C&O / GAP Forum

It was reported today that this summer’s construction work to reroute the GAP entrance into Point State Park will reopen on September 27. This work eliminates but parallels the narrow path from the Mon Wharf Parking Lot into Point State Park. With the opening of this new trail section, the temporary GAP route along downtown Pittsburgh streets will no longer be required.

Recent correspondence confirms that the path is still closed but still planned to be open on 27th.

I rode by there today and it was still closed but crews were working to finish installation of a railing as well as clean up the construction area. I would expect it to reopen on or before 9/27 as reported.

Bill: I’ve crossed paths with two gentlemen from Houston on the GAP within the last week. Neither happened to be you by chance was it? If so, I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself.

Hello:

Our group had to postpone our trip in September and was wondering if anyone has experience riding in the month of November and if that is reasonable for weather, accommodations, daylight etc.

thanks for your comments!

I have done DC to Pittsburgh in November ending up in Pittsburgh the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Weather can be unpredictable over 6 days riding. Most notably having to bike through fresh 1 inch of snow between Frostburg and Rockwood.

Restaurants and lodging options may be limited.

Yes the days are shorter, but if you start at dawn, you still have enough time to reach your next stop before dusk.

Maybe the State Park is .2 mile from the trail but it appears that the actual campground is 3.7 miles out of town. Not that convenient on a bike. Looking for confirmation of this and if there is any camping closer to town and the trail.

The GAP Trail itself passes through Ohiopyle State Park and the town of Ohiopyle. Ohiopyle State Park is quite large. The Kentuck Campground is also located within this state park and has showers, water and electricity if you choose. However, as you note, it is nearly 4 miles from the town of Ohiopyle via road with the majority uphill with grades up to 15%. The ride up to the Kentuck Campground is not for the faint of heart.

Earlier this year five primitive camp sites with picnic tables and composting toilets were developed for bicyclists directly on the trail itself at mile marker 72.6 near Ohiopyle obviating the need to ride up to Kentuck Campground albeit with no showers. You'll find the announcement of these sites at the gaptrail.org website.

Whichever you choose, you would need to make a reservation via the PA State Park Website.

Note there is also a campground virtually on the GAP Trail in Confluence PA some 10 miles south of Ohiopyle as well as one in Connellsville PA about 17 miles north of Ohiopyle. You may want to consider these as well.

This website says that the campground is .9 from the trail but it appears to be more like 2.4 miles from Ohiopyle unless I'm missing another access from the trail.

While riding on the GAP trail today I noticed a pair of black rimmed eyeglasses laying on a post in Sutersville. If you are in the parking area at Sutersville, going west on the GAP Trail, you cross 1st St, there is a post and the glasses were laying on the post. I took a photo of them, but can't figure out how to post a photo here.

While riding on the GAP trail today I noticed a pair of black rimmed eyeglasses laying on a post in Sutersville. If you are in the parking area at Sutersville, going west on the GAP Trail, you cross 1st St, there is a post and the glasses were laying on the post. I took a photo of them, but can't figure out how to post a photo here.

It was reported today that this summer’s construction work to reroute the GAP entrance into Point State Park will reopen on September 27. This work eliminates but parallels the narrow path from the Mon Wharf Parking Lot into Point State Park. With the opening of this new trail section, the temporary GAP route along downtown Pittsburgh streets will no longer be required.

Paw Paw tunnel is open. My son rode thru it on Monday Sep. 4th

What is the status of the Paw Paw Tunnel?

I don't have current firsthand knowledge of the tunnel exit's status but the NPS C&O Canal website still reports it as being closed. That same web site has long stated that the tunnel exit should open by mid- to late-summer 2023. If true, it should be getting close to reopening.

I'll try to ask inbound riders toward Pittsburgh what they encountered if they passed through that area. I'll be riding through there in mid-September and am hoping that the tunnel exit is indeed open by then. I've made enough treks up and down the tunnel bypass trail.

Thanks - I'm planning on passing through northbound on 9/20 or 9/21. Will check back with the forum closer to my ride.

In speaking with inbound travelers yesterday, the Paw Paw tunnel exit was still closed as of the middle of last week.

Oh well Paw Paw still closed as of last Friday the 18th.

Still not as bad as the detour I took to bypass the Greer tunnel closure on the Montour trail.

Open guess if the Paw Paw tunnel will be open on Sept 1 on my return trip home.

Update...Hallelujah!!! I looked at the NPS.gov web site today 8-25 and NPS claims that the PawPaw tunnel scaling project is complete and is OPEN to through traffic!!!

I will believe it when I pass through going back to Alexandria on September 1.

Humorously, the Tunnel Bypass Trail itself is now closed! That’s bad news for those masochists out there that were looking forward to trekking up and over the tunnel on a hot, rainy day with a fully loaded touring bike. :-) But don’t count me among them!

Seriously. Great news after a very long wait.

Great news! I'm starting in Pittsburg on the 9th so should be hitting it on the 12th or 13th.

Yes I much prefer taking 20 minutes to walk through the paw paw tunnel rather than the 45 minutes over hill over dale of the tunnel bypass. Hopefully this is the last time the paw paw detour is ever mentioned.

Hello everyone ,
Question does anyone know if there is water at Swains Lock at mile 16.6 ?
Thank you for your time.

Yes. There is potable city water up by the lock house and parking lot.

Thank you

A great bike shop right on the trail. The visitor center was closed the day I rolled through town, and they let me fill up my water bottles, charge my phone, and hang out and talk about bikes and travel for awhile. Overall just friendly and helpful folks. They also have a large selection of trail merchandise.

I also had a very good experience there. I broke a rear derailleur near Little Orleans, converted my bike into a single speed and limped to Cumberland on my way to Pittsburgh. The staff there was very helpful in finding a suitable, used derailleur for my old bike along with a new chain.

With their support I was able to ride up the continental divide and beyond with a functioning set of gears. Kudos to them.

Hi Everyone,
Back with a new question.
Would it be possible to hammock camp the C&O and GAP trails??
Starting around September 12th from Washington D.C.going all the way to Pittsburg .
I plan on camping the whole way with one or 2 hotel stays and as usual thanks for your time and help.

There are opportunities to rig your hammock in many of the camp sites along the GAP and C&O especially if you are flexible where you stay and how you rig it. Along the GAP most of the campsites have first-come first-serve Adirondack shelters or pavilions in which you can rig your hammock even if well-spaced trees are not present. This is not the case at the C&O hiker/biker (H/B) websites.

Well-spaced trees are not universally present in all the C&O hiker/biker (H/B) campsites within, say, 30 yards of the picnic tables and fire rings. However, the wooded areas typically surrounding the mown campsite areas would often offer places to rig your hammock. You may need to be flexible about which H/B campsite you stay at in order to use your hammock. The good news is that the sites are fairly close together to provide real-time options about where you stop as long as you plan to have enough daylight to do so.

I'm leaving on 9/12 for DC from Pittsburgh. Perhaps we'll cross paths along the way.

Thank you and hope to meet you.
Going to be staying at the Fairfield Inn downtown Pittsburg then on to Washington D.C.on Amtrak.

Hey Rivnuts - I'm leaving PGH on September 11. Look for a yellow monkey on my handlebar bag, my navigator.

Safe travels.

Gypsea:

I'll keep my eyes open for that monkey! How many days are you planning to make the ride?

Planning 1st time solo bike-packing trip Georgetown to Cumberland, camping the first 2 nights. I aim to bike 50 - 70 miles per day. Won't know exactly which Hiker-Biker campsite I'll use - depends on how far I get each day. What are the chances of encountering campsites that are full? (I assume it depends on the time of afternoon / evening I arrive). Thanks!

“Full” is difficult to define in the H/B camping sites since there are no defined or controlled number of campsites in them. It’s more a matter of how close to other tents you are comfortable with or how close to the picnic table and fire ring you want to be.

All that said, it’s rare that there are more than 3 or 4 campers at a single site other than those closest to DC. If you are riding 50-70 miles each day, you shouldn’t be stopping at those.

Thanks so much for that answer!
What are the options for charging electrical devices (cell phone, etc.)?

There are no electrical services/receptacles in the C&O hiker/biker camp sites. You’ll need to seek out businesses or commercial/municipal locations in the trail side towns to charge any devices.

After trekking the Paw Paw detour and setting up camp, this was a welcome stop the next morning to refill water bottles, buy some cold water and gatorades, and replenish food. Very friendly and HELPFUL staff. 10/10

What can I expect for traffic and weather on the GAP and C&O trails over Labor Day weekend?

As you know, there is no car/motorized vehicle traffic on these trails other than a few blocks exiting Pittsburgh and leavin McKeesport. There will be a fair amount of walkers and cyclists near Pittsburg and DC but not to the extent of presenting any danger or delay in your progress.

It’s too early to make a believable forecast of the weather for that weekend. But, for what it’s worth, the current long range forecast for Pittsburgh for Friday 9/1 is for partly cloudy skies with a daily high of 77 and a nighttime low of 58F. You can check those daily forecasts as you get closure to that time.

Looking for suggestions to park my vehicle near the finish of the GAP. we are riding the east to west route and want some input for parking (6 days)

The question of parking in Pittsburgh while riding is a much-travelled question on this forum. Upon searching this forum, you'll find several posts responding to this question.

If proximity to the actual terminus of the GAP Trail in Point State Park in Pittsburgh, you'll find numerous indoor parking garages by Googling "Pittsburgh Parking Garages" or Parkopedia.com. However, these won't be cheap as daily rates are typically $20 a day or more.

There are some less expensive outdoor lots across the rivers from the terminus such as Highmark Stadium that have lower rates and are rideable from downtown via bridge sidewalks.

Free parking is not readily available downtown or is less safe from theft or damage. A couple of free parking options along the trail or its alternate including the South Side Riverfront Park about 3 miles from the terminus or at the Waterfront Shopping Center in Homestead about 10 miles from the terminus. Both have ample parking area and a fair amount of daytime pedestrian traffic for some level of security. Given you'll be gone several days, I believe the Waterfront Shopping Center would be better as it has a number of major stores therein with lighting in their parking areas,

Other Pittsburgh locals may have some other thoughts.

If you stay at a hotel at the beginning and at the end of your trip, they might let you park there for free.

Downtown Pittsburg
Grant Street Transportation. Center
55 11th Street
That's where I am parking give it a try

From the Gap Trail website:

“Crews deployed by Somerset County will resurface about 24 miles of the Great Allegheny Passage from Meyersdale (mile marker 31.9) and extending westward to approximately mile marker 56, starting August 28. The GAP will remain open during this project, which is expected to last about four weeks. Please be cautious and watch for construction vehicles and contractors. Note that parking lots from Meyersdale to Fort Hill may be used as staging areas for equipment and fresh limestone, and may offer fewer spots than are normally available.”

Thanks for that update

Are there retailers on/near the trail that sells C&O/GAP merch?

Thanks!

Great question. As you probably have found, there are on-line stores that offer the traditional or similar GAP and C&O Trail jerseys. Those are at:

gaptrailstore.org
aerotechdesigns.com
rtmerc.com
floravelo.com

Of course these are not brink and mortar retail stores along the GAP/C&O Trail.

By "retailers" I presume you mean walk-in stores. That said, there are many candidates none of which I've gone into specifically looking for those jerseys and thus don't have any confirmed locations. Candidates would include sport stores, bike shops and visitor centers along the way. I can think of the following in that sense and their locations are as follows:

REI - Pittsburgh's South Side
Dick's Sporting Goods - Homestead, PA
Visitor Center - West Newton, PA
West Newton Bicycle Shop - West Newton, PA
Bikes Unlimited - Connellsville, PA
Visitor Center, Meyersdale, PA
Wheelzup at Canal Place - Cumberland, MD
C&O Bicycle - Hancock MD

I'll check out the ones between Pgh and West Newton over the next several days and let you know if I find them. I can check out the others when I pass them when I ride all the way to DC in September.

I saw the traditional GAP Trail jerseys on sale at the Golden Triangle bike rental station along the trail today. You can Google it’s exact location in doentown Pgh.

GAP Trail jerseys were for sale in the West Newton visitor center in the restored train station immediately adjacent the trail. They had various sizes and different years/graphics for sale.

They told me that these jerseys were also available at the bike shop in Confluence, PA as well as Golden Triangle Bikes in Pittsburgh.

GAP Trail jerseys, T shirts and other merch were for sale in the West Newton visitor center in the restored train station immediately adjacent the trail. They had various sizes of jerseys and different years/graphics for sale. They people working there said they were the sponsor of GAPTrail.org and the various associated merchandise.

They told me that these jerseys were also available at the bike shop in Confluence, PA as well as Golden Triangle Bikes in Pittsburgh.

From the GAP website.

Officials at Ohiopyle State Park have opened a new bicyclist-focused, fee-based primitive campground at mile marker 72.6 along the Great Allegheny Passage. Dubbed High Bridge Biking Campsites, this new overnight spot for bikepackers includes five tent sites (each with a picnic table), and a centrally-located composting toilet. The site is inaccessible by motorized vehicles and no campfires are allowed. No sinks, showers, or water are available, but users can fill up water bottles at the renovated former train station a few hundred yards away, across the Ohiopyle Low and High Bridges and Ferncliff Peninsula. Pets are welcome as per park policy.
“This new campground is set apart for bicyclists, and will allow thru-riders on the Great Allegheny Passage to make camp inside Ohiopyle State Park without walking their bikes up to Kentuck Campground, which was designed for car camping and backpackers when trains were still running through the park,” says Ken Bisbee, Park Operations Manager. “We’re very thankful to private donors who have underwritten and supported this project for many years.” Bisbee notes that park staff will install a Dero Bike Fix-It Station shortly.
Advance reservations are required, and are limited to one night only for parties of up to five people. Each of the five sites are $4 per person per night for Pennsylvania residents or $5 per person per night for out-of-staters. Reserve your spot by logging in at the Pennsylvania state park website, pull up Ohiopyle State Park and then “Backpacking and River Camping,” click on “Bike-In Camping Permit,” then pick your date and site, and finally click “I am an Experienced Backpacker or River Camper!” to secure and pay in advance for your site. If you need help or have questions, call the park office at 724-329-8591.

Great news! Sounds like the facilities are pretty nice.

Thanks for the info!!

Hello again just wanted to let everyone know that have been so kind to me to reply to my posts that I finally made all my reservation for my trip .

Got a room at the Fairfield Inn downtown Pittsburg for 9/11 blocks from the Grant Street Center to park my car and blocks from Amtrak to go to Washington D.C on the 12th for the start of my tour.hope to see anyone else out there and enjoy this tour.
P.S. have decided to take my tent and be safe about camping instead of my hammock.

Michael

Hi everyone,
Getting ready for my C&O and GAP bike tour will be driving down to Pittsburg park my car take Amtrak to Washington D.C. Train is supposed to come in around 1-2 P.M. where is there the first campsite? Is it doable ?
Decent lodging which will take in me and my bike?
Be getting in on September 12 .

Any help will be much appreciated and thank you very much for your time.

Michael

Below are the first few hiker/biker (H/B) campsites on the C&O leaving DC are as follows with mileages from DC:

16.6 Swain's Lock #21 Five Campsites - nearby vehicle access. Newly restored lockhouse is now available for lodging with full amenities.
26.0 Horsepen Branch H/B Hiker/Biker campsite. 1.2 miles from vehicle access at mile 27.2.
30.5 Chisel Branch H/B Hiker/Biker campsite. 0.3 miles from vehicle access at mile 30.8
34.5 Turtle Run H/B Hiker/Biker campsite. 1.0 miles from vehicle access at mile 35.5
38.2 Marble Quarry H/B Hiker/Biker Campsite. 1.4 miles from vehicle access at mile 39.6
42.4 Indian Flats H/B Hiker/Biker campsite. 0.3 miles from vehicle access at mile 42.1
47.6 Calico Rocks H/B Hiker/Biker campsite. 0.8 miles from vehicle access at mile 48.2. Located near a busy railroad line, so earplugs are suggested.
50.3 Bald Eagle Island H/B Hiker/Biker campsite. 0.5 miles from vehicle access at mile 50.8. Located near a busy railroad line, so earplugs are suggested.

The first hotel off the trail is in Brunswick 54 miles from DC. Reaching there before sunset is unlikely especially since the first 3 or 4 miles leaving DC are a little slow as you ride through the city. You could consider staying in a DC hotel or AirBnB the night of your arrival and start fresh down the trail the next morning.

Thank you for your reply and help.
Any hotels you could recommend in DC?

As a suburban Pittsburgh resident, I'm not knowledgeable enough to recommend a particular hotel in DC. I'll leave that to someone with better knowledge of DC and its hotels. All the travel reservation websites show the hotels in the area and in route to the C&O trail in Georgetown. I confess to being cheap, so I spent my one-night layover after arriving by train in DC this spring in an Airbnb room located is in northeast DC. There are many of those listed in the Airbnb website.

If you are a Warm Showers users, that may be an option for you as well.

I'm sorry I can't be more helpful but not living in DC limits my knowledge to make specific recommendations. Hopefully others on this forum will reply to your question.

Looking for lodging in Little Orleans?

The Town Hill B&B in Little Orleans may be what you are looking for. You can find information on it by going to its website. It is a bit off the trail itself and uphill at that but they offer to shuttle you and your bikes up the hill and down if you don't want to coast back down the next morning.

I stayed there a few years ago and had a nice stay.