C&O / GAP Forum

Is it feasible to pull a single wheel bob trailer for gear or are paneers the better option. I’ve seen videos of people doing the C&O and Gap and have not seen any trailers.

Both the GAP and C&O are amenable to a single-wheel bob trailer. The only instances where panniers might be better is if/when you might have to push your bike over any detour terrain or lift it over any downed trees. A single-wheel bob is better than a two-wheel bob in those few instances of effectively single track on the C&O. All that said, there isn’t truly any significant difference in using one versus the other in my opinion.

Of course, Rivnuts is correct. Just wanted to add that you can't take a trailer on the train. Unless you can get it into a duffle bag that they don't mind moving.

Thanks for the info Rivnuts and Bill.

I did the C&O with my fat bike and a bob ibex trailer, worked out great. only issue is since I had the bob, I packed much more than I actually needed, so keep that in mind.

Has anyone stayed here recently?

No idea on the hostel. I was also looking into that for mid October. Am hoping to see others chime in on this as I need to book a place too.

Let me tell you about my Harper's Ferry Hostel experience. I called them about a week ago and reserved two campsites for this past Wednesday, September 28th. The location says "on the trail." We rode into the Harpers Ferry area of the C&O, but there was no Hostel or anything else at that mile marker. I called the Hostel and the person I spoke with said they were booked solid for that night. I explained that I paid for two tent sites and he repeated that they were booked solid with a large group. He said he would refund my money. Nothing in the way of an apology. In other words, they were not going to honor the agreement. So, we transported our heavy E-bikes, with equipment, up the winding stairs to the bridge going to Harpers Ferry. Then, we rode our bikes up some very steep hills to the KOA. The Harpers Ferry KOA is fantastic! It's just not very convenient. As we left town the next day, we saw a large youth group on top of one of the mountain overlooks. My understanding is that we were looking at the Hostel location. I don't like to give anyone a bad review, but that was our experience with the Harper's Ferry Hostel. It is not on the trail and advise riders not to stay there. If you're going to climb a mountain to stay at the Hostel, then do yourself a favor and go to the KOA.
UPDATE-Despite sending the Harper's Ferry Hostel 3 emails, I still do not have a refund posted to my credit card.

Am wondering if instead of taking the connector north through Glassport to get on the trail, we can go south via Elizabeth? Has anyone on this forum done that? Pros/cons?

It is an interesting question you raise. I assume you are simply looking to not “backtrack” to the north to get to the GAP and save a few miles. Although I ride the Montour Trail and Steel Valley Connector through Glassport regularly as well as the GAP Trail from Pittsburgh to DC and many of the other roads in this area, I’ve not attempted to directly ride “cross country” from the end of the Montour Trail in Clairton to the GAP.

I have ridden from the end of the Montour Trail in Clairton to the GAP in West Newton via Route 837 and Route 136 through Monongahela PA. These are 2-lane highways/roads that generally have 3-ft shoulders and a modest amount of traffic at 45 to 50 mph speeds. This route is about 23.5 miles long with a couple of decent hills, especially on Route 136 where it goes up and over Route 51.

There are other routes that I have plotted out of curiosity from the end of the Montour Trail in Clairton to Sutersville on the GAP via Elizabeth. They are about 12 miles in length and rather hilly given they pass from one river valley (the Monongahela) up and over to another (the Youghiogheny) along which the GAP Trail runs. Getting across the bridge in Elizabeth is a little dodgy but doable on the sidewalk once you get to it. I’ll finish creating these routes and post them publicly on RideWithGPS so you can see them. In a few days, I’ll ride one or more of these alternate routes and provide feedback if other riders have not already done so.

The primary constraint in finding routes from the Montour Trail to the GAP is that there are relatively few and widely separated bridges to cross the Monongahela River. Also the terrain, like much of that in and around the Pittsburgh area, can be rather hilly (not to mention the crappy, winding roads). (That’s another benefit to living in Western Pennsylvania ??) A good bike computer loaded with any selected routes in this area would be very helpful in trying to navigate them if you are not familiar with the area.

Check back in a day or two and I’ll provide information on how to access the routes with profiles that I’ve created and/or ridden. Hopefully other riders in the area can provide other answers to your question as well.

I've created a handful of different routes to take you from the Clairton trailhead at the end of the Montour Trail to the GAP Trail. You can see all these routes at the RideWithGPS website using the FIND tab therein and inputting the search keywords "Clairton to the GAP Trail" which is used in those saved route titles.

I have ridden the conventional route using the Steel Valley Connector Trail to McKeesport many times as well as Alternatives 2 and 3 which take you to the GAP in West Newton, PA.

Alternates 1 and 4 take you from Clairton to the GAP at Sutersville and Alternates 5 and 6 take you from Clairton to the GAP at Buena Vista. I have only ridden portions of these four routes. By viewing these routes you can see the profiles and by changing to the satellite view for each route, you can get a sense of the roads comprising them. As I mentioned, I'll try to get out and ride one or more of these to get first hand information and provide that feedback.

I rode the route of Alternate 6 in RideWithgGPS from the Montour trailhead in Clairton to Buena Vista today. It is a 9.5 mile route with 578 feet of ascent. This compares to the conventional route from that trailhead to the same location on the GAP in Buena Vista via the Steel Valley Connector of 16.5 miles with 539 feet of ascent.

The conventional route is about one-half on roads and the remaining half on bike-only gravel trail. The alternate route is all on roads, albeit with reasonable shoulders over most of their length and carry a fair amount of traffic at 30 to 50 mph. All the roads are 2-lane.

Lincoln Blvd traffic carries the higher speed traffic but is pretty straight with good sightlines for both cyclists and cars. The traffic on Lovedale Road is slower because it is much more curvy with shorter sightlines. Also its shoulder has several spots of broken asphalt to be avoided. Rock Run Road carries much less traffic and is pristine asphalt with a 3-ft shoulder passing by a very nice golf course and is nearly all downhill. In short, if you have ridden on all sorts of roads and are comfortable doing so, this alternate route will save you about 7 miles.

Please note that I don't recommend any route toward Elizabeth such as Alternate 1 to cross the Monongahela River using the Elizabeth Bridge in State Road 51. Getting up to that bridge from State Road 837 is subtly difficult and/or dangerous and riding any distance on State Road 51 is ill advised.

Lastly, note that you could take a public transportation bus from the airport to downtown Pittsburgh to start your trip at the beginning of the GAP trail and avoid virtually all roads. All these buses have bike racks on the front of the bus that will hold two bikes. You would need to remove your bags from your bikes before putting them on the bus.

I now see on the nasty site that the trail between mile post 88 and 89 is closed, I guess that's near McMahon mill. There is a detour described as 3 miles up a hill and I guess down the other side. Anyone know what this detour is like? Bikeable? Steep like the PawPaw detour?

Its good to see those about to undertake the trip are doing the research to know the conditions and constraints along the trail. That knowledge minimizes surprises, allows better planning and results in a more enjoyable trip.

The detour at McMahon's Mill is virtually all on paved country roads with short sections between the towpath exits and roads that are passable dirt, grass or gravel. There are some rolling but rideable hills on the detour roads that I have ridden with a fully loaded bike. If you want to get a profile of the detour you can input the map of the detour provided on the NPS site into a route planning program like Ride With GPS and you'll get a quantitative view.

The most difficult parts of the detour are where you leave and return to the towpath itself. There are a few feet of embankment at each end that you'll likely have to push your bike up/down to proceed on.

Having done the preplanning before departure, you can, of course, get real-time feedback on the trail by speaking with oncoming riders.

Have a great trip.

Are bikes available to rent?

It’s not clear from information on the web and without contacting them, its not apparent that they do. However, there are bikes to rent at the C&O bike shop in Hancock, MD which is only 6 miles away from Berkley Springs.

I wish the T-shirts had the design on the back instead of the front

Is there any electrical outlets that could be used to charge

No. There are some at Stewart’s Landing in Connellsville if you look for them however.

Riding the GAP and C&O starting the 16th. Have 700x38c tires with recommended 50-80 PSI. What is the best tire pressure? Different for the C&O than the GAP? I will just be carrying tools and extra clothing for the day's weather and I weigh 125 lbs, if that makes a difference. Thanks.

Nice to see a fellow Hoosier embarking on the trip down the GAP/C&O. Riding surface and condition, tire type, bike type, rider weight and gear weight all affect the best tire pressure to use. There are numerous web sites that allow you to input these variables and output a recommended tire pressure. With some additional assumptions including not being an ebike, I ran the online tire pressure calculator by Silka and, interestingly, the outputs for the front and rear tire pressures were below the minimum rated pressure (50 psi) for your tires which is probably ill advised if for no other reason than to insure they seat properly.

If it were me and I weighed 125 pounds (which I might have in the 6th grade) I'd probably put 60 in the rear and 55 in the front. The trail surfaces are relatively smooth with no serious chunks that can cause pinch flats using low pressures. The surfaces of the GAP and C&O are not so different that using different tire pressures on one trail versus the other is warranted.

Well, those are my thoughts. I'm sure others will offer their thoughts and recommendations as well. If you need any assistance in or guidance riding out of Pittsburgh, I'd be happy to assist.

Those questions would not even have occurred to me. But I am sort of a "make sure the pressure is in the recommended range and go ride" kind of person.
What is the impacted of 10 or 20 PSI one way or another (as long as it is within the recommended range of the tire) ?
Are you planning to ride very fast ? I imagine it could matter then.
Terry

Ignoring speed as an objective and, in the context of a week-long trip down the GAP and C&O, there are at least two reasons you may want to adjust tire pressure within the manufacturer's recommended range.

The first would be to increase your comfort on the bike and the second would be to increase traction. Both of these generally increase with lower tire pressures so long as not to be so low as to increase the risk of pinch flats. A lower pressure increases the cushioning effect of the tires which makes the ride more comfortable and it improves traction due to a larger tire "contact patch" which is helpful in soft or unstable (e.g. muddy) surfaces. With a fair amount of riding you'll find a pressure(s) that is safe, comfortable and reliable.

All that said, I don't agonize or adjust my tire pressures to the nearest psi to try to achieve the perfect pressure. I spend more time planning and finding a nice cafe or ice cream shop along the way.

On Saturday 8/20/22 my wife was in a cycling accident near Point of Rocks. Another cyclist was on his cell phone and on the wrong side of the bike path. We nearly had a head on collision and my wife fell off her bike resulting in a broken right wrist and broken left arm. She needs multiple surgeries to repair the injuries. Please do not use your phone when riding on the trail. Your self absorbed action has caused immeasurable damage and pain.

Bob:

We all hope that all repairs and recovery from your wife's injuries are successful. It is just unconscionable that riders can't simply stop to take or make phone calls. Of course, car drivers are just as bad, if not worse. It is hard to understand why they want to put themselves as well as others at risk. this a classic case of poor judgement at best if not just plain negligence.

Complete negligence. Head and eyes looking down at phone, wrong side of path, and zero situational awareness. My only regret is I didn’t get his name to report him to the police. Was too busy attending to my wife’s injuries. Appreciate your kind words.

Hey, Bob, our prayers for the full recovery of your wife. It is just a lesson for all of us to be aware of what others are doing or not doing and to be prepared to respond. I hate the damn cell phones and personally refuse to answer anything until I am ready to stop and pay attention to that instead of the riding. I hope that our support can somehow help your wife heal.

I have 3 scouts who are looking to add the bike trip from Pittsburgh to Georgetown in their resumes. 2 of them (17 and 16) are Eagle Scouts and have done a 50-mile ride with me in Washington Old Dominion Trail from Purcellville, VA to Arlington, VA. Third one (12) has done several 25 mile ride but nothing beyond that.

Before the oldest one goes off to college, we would like to do a bike trip as a family, and I have always wanted to ride from Pittsburgh to Georgetown. I have watched some Youtube videos of people who have done it (or at least either GAP portion or C&O portion). Some of them were older than me while the most were younger (I am 47).

Question:

Do you think it would be a huge uphill battle for me and my youngest to ride the entire course? Both of us are not very good at biking while standing which may create some challenges if we have to go uphill.

Our timeframe to complete the trip is 8 days (4/2 - 4/9). We are planning to hit the gym between now and April to work on our stamina.

Also, in early April, would it be an issue to find a camp site with running water, especially on C&O portion? I heard that the water pumps in camp sites are not even on until mid-April.

Scout Dad:

You've raised a few questions about your proposed spring break bike trip from Pittsburgh to DC. I'll offer the following observations as I'm sure others will as well.

As for biking while standing, I don't believe that is an issue at all especially in the direction you are planning to ride assuming that both of the current detours off the towpath are finished by then. There are only a few hills that might require you to stand and some are just man-made overpasses. All are short enough to walk without losing much time.

As for training and stamina, I don't believe it is as much about how many miles you and boys can ride in a day but, rather, how many days in a row you can ride those miles. I would suggest more days of fewer miles if stamina concerns you.

Your point about the pumps at the hiker/biker camp sites along the C&O Towpath at that time of year is valid. However, with four people riding, you should be able to carry enough water among you to make it between towns where you can get water especially since you're not planning to ride in the heat of the summer.

Lastly, and you didn't ask the question, but the weather in April and especially in early April along the GAP can vary widely. It ranges from reasonably warm and pleasant to cold and miserable. Precipitation is variable as well and could easily if not expectedly include snow flurries. (There was more that 4 inches of snow near Meyersdale in mid-April this year requiring some riders to layover or seek shuttles due to the weather.) Frankly, I avoid doing that ride during April, preferring to wait until mid-May when the weather is better and more predictable.

Hey guys, I'm recovering from hernia surgery and am going to have to cut my trip shorter than I planned. I originally was taking Amtrak from Cumberland to Washington. Now I'm thinking Cumberland to Rockville. I don't want to take to much off my trip, but figure taking 20 or so miles will make a difference. I don't want to cut it back to Harpers Ferry as I want to do as many miles as possible.

Question. How is the route from Rockville Amtrak station to the trail. I'm guessing Lock 21? Thanks everyone. The site is AMAZING..

Not being local to that area or having ridden from the C&O Towpath to Rockville, I can't offer or recommend the best route to do so. I'm sure others forum readers in that area can provide better direct answer to your question.

From Lock 21 (Swains Lock) Google Maps presents three routes to the Rockville Amtrak station. Each of those routes is about 9 miles. I mention this because its only about 17 miles from Swains Lock to Georgetown and Mile Post 0 of the Towpath. Thus, its only about 8 more miles of flat riding to ride from Swains Lock on into DC albeit with another 3.5 miles to Union Station in DC if that is your ultimate destination. This may or may not influence your itinerary.

On an unrelated note, there are websites similar to bikecando.com for both the Erie Canal Trail in New York and the Katy Trail in Missouri should those ever be of interest to you.

Thanks, to be honest, I didn't realize it was that close. Depending on recovery, I may have to shorten it up to Harpers Ferry. You pointing that out is a big help! Also, thanks for the info on the others as I would lie to do those as well. This is a great forum!

Hi All,
I am solo traveling the C&O from Cumberland to DC. Will anyone be in the area or riding around the same time?

How did it work out for you? In your opinion, is the ride considered "easy" enough for a 12 year old?

We are planning a trip from Pittsburgh to Georgetown during Spring Break 2023 and are still not sure if our 12 year old will be able to ride with us.

I am riding the DC to Pittsburgh route and making plans to meet my sister at Dravo Landing to ride my last section together.

Is she able to park temporarily at Dravo Landing at Henderson Road to drop off her camping gear then park overnight at the trailhead in Buena Vista?

There is no parking at Dravo Landing. There is no public access to Dravo Landing via Henderson Road. The closest parking is in Buena Vista off of McGowan Road. That parking location is about 1.5 miles from Dravo Landing.

Another option would be to meet and camp with you at the GAP Trail Campground in West Newton which is about 7 miles from Dravo Landing. It is a pay-to-stay campground albeit at a modest cost and offers showers and access to places to eat while there. Just a thought.

The Yough Twister ice cream and sandwich shop near the Sutersville trailhead is currently closed. Its sign has been removed and significant external work on the structure are being made. It appears some of the internal kitchen equipment has also been removed.

It is unclear whether there are plans to reopen in the future.

Awww, that's sad. It was a classic.

To: Bill from Houston

Good news Bill. I rode by the former Yough Twister again today and learned that it has been sold to a local businessman and will be reopened after interior and exterior remodelling is completed. Given the extent of the remodelling in progress and the fact that the biking season is past its peak, I don't expect it will reopen until next spring. We'll see.

FYI, the new owner of the Twister had previously bought the gas station across the street and had it remodelled. I was told that it will reopen in the next couple of weeks as a convenience store/gas station. I heard they may add a bike shop in that building as well. Once again, we'll see.

Good news! Thanks, Rivnuts.

Does the Confluence trailhead have an address that would enable one to find it on GPS?

Here are the GPS coordinates that you can input into Google Maps to provide directions to the trailhead in Confluence. There are no houses or businesses nearby for a unique street address.

39.8073441, -79.3647117

It’s on Ramcat Rd just north of Rt 281 (Robert Brown Rd).

The parking lot is located at:
865 River Rd, Confluence, PA 15424

The link below gets you right there.
Rivnuts is correct in their previous post as to the actual trailhead location which is about 1/4 mile from the parking lot


https://goo.gl/maps/hgTrV9RRpq19GihV9

The parking lot is located at:
865 River Rd, Confluence, PA 15424

The link below gets you right there.
Rivnuts is correct in their previous post as to the actual trailhead location which is about 1/4 mile from the parking lot


https://goo.gl/maps/hgTrV9RRpq19GihV9

The following notification has been posted to the GAP web page regarding the detour at the Paw Paw Tunnel later this month:

Update on Paw Paw Tunnel Detour and Temporary Shuttle

Contractors deployed by the C&O Canal National Historical Park to remove eroding rock material from the closed eastern portal of the Paw Paw Tunnel will begin hauling away scaled material using Tunnel Hill Trail -- the current detour for thru-travelers during the existing eastern portal closure. Beginning around August 24, the contractor will provide a temporary shuttle service between the intersection of the towpath and Tunnel Hill Trail to the intersection of Tunnel Hill Trail and Tunnel Hill Road. This shuttle is intended to run roughly 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday, every 30 minutes, through late October. Outside of these hours, the normal detour will be re-opened. Click for more information directly from the National Park Service, which can field your questions.

Has anybody experienced this contractor-provided shuttle? I'll be riding west up and over the Paw Paw Tunnel tomorrow and curious as to what to expect. I'll provide my feedback tomorrow after I go through the area.

Update: according to the National Park Service CHOH website, the shuttle service will not commence until August 29th.

The GAP website posted a new trail alert today as stated below:

"Contractor Vehicles on GAP Near Frostburg (GAP Mile 14) Partially Obstructed: Be aware of contractors working near the GAP between Helmstetter's Curve and Frostburg."

The GAP website has been updated to indicate that the work near Frostburg on the GAP has been completed and the contractor has cleared from the area.

What would be the cost of returning 2 people/2 bikes back to
Rock wood or Meyersdale from Cumberland. Thanks

Is overnight parking allowed @ Visitor Center or anywhere close to the Canal? this is a pick up point for an trip from DC - Thanks in advance

You might find the parking lot at Lock 44 at Williamsport is even more useful in that the easiest way to get a bike across the canal from the trail.

An adored favorite of mine. Lovely people. Get “John’s Breakfast”, a massive pile of delicious calories (with real maple syrup!) that will dramatically increase your chances of biking all the way back up the steep hill to the trail.

You can't go wrong having breakfast at the GI Day Room Coffee Shop on Main Street either although you'll still have to ride back up the hill to get back to the GAP Trail.

And Donges has super cheap ice cream cones, shakes, and sundaes. No cyclist can resist. ;/)

A shout out to Donges as a Motel also. My traveling partner felt it looked a little "sketchy" at first, but nothing else was available that day. In the end we both felt it was just fine. Above all, it was clean. The people were nice. And a great value. If you do not want their style of food, there are several places within walking distance. I would definitely recommend it.

is the Lock 70 schoolhouse Inn located before or After the Paw Paw Bypass?

If you’re going Cumberland to DC it’s before and DC to Cumberland its after.

We are looking for a bike-friendly hotel somewhere near Bethesda that we can get to on our bikes.

Bethesda, or at least parts of it, is on the Capital Crescent Trail which connects to the C&O.

I would just turn the Biking tool on on Google Maps and look for hotels near the Capital Crescent Trail. I would call and ask if they will allow your bikes in to your room or if they can store your bike.

John

Interesting article from the Pittsburgh Trib about the volunteers that keep local trails in top-top shape, including the GAP.

If you’re looking to get involved or donate some volunteer hours somewhere, you’ll get no better satisfaction than giving back to your local trail. Whether it be clearing low hanging branches, mowing grass, cutting trees, painting benches/picnic tables, weed wacking, filling in washed out gravel, removing fallen trees, etc., these organizations would love to have you. And as the article states, some of the volunteers are getting on in age and need younger people to take over.

https://triblive.com/local/regional/stepping-up-volunteers-donate-thousands-of-hours-of-time-maintaining-the-regions-myriad-hiking-biking-trails/

John

The part of the article that really surprised me (could be the same for any local trail really) is just how few people keep it all together:

“Despite having more than 8,000 registered council members, Thompson said she estimates 80 people volunteer regularly.”

I was surprised to see that number so low. Just 1% of trail members are keeping it in riding shape.

Hi all,

I last did the trail in 2013. My wife and I are looking to rent e-bikes in Washington D.C, take the train up to Cumberland, and ride the bikes back down. Is anyone aware of services that do that?

Thanks,

You need to make sure Not to get Fat tire bikes. They the trains are not set up for that. I am coming from Florida with my bike which as 4 inch fat tires. I wound up putting my bike in the rack and bringing my car up to DC in order to use the train.
They are not up to speed on transporting electric bikes via train. Best bet call Amtrak when you have the specification of your rentals.

I'm looking to bike the GAP this Oct. What is this CG like? Do you recommend it? Is it clean? Safe/

Great place for camping. If you arrive early enough, you can claim half of the covered band shell. I saw and used power outlets all along the side of the grass. Showers. Walking distance to restaurants. Can’t ask for a better location.

GC ???

Ignore my earlier question. The title of the message is clear. I agree with John W. The Maple Festival Park Campground in Meyersdale is one of my favorite camping spots for all the reasons John W cites plus there are picnic tables under that theater shell as well as electrical receptacles. There are stores to obtain necessary items there also.

The only drawback is the trek back up the hill to the GAP trail from the campground but it is rideable with appropriate gearing and fitness.

The Cherry Tree Lodging is 1/2 mile from crossing the bridge into Harpers Ferry from the C&O. The address is 630 Washington St. See cherrytreelodging.com.

One bedroom is offered at $100 plus tax. It contains 3 twin beds. All linens are provided. Downstairs from the bedroom is the bathroom with shower, laundry room and kitchen. Locked shed for your bike. You can also rent by the bed - $40 plus tax - in a shared room.

No drop-ins please. Please book using the website or else call Laurel at 304-702-7004.

I have submitted this business through the bikecando.com website but it has not been posted yet.

Very affordable, delicious TexMex/Salvadoran food, perfect for a biker's gargantuan appetite, even if you have to go up a big hill to get there. Because of that hill, I recommend going the long way around, up Burkittsville Road and right on Souder Road. Retuning to the canal, take the plunge down Gum Spring Road and find out why I recommend avoiding it as an uphill. While you’re up there, the municipal pool is nearby and you might be able to get a shower.

Never again. They told me they were busy, and my food would take 25 minutes. No problem, fair enough, thanks for letting me know, I said. Well, it turned out to be an hour and a half. They were unashamed and unapologetic, about this. Worst of all, when I asked for a glass of water they wanted to charge me 75 cents for it! Which is just plain unethical. And the food was rather lousy when it finally showed up. Please do not annoy the people who run this place by patronizing their restaurant, they clearly hate life in all its particulars.