Which Direction?
- + I am planning a DC to Pittsburgh trip this summer. I have noticed several other posts recently about upcoming trips and they all seem to be going Pittsburgh to DC.
Am I missing something or does t...
Discussion started 03/18/2012 07:27 AM - 12 replies (last reply by lenny at 07/08/2012 06:02 PM)Anonymous on 03/18/2012 07:27 AM
I am planning a DC to Pittsburgh trip this summer. I have noticed several other posts recently about upcoming trips and they all seem to be going Pittsburgh to DC.
Am I missing something or does the direction of the trip really matter much?
Thanks for any guidance.
lenny on 03/19/2012 04:05 AM
the finish line is a great place to have a picture taken if you end in DC+ I get the climb out of the way the 1st day and a half. I also live 40 miles from pgh.
Psychlist on 03/19/2012 04:55 AM
Well, Pittsburgh's elevation is about 750 feet, and DC is just about at sea level, so that direction is somewhat downhill. Lots of ups and downs in between though.
Mr Purple Paul from Allentown PA on 03/21/2012 11:38 AM
I'm going West to East mostly because my understanding is that the trails are better maintained in PA and after the ride I am headed directly to the Delaware Shore. . . the grade change was a little bit of a factor but not the main one . . I'm booked for August 1st - 4th. . .
Obie from Belmont, Oh on 05/31/2012 07:19 PM
Seriously? Have you taken a look at the elevation map? The ride from Cumberland up Big Savage Mt is excruciating! I have rode from Frostburg up and it is definitely a climb and that is the "easier" part of it.
JJB from Fairmont, WV on 05/31/2012 08:30 PM
My wife and I have rode from DC to Pitt. Based on our first ride we are going the same direction this year. One reason, and it may sound silly, but I really wanted to start this trip at Mile post 0. One thing we found, by accident, is that we got the roughest part of the ride over with first. The rest of the ride was a breeze. True, there is a good climb from Cumberland to the Divide. But for us that was just one day. From Meyersdale to Pitt. is downhill. We traded one day of climbing for several days of downhill. We made the climbing day a short day. Hope this helps you and good luck on your ride!
lenny on 05/31/2012 08:39 PM
I agree Obie, Cumberland to the continental divide is a 24 mile killer.
Bike it all the time from Pittsburgh on 06/22/2012 01:49 PM
Although my usual path takes me (us) from Pittsburgh to DC and the train back to Pittsburgh, I have gone the opposite way too. Train to DC and then back to Pittsburgh. I must say they both offer different perspectives. Yes, you do seem to get an easier ride to DC because of the little boosts every one of the locks gives you and yes it is easier to go 24 miles downhill than up. After taking this ride the first 12 times it was refreshing coming back. Its like a whole different trail. After the Cumberland to Deal trek it was all donwhill to Pittsburgh. The first 45 miles of that is a nice downhill grade too. Try it both ways. You'll like it every time.
Hondo from West virginia on 06/27/2012 07:49 AM
I did Pittsburgh to DC and next time I will go the opposite. My reasoning is I want to get the towpath done first as I love the campgrounds and ruralness of it but the scenery I enjoyed more on the GAP. Just my plan. Its all good.
Ben from Evanston IL on 06/28/2012 09:00 PM
The train from Chicago stops first in Pittsburgh and its easier to catch for the return in DC.
susan from Indianapolis on 07/06/2012 08:45 AM
Amen on Pitt to DC. The train times well for leaving out of Pitt with an early arrival in DC you can catch the train back out of DC same day.
Anonymous on 07/08/2012 07:09 AM
I had heard that the train doesn't have roll on service in DC, is that still true? I would love to ride from Pit to DC but am unsure how to return home as of yet.
lenny on 07/08/2012 06:02 PM
Roll on service is not happening yet maybe this fall as a trial run . In pester Amtrak monthly about it and get the same answer " we are working on it, and planning for this fall". Please help out and email Amtrak regularly, maybe they will get off their asses.
Lost item
- + Hey all. Just finished the c&o/gap yesterday. Somewhere between paw paw and Cumberland I lost my hat (neglected to bungle it to the bike). Normally I wouldn't care but this particular hat has a lot of...
Discussion started 07/08/2012 07:31 AM by Chrouglas - 0 repliesChrouglas from Pgh on 07/08/2012 07:31 AM
Hey all. Just finished the c&o/gap yesterday. Somewhere between paw paw and Cumberland I lost my hat (neglected to bungle it to the bike). Normally I wouldn't care but this particular hat has a lot of history with me. If anyone finds it I would be very grateful for it rescue or return. It can best be described as a jungle hat... With an all e way around brim. It is a green sort of color that has faded. It has a chin tie that has a small leather 'adjuster thingy'
Thanks in advance. And be careful of the downed trees.
Chris
Storm damage
- + Any info on trail conditions between Big Pool and DC?
Discussion started 07/02/2012 02:13 PM by jocko - 4 replies (last reply by JJB at 07/07/2012 01:36 PM)jocko from Greensburg on 07/02/2012 02:13 PM
Any info on trail conditions between Big Pool and DC?
JJB from Fairmont, WV on 07/02/2012 04:39 PM
If you are on Facebook you can look up "C&O Canal Trust" or you can Google it for their website. They have up to date, (up to the minute?), info. The trail status is changing quickly. There are two spots closed at this time but I am sure they are working on them as I write this. Hope this helps.
katey from Bethesda on 07/04/2012 03:13 PM
Swains Lock to Dickerson are impassable for bikes.
Anonymous on 07/07/2012 10:50 AM
Thanks for the updates. Any more will be appreciated as conditions improve or not.
JJB from Fairmont, WV on 07/07/2012 01:36 PM
You may have seen this in my other post, my wife and I are doing DC to Pitt starting July 23rd. If possible I will try to post some updates as we go. I will go with the "no news is good news". If we run into anything news worthy I will do my best to let everyone know.
Paw Paw restaurant closed?
- + Friends just did the ride last week,and said Grandma's Kitchen or is it now the Sweet Magnolia Restaurant is closed. Well does any one know for sure. It would be sad if true, it is my half ride stop f...
Discussion started 07/05/2012 07:45 PM by lenny - 3 replies (last reply by JJB at 07/07/2012 01:32 PM)lenny on 07/05/2012 07:45 PM
Friends just did the ride last week,and said Grandma's Kitchen or is it now the Sweet Magnolia Restaurant is closed. Well does any one know for sure. It would be sad if true, it is my half ride stop from Cumberland to Hancock.
JJB from Fairmont, WV on 07/06/2012 10:37 AM
Yes Lenny, I believe it is true. We have talked to a number of people who are associated with the Trail Book and who book tours and were told that Grandma's Kitchen is closed. My wife tried to call them and I believe she said the line is disconnected. Like you, we stopped there between Hancock and Cumberland. We now have a 61 mile day on this year's DC - Pitt ride.
lenny on 07/06/2012 04:16 PM
JBB, what about Old Town and Little Orleans? Also, heard there are possibly new owners in the picture
JJB from Fairmont, WV on 07/07/2012 01:32 PM
Sorry Lenny, I have no info about those two. However, our DC to Pitt ride starts July 23rd. I will see what I can find out while we are on the ride.
- + can someone tell me what is the age limit for kids that need helmets on the biketrail
Discussion started 07/02/2012 04:09 PM - 4 replies (last reply by Susan at 07/06/2012 08:34 AM)Anonymous on 07/02/2012 04:09 PM
can someone tell me what is the age limit for kids that need helmets on the biketrail
Anonymous from pittsburgh on 07/03/2012 03:05 PM
On the C&o park website it says 16 years old.
Anonymous on 07/04/2012 03:29 PM
They only need to wear helmets during the ages that you think their brains are worth protecting.
Scott from Ohio on 07/05/2012 12:09 AM
Great Allegheny (GAP) official website states PA law requires helment for children under 12
Susan from Indianapollis on 07/06/2012 08:34 AM
People who do no wear helmets are organ donors
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Lodging around Smithton
- + My two teenagers and I are biking from Homestead to Cumberland MD next week. Not sure how early we can start on day 1; thus I don't want to plan more than 30-40 miles that first day. But the lodging o...
Discussion started 07/04/2012 02:46 PM by Josie - 1 reply (last reply by bb at 07/04/2012 03:23 PM)Josie on 07/04/2012 02:46 PM
My two teenagers and I are biking from Homestead to Cumberland MD next week. Not sure how early we can start on day 1; thus I don't want to plan more than 30-40 miles that first day. But the lodging options 30-40 miles from Homestead look pretty poor. There is an expensive ($140) Comfort Inn 3 miles off the path in Smithton/ Belle Vernon. I really don't want to pay this kind of $ for a freakin' Comfort Inn! Any suggestions? Is there another way to look at this? Thanks!
bb on 07/04/2012 03:23 PM
Is there a chance you could start a little south of Homestead and make it to Connellsville? There is a B&B, Connellsville B&B, it is nice and reasonable. We started in McKeesport about 11:30 last year and did 47 miles to Connellsville. We didn't go fast, stopped to change a flat, have lunch and still made it into town for dinner. As I recall after West Newton there isn't much.
conditions
- + We tried to bike from Swain Lock to Point of Rocks, on July 1st and after climbing over about 20 trees in 2 miles, gave up and went South to Great Falls, where is was fairly clear. Today we went from...
Discussion started 07/04/2012 03:02 PM by Katey - 0 repliesKatey from Bethesda on 07/04/2012 03:02 PM
We tried to bike from Swain Lock to Point of Rocks, on July 1st and after climbing over about 20 trees in 2 miles, gave up and went South to Great Falls, where is was fairly clear. Today we went from Point of Rocks to Harpers Ferry, which was completely clear, but tried to go from Point to Rocks to Whites Ferry and again, hit so many trees down that we turned aroudn. Anyone know what it is like from Harpers Ferry to Shepherdstown ?
condition of the path
- + Starting the path next Friday, did you get hit by the wind storms. Where we are from paths are closed down because of large trees that have fallen
Discussion started 07/04/2012 09:59 AM by Pam - 0 repliesPam from Northwest Ohio on 07/04/2012 09:59 AM
Starting the path next Friday, did you get hit by the wind storms. Where we are from paths are closed down because of large trees that have fallen
slackwater detour well marked
- + I am planning a trip from Pittsburgh to DC, and I was noticing the detour. Is the detour well marked for bikers to find their way?
Discussion started 07/03/2012 03:12 PM by BB - 2 replies (last reply by anonymous at 07/04/2012 06:40 AM)BB from pittsburgh on 07/03/2012 03:12 PM
I am planning a trip from Pittsburgh to DC, and I was noticing the detour. Is the detour well marked for bikers to find their way?
lenny on 07/03/2012 09:28 PM
If you mean the Big Slackwater detour, yes its well marked. But it may be opened soon.
Anonymous on 07/04/2012 06:40 AM
Thank you. We are going the first week in august. I was hoping it would be open by things I was reading, but now I am still seeing it for the fall. If it was early that would be great!
- + I am planning to do the trail from west to east and I'm trying to figure out the best airport to use. I want to cycle to the bike shop nearest an airport to have my bike shipped home. Is there a conne...
Discussion started 07/01/2012 01:07 PM by Woodbike - 0 repliesWoodbike from St. Augustine, Florida on 07/01/2012 01:07 PM
I am planning to do the trail from west to east and I'm trying to figure out the best airport to use. I want to cycle to the bike shop nearest an airport to have my bike shipped home. Is there a connection for the c and o and the old dominion? Any other options?
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- + Any updates on the Big Slackwater restoration?
Discussion started 06/13/2012 04:07 AM by lenny - 4 replies (last reply by Randy at 06/29/2012 01:22 PM)lenny on 06/13/2012 04:07 AM
Any updates on the Big Slackwater restoration?
Randy on 06/13/2012 09:12 AM
Last update from the Park Service is that the project should be completed in the Fall of 2012 (September/October timeframe).
Looking forward to it's completion. This will make the ride much safer.
Randy from Pittsburgh on 06/22/2012 01:38 PM
According to video on Cinabro web site they want to be done by July 4th. Wouldn't that be great. Time will tell.
Randy from E-Town on 06/25/2012 12:38 PM
That is interesting. The detour has been in place for over 12 years. The restoration project began in August 2010. The original target date was to have it completed this summer (July 2012), but the latest information I have is Fall of 2012. I got that information direct from the Park Service. I'm hoping you are right. :)
Randy from E-Town on 06/29/2012 01:22 PM
As of 6-28-12. I received a response from my source at the NPS on the Slackwater Restortion Project. The restoration is scheduled to be completed this FALL (Sept/Oct) time frame. I'll update everyone as I get more information. Stay tuned to this channel for further information :)
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camping sites at Ohiopyle
- + Can someone recommend a good camping site at Ohiopyle? I just want to avoid riding all the way to the top of the hill where some sites are located. Thanks
Discussion started 06/27/2012 11:13 PM by Jimmy Page - 1 reply (last reply by lenny at 06/28/2012 04:33 AM)Jimmy Page from Pittsburgh on 06/27/2012 11:13 PM
Can someone recommend a good camping site at Ohiopyle? I just want to avoid riding all the way to the top of the hill where some sites are located. Thanks
lenny on 06/28/2012 04:33 AM
Check out DCNR Pa. State Parks, There are park maps to locate campgrounds
Boy Sout Trip
- + Looking at taking a group of age 14+ boy scouts to cover the 185 miles of CO in 7 days next summer. Plan on camping and having a car support us with gear. Which is the best direction to go. ONly lo...
Discussion started 06/21/2012 12:02 PM by Mike - 2 replies (last reply by Randy at 06/25/2012 12:44 PM)Mike from Salisbury MD on 06/21/2012 12:02 PM
Looking at taking a group of age 14+ boy scouts to cover the 185 miles of CO in 7 days next summer. Plan on camping and having a car support us with gear. Which is the best direction to go. ONly looking at about 30 miles or so a day some less with one day doing 50. Want to spend a good part of day each at antietam and harpers ferry. Any suggestions.
speedster on 06/22/2012 11:14 AM
My preference is to proceed eastbound from Cumberland. The prevailing slope is downhill (if only slightly), but over that number of miles you'll descend about 500 ft versus having to climb that same amount.
Also, prevailing winds tend to originate out of the west to southwesterly direction, so you'll have a pushing tail wind versus a headwind to push into. All in all, this makes this the better choice in my estimation, unless you reside around DC and prefer to start from your home area..
Randy from E-Town on 06/25/2012 12:44 PM
I agree. It would be best to start at Cumberland, MD and head East/South toward Washington DC., (especially if the group is not unaccustomed to long bike-hikes.) Good luck and enjoy your trip!
- + Ray (webmaster) You do a great job, and this is one of the best boards I have ever used. I"m really backward when it comes to computers and this site is easy, as you can see I post regularly. Keep up ...
Discussion started 06/18/2012 07:24 PM by lenny - 3 replies (last reply by Randy at 06/25/2012 12:28 PM)lenny on 06/18/2012 07:24 PM
Ray (webmaster) You do a great job, and this is one of the best boards I have ever used. I"m really backward when it comes to computers and this site is easy, as you can see I post regularly. Keep up the great work, I'll close with a thing I made up a few years ago when I was recruiting rider for the first Ride of My Life"Velo Loco.
Ray (webmaster) on 06/19/2012 06:08 AM
Thanks Lenny, I appreciate the compliment and am glad to hear that the website has been helpful. And the usefulness of the site is improved even more by folks like you who share your insights here on the forum, so thanks for your contributions to these discussions.
Happy trails!
Jean from Bowling Green, Ohio on 06/24/2012 12:58 PM
I totally agree. The information you provide on this website was instrumental in making plans to bike from Cumberland - Pittsburgh! Thank you!
Randy on 06/25/2012 12:28 PM
Very informative site. I have learned a lot of information about the C&O and Canal and GAP from this site.
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Trainer
- + Just got in a couple hours ago, wife and I did a trainer from Pgh to Ohiopyle and back (Sat& Sun) 74 miles each way. Trail was great very hard and fast. Great weather. Passed a lot of Greenway Sojoune...
Discussion started 06/24/2012 08:20 PM by lenny - 0 replieslenny on 06/24/2012 08:20 PM
Just got in a couple hours ago, wife and I did a trainer from Pgh to Ohiopyle and back (Sat& Sun) 74 miles each way. Trail was great very hard and fast. Great weather. Passed a lot of Greenway Sojouners both days, they even camped at Ceder Creek County Park and where there when we passed.We did well 6.5 hrs each day but are pretty tired from the accumulative effect of each days ride. It should be easier in Sept.
GAP-East to West in June
- + Leaving car near Pittsburg - shuttling to Cumberland.
1)Is GAP finished into Pittsburg - should we end ride at Homestead or Boston to avoid construction? Not opposed to a connector trail to a diffe...
Discussion started 05/18/2012 07:26 PM by JW - 3 replies (last reply by Jean at 06/24/2012 01:04 PM)JW from Bowling Green, Ohio on 05/18/2012 07:26 PM
Leaving car near Pittsburg - shuttling to Cumberland.
1)Is GAP finished into Pittsburg - should we end ride at Homestead or Boston to avoid construction? Not opposed to a connector trail to a different end point.
2) Is there a B&B/hotel near Pittsburgh that will allow car parking for 4 days - will book last night's lodging.
All comments appreciated!
speedster on 05/19/2012 09:52 AM
I believe you can take it right into downtown Pittsburgh. There may be a construction detour somewhere. Not sure about that, but someone will chime in or you can check here on the site, as I beleive info on route detours are posted here and updated periodically.
Four days parking may be possible if you're booking a night at end, just depends. More likely a fee may be tacked on as its sorta an extra amenity and during busy season for B&B's, not always a sure thing they'll have space or want to bother when other customers without this type of request are probably a dime a dozen. Then again, you could luck out and get the parking, simply by having a stay booked at the conclusion of your tour. Providing the added convenience will obviously improve the chances for a repeat visit or at the very least good word being spread by yourself about their property.
lenny on 05/20/2012 05:46 AM
Trail complete to Sandcastle (Homestead). Check out the GAP website under trail status. The site has all the info. you may need.
Jean from Bowling Green, Ohio on 06/24/2012 01:04 PM
After the trip comment:
Yough Shore Inn - Boston, PA: Great place to stay and will allow you to leave car. Boston is 15 miles from end of GAP.
Finished GAP by riding through Sandcastle p/l, out the far back, turn left and walk down the side of RR tracks for about 1/4 mile. The GAP or (maybe) the River Heritage Trail picks up and you can end up riding at least to the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongehelia and Ohio Rivers.
- + Rode from Boston to Point Park today. Found my way through Sandcastle to CSX railroad tracks. Followed track bed one forth mile to Southside trail @ Baldwin Boro, which leads to the Hot Metal Bridge. ...
Discussion started 06/03/2012 07:30 PM by lenny - 3 replies (last reply by Jean at 06/24/2012 09:10 AM)lenny on 06/03/2012 07:30 PM
Rode from Boston to Point Park today. Found my way through Sandcastle to CSX railroad tracks. Followed track bed one forth mile to Southside trail @ Baldwin Boro, which leads to the Hot Metal Bridge. Its not the real connection but it works for me til they get there ass in gear and get this trail finally connected. I looked for this Connection today as I want to do Point Park to DC this fall. Now all I need is roll on rail service. By the way Point Park to Boston is Exactly 20 miles.
RBM on 06/04/2012 12:06 PM
I am doing the C&O Canal Towpath and GAP from DC to the Southside this September. Can you get through the Sandcastle property if they are closed for the season?
lenny on 06/04/2012 09:11 PM
the attendant at the gate told me it would be accessable. but I will check it out for myself later. Will Advise.
Jean from Bowling Green, Ohio on 06/24/2012 09:10 AM
Had to finish the GAP - rode through p/l and walked down the tracks and suggested earlier. Thanks to the two young men who told us about it! It worked! Our ride actually ended across from Heinz Stadium on Friday, June 22.