be closed between Homestead and Duquesne beginning the evening of July 9 to perform rock scaling work due to rock slides along the trail. It will remain close until August 6. See the link below for more information including paid shuttle service and public transportation options.

https://gaptrail.org/trail-alert/segment-closure-and-shuttle-between-duquesne-and-homestead/