C&O / GAP Forum

Is there a best time of year to cycle the C&O and GAP trails? We were planning on the middle of June. Thanks

June is a great time to go. Weather is unpredictable (as is any other summer month) but June is warm. Should see a few fellow thru cyclists doing Pitt to DC. July and August are also good but could be even warmer. September (early) is still warm but has shorter days and noticeably less people on the trail.

John

Thanks John

John W's response is valid although I personally prefer late May or early September. Not as hot as mid-summer and fewer bugs. :-)

Wife and I are thinking of a 2-day round trip from either Dickerson or Point of Rocks to MP 0. Does anyone know if there is safe overnight parking at either place?

Thanks.

Since Point of Rocks is an operating station for MARTA trains, there is a large parking area there that appears to be well lit and safe. . You don’t see the trail from here but it’s just across the RR tracks.

While there is a power plant at Dickerson, there’s no apparent parking along the trail. Of note, there is the old, abandoned whitewater course at Dickerson that was used to train prospective US Olympians several years back.

Perfect. Thanks. Point of Rocks it is.

You can see that parking lot at Point of Rocks Station if you use the satellite view in Google Maps.

You can see that parking lot at Point of Rocks Station if you use the satellite view in Google Maps.

Is there a best time of year to cycle the C&O and GAP trails? We were planning on the middle of June. Thanks

From the GAP website:

February 10, 2023

"Contractors deployed by Ohiopyle State Park will close the Great Allegheny Passage between mile markers 68 and 69, which lies between Ohiopyle and Confluence, starting February 13.

This closure is required in order for cranes to remove and replace an aging culvert that carries water under the GAP to the Youghiogheny River. The project area is extremely dangerous and entirely impassable. Additionally, there is a steady stream of construction vehicles and heavy equipment running near this section of the GAP.

Please note that this section of the GAP will be completely closed to all travelers. There is no detour available because of the narrow and steep conditions in this remote location. Work is expected to be completed, and the GAP reopened in this area, by April 28; weather-permitting, it will reopen sooner. Look for updates on this page, and during this project, please enjoy other sections of the GAP.

This is the last of five similar projects inside the park since 2022, and the only one that requires crews to close the GAP to all travelers. These improvements will help Ohiopyle State Park avoid catastrophic failure of these culverts and much lengthier, unplanned closures.

Thru-travelers may wish to consult an outfitter regarding shuttle-for-hire services to transport you between Ohiopyle and Confluence. Examples include the following: Bill’s Car Service, WheelzUp Adventures, Maple Leaf Outfitters, Wilderness Voyageurs, or Yoder’s Guest House."

The GAP’s McKeesport Loop alternate route to Boston remains torn up from construction along and in the loop trail itself. Rocks, loose gravel and sand is present over most of its distance. You can ride it but it is rough especially for a road bike. The formal GAP route is probably the best choice until the Loop segment is resurfaced.

I am thinking of riding the c&o towpath in late may. I pull a bob trailer with camping equippment. How much trouble am i going to have at the paw paw tunnel. i keep reading about a bypass and trouble getting up and around. I will be going from cumberland to dc and maybe roundtrip, if I am unable to get my trailer on the train back.
also is that any good place in cumberland to leave a vehicle for a couple of weeks?

Currently the C&O website is projecting completion of the construction work on the downriver side of the Paw Paw Tunnel to be complete at the end of the 2022/2023 winter season. If that schedule holds true you should not have to traverse the tunnel bypass trail.

There is free, long-term parking on Howard Street beneath the I68 Highway overpass near Canal Place in Cumberland.

Does anyone have an update on the Paw Paw Tunnel construction project? Is it complete or will it be completed by April, 2023?

Does anyone have an update on the Paw Paw Tunnel construction project? Is it complete or will it be completed by April, 2023?

As of yesterday there has been no change in the closure alert on the NPS C&O website. It continues to show the closure there still in place. That website has a lag in its updates however so perhaps someone may have more current, first hand information.

From the Pittsburgh Post Gazette:

A several-mile section of the Great Allegheny Passage will close Monday between Ohiopyle and Confluence for the replacement of a culvert that carries runoff water beneath the hiking and biking trail to the Youghiogheny River.

Ohiopyle is at milepost 72 on the trail; Confluence is just upstream from milepost 62. The conservancy said it hopes to have the culvert replaced and the trail reopened by April 28, at the latest. The project is being done by contractors for the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Although the work will be done between mileposts 68 and 69, the trail will be closed at the Ramcat Trail Head, outside of Confluence. There is no detour available “because of the narrow and steep conditions in this remote location,” according to the Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy, the organization that maintains the 150-mile trail between Pittsburgh and Cumberland, Md.

Does anyone know of anywhere to stealth camp near Ohiopyle? Looking to ride this summer.

I don’t believe there is any stealth camping in and around Ohiopyle.

The nearest free camping is at Connellsville mile 88 (Ohiopyle is at mile 72). If you get there early enough you can snag an Adirondack shelter.

John

As a 50+ year old couple who were rounded up in the middle of the night by 2 overzealous park rangers and dropped off in the middle of town with our 6 lb dog, we would definitely recommend against it. Or at least hide a little better than we did.

While the town of Ohiopyle is in the Ohiopyle State Park, it is bordered by PA State Gamelands 51 and 111. Accordingly you may want to be cautious what time of year you try to do so or, at least, what color riding jersey you choose. :-)

Thanks all. I will have to steer clear of that then.

At one time there was talk of making some sites associated with Kentuck Knob Campground down closer to the trail. Might give them a call.

Bill: I also had heard or read that rumor (probably the same place you did). In fact I looked for any signs of such a site in late October when I rode through there on the way back from DC but saw no evidence of it. Certainly no harm inquiring about it though.

If they were to provide such an area for free H/B camping, it would certainly be well used to the point of cannabalizing the paid camping at the Kentuck State Park itself which is tough to reach up that hill.

John W: You mentioned an Adirondack shelter in Connelsville. Which campground is that? Thanks.
Someone else mentioned Kentock CG in Ohiopyle state park. That is listed on bikecando.com. Is it not operating? Thanks

There are four Adirondack shelters in the free trailside H/B camping area as you enter Connellsville on the GAP from Pittsburgh. Tent camping is available there as well. The area there is known as Stewarts Crossing but the camping area itself does not have a unique name per se'.

There is potable water there. There is a toilet (outhouse) there also. There is a grocery and restaurants within walking distance.

About 10 miles from there is Roundbottom H/B primitive camping area with a couple of Adirondack shelters also. There is non-potable water there and a toilet (outhouse). Its more remote/quiet with no amenities nearby.

Google Ohiopyle State Park Kentuck Campground. Last I recall, you can reach it from the trail but it’s uphill so you be walking your bike. Not sure why it’s not listed on this site.

As Rivnuts said, Stewart’s Crossing campground is the location on the north side of Connellsville. It’s pretty cool to have hot food and grocery stores just a stones throw away.

John

Just saw an update saying that the Kentuck sites closer to the trail will hopefully be ready in time for fall leaves.

Bill:

Are those paid sites managed and reserved by the park itself or free, first-come first-serve H/B sites?

Where did that info appear?

Oh, man. It was on Facebook, and I finally found it. It was a press release from 2020 that someone recently asked about. They were hoping it would be done by fall 2020! But then in the comments, people had some rumors.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/505456612991195/posts/2057508371119337/

Thanks Bill.

Take from the GAP Website:

"Beginning February 1, contractors will completely overhaul the section of the Great Allegheny Passage connecting Point State Park with the Monongahela Wharf in 2023, rerouting the GAP along the Monongahela River, removing the narrow “pinch point” obstruction caused by highway piering, and eliminating a section of trail contiguous with the parking lot behind the state park offices. Look for long-awaited improvements to this short section's surface, width, grade, lighting, and line of sight. During construction, the GAP will be closed between the Monongahela Wharf Switchback and Point State Park, and travelers must use an alternate on-street route including bike lanes through Downtown Pittsburgh. For details, visit www.gaptrail.org."

Long overdue so this is great news. Sounds like the route will be more obvious to riders as the current design has a lack of signs/paint instructing riders on how to negotiate this small section. Looking forward to the removal of the “pinch point” as well.

Thanks for posting this!

John

Oh, man, I hope the detour isn't too terrifying.

When we got to that point, I was so glad that someone had posted a video of how to navigate that spot. No telling where we would have ended up if not.

Glad they are cleaning it up!

I rode through that area yesterday before the current route is closed. Initial work had begun and the new route between Point State Park and the Mon Wharf was apparent. The new section runs closer to the river and is a little more direct. With just a little signage or markings, it should be more intuitive , less confusing and more safe as long as the resident Canadian geese don’t move to the new route as well. We all know what impact they have on bike paths. :-)

Personally, I won’t use the published detour through town during construction but the published detour is probably safer with less traffic for those not familiar with the downtown area.

For those that may want to use a bike computer gps file route (not that it is necessary) to follow the designated detour illustrated in the GAP website article to and from Point State Park from the formal GAP Trail, I have created a .fit file at Ridewithgps.com website of that detour.

It can be found at that website by searching routes using the search words "Point State Park 2023 Access Detour". Once located you can export it to your bike computer.

Thanks Rivnuts, that route in Ride with GPS gives a nice visual to negotiate the detour!

While riding through Point State Park today I saw a sign just placed at the literal Point showing a recommended detour out of and into the park from the formal GAP Trail at Smithfield Street downtown. It is slightly different than what is shown in the GAP website news of the detour.

A bike computer gps .fit file reflecting that signage can also be found on the RideWithGPS website by searching for the route name:

"Point State Park 2023 Access Detour Per Sign in the Park"

Note the .fit file is for the outbound direction. It is only slightly different than the other version. Note the inbound route is via Fort Pitt Boulevard and Wood Street and the outbound route is via Smithfield Street.