C&O / GAP Forum

Are there any trailhead parking areas on the C&O in the first 8 miles of the trail coming out of Georgetown. We'd like to stay out of town, then drive to a trail head and commute into D.C. to bicycle tour the town.

Check towns and services on this sight. Bathesda has parking and is 10 miles out.

I plan on doing a through ride from Pitt to D.C. later this month. Trying to work out the logistics of getting back to Pittsburgh. I think the best solution for me it so ship my bike home from D.C. and take the train back to Pittsburgh. Does anyone know of a shop in D.C. that can take care of boxing and shipping my bike?

I tried shipping from DC to home in Ohio last year. The bill was going to be $200. I drove back to DC from Connellsville instead. Do it over & I'd ship to Pittsburgh on Amtrak, they allow boxed bikes to Pitt.

Dealing with a boxed bike in Pittsburg at 1:00 in the morning doesn't sound appealing and I'd still have to get the bike and myself to Homestead. I spoke with someone at City Bikes (2501 Champlain St in D.C.) and they said that they can box up my bike for $50 and then loan me a dolly to transport it to a FedEx store a few hundred feet away. The cost of shipping from DC to Cincinnati is about $100.

Why not just get a one way car rental?

That's an option, but it expensive renting one way and I'd be stuck at 1:00 in the morning with a rental car and have to spend the night, thus the added expense of a hotel room. I thinking shipping it back will work fine.

I have a very sturdy road bike. Is the trail crushed enough to support my bike or should I rent a hybrid?

Which trail? Certainly not the C&O.its to unpredictable. The GAP would be OK if it has been dry, and will stay dry.

Just this past Monday 4/7/13 My husband and I started in Cumberland and did 40 miles on trail, half Gap and half C&O. He had a Diamondback Menona 2010 with front suspension and 700c x 35 tires. I had a Novara Randonee with 700c x 32 tires. He was completely comfortable on either trail. I had a sore butt from my new saddle, but other than that both bikes worked exceptionally well on both surfaces. Wider tires with a little tred on the edges, that is wider than road tires, are suggested though for the C&O since the surface is rougher.

The C&O Canal Trail is not your typical Rail-Trail. It is hard packed dirt and rough stone with tree roots and mud mixed in at times. Hybrid Tires would work, Mountain Bike Tires would be better. Be sure to pack some spare inner tubes. Lots of opportunities for punctures. Enjoy your ride.

Hybrid tires work great, I have never used a tire bigger than a 35. The advantage is it is an easier tire to peddle and faster with less drag. I have had a few flats, but only the tube never a tire failure. And most of the tube failures were thorns.

There are lots of sharp rocks as well, which can lead to punctures. The wise man carries spare inner tubes.

I rode solo Pittsburgh to Georgetown last October on a traditional steel-frame touring bike (circa 1976), with 700c x 32mm in front and 700c x 35 in back. Back tire was a Schwalbe Marathon Plus -- tough tire. GAP was great. C&O was rougher going. With leaves down, I had to be very careful about bouncing off of tree roots hidden by the leaves. I wouldn't do it with anything smaller than 32mm, and most road bikes these days won't fit even a 32. See what you can fit in your frame. But if clearance is really tight in back and you bust a spoke, the out-of-true wheel will lock up against the chainstays. So either bring spare spokes and a mini cassette remover, or a kevlar spare spoke, or go with thinner tires that give you safe clearance. It's all dependent on what you are comfortable with in your riding style. I've heard some people have done it with 25mm road tires.

Hi all,
I'm in West Newton, PA, sitting and looking out of the rail car on the GAP. Lots of local riders out for their recreational rides are rolling by. I've been talking with locals all day...
What I'm interested in now is what C&O and GAP through-trekkers are thinking. If you could have a photo of yourself riding your bike, where on the GAP would you like it to be? Or, if at a standstill, what pose would you like for a photo?
I'm thinking that a portrait taken during the Ride of Your Life could make a tremendous souvenir.

Your thoughts, please!
Betsy

Hi Betsy. I just looked at your site. I think it is a neat idea. My wife and I do just about everything together and we usually try to get pics. We have them from skydiving, zip-lining, and rafting. Actually the rafting pics were at Ohiopyle on the Yough. We did not know about it but I think they had a sign somewhere on the river(?) It is something we would get. Good luck with it.

I have grandchildren who love getting paper mail. I am hoping to send a postcard every day of our trip from Brunswick to Pittsburgh. I am sure that I will be able to find postcards in the touristy places or park bookstores at Harpers Ferry, Cumberland, etc. But what about Hancock, Meyersdale? Any suggestions?

Although I have never looked for post cards, I am fairly certain that you can get postcards in the train depot at the trail head in Meyersdale. They have a small gift shop & museum in it. You should check their hours of operation. Best bet at Hancock is the new C&O Park visitors center. It is right on the trail. We have bought several books there. Hope this helps.

Betsy, I don't think this sight is the appropriate place to announce your business, unless of course I'm wrong and your going to take my picture for free.

Lenny,
I noticed that my business is not listed in the section on trail amenities on this site. I decided to announce it so that people know that it is available to them. I'm sorry if I offended you or any other forum user.
I will be happy to take your picture for free!

Bets, I suggest you ask ray the webmaster of this sight, how you can get on the lists. No hard feelings, just asking. Good luck with your venture.

I'm planning a GAP/C&O trip for June 2013 riding from D.C. to Pittsburgh and have read that many people have left a car for six days or more in Homestead, specifically at the Pumphouse. I'm wondering if I need to contact anyone in that area, is there designated parking, or do you just park anywhere and assume no one will bother your car?

BTW: I'm traveling solo and arranged a one way car rental from Wilkinsburg, It's about five miles from Hometsead, to D.C. for $130 for a Nissan Versa from Enterprise Car Rental. I had planned to take Amtrak. My bike would have had to have been boxed, The fee is $10/$15 for the box plus a $5 handling fee. Amtrak wouldn't allow me to bring along my BOB trailer so I didn't book with them. I also looked into charter busses, but they don't transport bikes.

As I have said in previous posts, I would b parking in the public lots near the major businesses. Simply because of all of the traffic, lights and activity. the pumphouse is remote and off the road, has a gravel lot and there are weekend markets there.

Thanks Lenny. I'm not familiar at all with the area. When you write to park near the businesses are you referring to those at The Waterfront? If so, do you contact businesses ahead of time for approval, or do I just show up, find a spot, and park?

Yes. The lots are vast and I doubt the businesses would notice another car

The closest business is a Lowes. There is also giant eagle, target and dicks nearby.

Perfect. Thanks the information Lenny and Doris. I appreciate it.

To the person renting a car in wilkensburg there is an enterprise in homestead not far off trail

I agree with the parking answers.

Enjoy your through-trek! If you'd enjoy having a fun, fast-moving photo session on the trail, contact Trail Photography Unlimited in the rail car in West Newton, PA. 20-30 minutes won't slow your trip down, and the trail photo experience will be unforgettable. Select photos & purchase from your personal online gallery after your ride!
www.trailphotos.biz

I contacted the people at the pump house. They ask the you donate money or become a member for $25 in order to park in their parking lot. I've looked at aerial and there are acres of open parking lots at this location.

I'd like to make forum users aware of a new business in West Newton, PA on the Great Allegheny Passage. Trail Photography Unlimited is a photography business specializing in through-trekkers on the GAP. Take time out from your ride for a fun, fast-moving, 20-30 minute photo session with your bike and your friends.

Continue your ride, and at your convenience select, crop, and purchase prints, merchandise, and digital downloads from your personal online gallery at www.trailphotos.biz.

Sound interesting to you?
Contact me at 724.263.4114 when you're in the WN area.
Betsy

Or contact me while you're planning for your trip! I'm in the rail car next to West Newton Station, but can meet you where you'd like.

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up that the Delfest (Bluegrass Festival) is scheduled for the Memorial Day Weekend (5/23 thru 5/26) at Cumberland, Maryland. This is a huge Bluegrass Festival. This year will feature the Old Crowe Medicine Show and Yonder Mountain who have a huge following.
Expect very large crowds. All Advance Tickets are sold out. Camping and Accomodations in the Cumberland, MD area may be hard to find during this time.

My daughter and I will be in Washington, D.C. in early June and expect to have several days free during which we would like to ride the C & O Canal bike trail. Please let me know whether there is any service that is available to rent us bikes and then take us to, say Harpers Ferry, so we can ride back to D.C.
Thanks.

Great news - The Paw Paw Tunnel Path is open!

The C&O Canal Trust secured a $5,000 donation from the Allegheny Trail Alliance (ATA) through Linda McKenna Boxx, president of ATA and an Trust Advisory Board member. The donation allowed the Park’s staff to perform geotechnical assessments, clear the towpath, stabilize the remaining rock, and install a rockfall protection fence for the safety of visitors.

Good ol' Linda. She does most of the heavy lifting for the GAP. We are lucky to have her!

Fantastic news, thanks for the update guys. A friend & I are planning on riding the full GAP/CO in early September and had been fearing based on earlier news that this tunnel might remain closed all year.

Yes, The TRAIL IS OPEN!

Heads up everyone, the C&O Canal Trail is closed from the west entrance of the Paw Paw Tunnel to about 300 feet from the east portal due to a rock slide back in January 2013. The NPS says they have not date to when they are going to start repairs or when the tunnel will be open again. You now have to detour over the 2 mile Tunnel Hill trail to get past the obstruction. Some cyclist say that this is not an option due to the weight of their machines. One possible solution would be to shuttle from the parking lot at Maryland 51 to Bond’s Landing or vice versa. Here are two individuals in Little Orleans who offer shuttle services. Steve Huebner, proprietor of Little Orleans Lodge, (301) 478-2102 or 481-1480 or Don Weatherly at (301) 478-2620. There has been some talk on the Yahoo Groups C&O Canal Trail site to detour north on Maryland 51 to Oldtown-Orleans Road. Bad idea. The road surface on Oldtown-Orleans Road is only paved for about the first couple of miles, then it turns into a dirt road who’s service resembles a wash board at times if you’re lucky. The grades are pretty stiff also. My advice to anyone thinking of a highway detour, DON’T. West Virginia 9 to Berkley Springs is mountainous with a very narrow shoulder; and as I stated Oldtown-Orleans Road is unimproved, ruff, and strenuous.

I read on C&O Canal Trust's Facebook site that the slide has been cleared and the trail is now open. Here is a link to their page. You may have to scroll down their timeline to early April.

The original post is out dated information! The TRAIL IS OPEN. The slide has been cleared and the embankment stabilized.
Again, the TRAIL IS OPEN.

is there room to camp with a 31foot motorhome

Evitts Creek is a hike in bike in campground.

Ray, (the Webmaster) I noticed no symbol legends for shuttle services. Are there any on either GAP and C&O trails from B&Bs or any entrepreneurials?

Definitely, there are several. Click on the Trip Planner link above (just below the trail map). Then select the Shuttle checkbox, and click the Build My List button, for a list of all the shuttle services that I know of.

Happy trails!

As you have noticed I would also like to know the formal east end. I see a Thompson Boat Center in Georgetown? But there is no identified trail from
the Key Bridge to the boat center. I know there are many intelligent cyclists in the DC area. Who can help a Chicagoan (truthfully), get it?

Mile marker 0 is behind Thompsons Boat Ctr. Not easy to find. But if you Goggle C&O Tow Path mile marker 0 on You Tube there is a nice directional video that shows the way.

DSD, how are you getting to mile marker 0? Are you driving there, being shuttled, riding your bike? We have been shuttled and they drop us off in the parking lot right next to Thompson's Boat house.

JJB, hopefully my wife will find the boat center since it will be the end of the full ride from Pittsburgh for me in late July. It's all fun.

Why not ride to one of the monuments on the mall ? Thats what we do, you can miss them. And its a mile away.

If you get to thompsons boat center go in and ask. They will show you. There is really nothing so exciting than to get your picture at mm 0. The first year we biked from pgh, it took us over an hour to mm 0. Funny thing, we were a stones throw away and could not see it.

Hello Fellow Hikers and Bikers,
A couple weeks ago volunteer groups in conjunction with the Park Rangers cleaned up tons of trash on the C&O Canal Trail.
Please help do your part to help keep the Park clean for the next guy who uses the trail. There are trash receptacles in place at various points along the trail, please use those to discard your trash. In short, whatever you take it, carry out. Please do your part to maintain the scenic beauty of the C&O Canal.

Great post Patrick. If you use it do your part and leave it as you found it.

Very nice Post.
I see a lot of trash around the popular "Boating Areas" along the Potomac. There is one area in particular right along the river that must be a favorite Teen Hangout or used by Fishermen. The trash was horrible.
If you use the Canal Trail please take out whatever trash you bring in.

Yes, good post. There's a local rail trail here that I ride, which volunteers and folks keep in good shape, but from time to time I'm dismayed when I ride by and see something that someone has careless tossed by the side - a Gatorade bottle, a Gu packet. Very inconsiderate people. How hard is it to bring back with you what you brought in?