C&O / GAP Forum

We were thinking about biking from Georgetown to Cumberland later this spring.

Is there a parking lot to leave a car overnight at the mouth of the trail in georgetown?

Also i was wondering if you had any bike rental suggestions that are the most financially reasonable, and transportation from Cumberland back to Georgetown?

I don't know Washington well enough to comment knowledgably on available, multi-overnight parking.

You might try Wheelzup Adventures for both rentals and shuttle. Of course there are others. For other potential shuttle services from Cumberland to Washington, Google the following for sources and costs:

"bike shuttles from Cumberland md to Washington DC"

I'm sure that others more familiar with the Washington biking community can offer other suggestions.

Hello,
Sorry to ask (again) a common question.

I am planning my PIT-IAD solo ride in Jul/Aug 2025.
I live in Europe, I am used to cyclotourism here but this will be my first riding experience in the USA.

I will land in either airport from Europe and then cycle the 330miles (ideally from PIT to IAD)

Any good advice about the best place in those two towns to rent a ONE WAY gravel/hybrid bike ?
I have seen a few sites already but they look very expensive and with many one way restrictions...
Many TIA

Golden Triangle Bike Rental is, perhaps, the best known and most prominent bike rental companies in Pittsburgh. They are commonly used by cyclists making the trip between and Pittsburgh and Washington, DC. They usually have a late model, durable fleet of rental bikes and bags for those making the trip.

I can’t speak to their rental costs or how they compare to other possible rental companies.

For info,I have no affiliation or relationship with Golden Triangle Bike Rental.

Many Thanks Rivnuts.
I’ll them a try then.

You should know that IAD (Dulles Airport) is a good distance from the center of Washington, DC. If you want to ride the full GAP/C&O, you will end in Washington. If you can find a one-way rental, it will probably work out that you leave the bike in Washington itself. You can get to IAD by the Metro.
I suspect from your note that you will fly into Pittsburgh. There are trails to get from Pittsburgh's airport to the GAP, although you would actually miss Pittsburgh itself and connect to the GAP a little further down the trail. The Montour Trail makes up most (or all) of this connection. However, since you are arriving without a bike that is all rather academic. Other folks can advise you how to get from the airport to Pittsburgh itself.
Enjoy the trip ! These are great trails.

The bike drop off location for a one-way bike rental from Pittsburgh to DC using the Golden Triangle Bike Rental service is at Maine Ave SW in DC which is about 3 miles from the end of the C&O Towpath Trail at Milepost 0 behind the Thompson Boat Center.

As you might expect there are a few ways to get from the Pittsburgh Airport to Downtown Pittsburgh. Cabs/ride services (ZTrip, Uber, Lyft) are available. However, the least expensive way to make the trip is using public transportation via the Pittsburgh Regional Transport's 28X bus shuttle. It runs twice an hour, from 4 am until midnight, seven days a week. It costs only $2.75 one way. Tickets can be purchased in the airport baggage claim area.

Good friends,
I believe that the latest edition of TrailGuide is the 20th edition. Can anyone tell me what year the 20th edition was published ? And do we know if a new edition will be published in 2025 ?
It is a fantastic book. My thanks to the folks behind it. And my thanks to all those who share their wisdom and experience in this forum.

My short answer to your question is "I, myself, don't know" if a new edition will be released in 2025. You are correct in that the latest edition is the 20th Edition offered for sale at many outlets.
That said the current edition was copyrighted in 2023. I find the 10th edition was released circa 2013, suggesting a new edition approximately every two years or so.

To get a definitive answer to your question I would suggest you contact those that publish and distribute the Trail Guide at

admin@gaptrail.org
GAPtrailstore@comcast.net

to find out if a new edition is soon to be published.

If this is your first trip down the trail, you might enjoy another publication as well:

The Great Allegheny Trail Companion by Bill Metzger

This book describes the trail, its history, features, geology, fauna etc. It provides a wealth of information that will allow you to enjoy the trip even more. It does not contain ads for places to stay, eat or visit however. It also is available from the GAP Trail Store site.

Lastly, I think you'll find this website itself to provide much of the information necessary to plan your trip including the trail map, mileage chart, towns and services, etc. if you page through those tabs.

Best wishes for a safe and enjoyable tri.

Just wishing goodwill and happy holidays to everyone that road the Gap/Co in 2024. I'm looking forward to cycling the entire route next year. Probably late May into June. But meeting a lot of people with similar interests was cool. Some on e-bikes, others climbing that section between Meyersdale and Frostburg, MD. Then reaching the Eastern Continental Divide...Wow! A shout out to Rivetnuts. Thank you for being so helpful.

Best Regards

Thank you for your shoutout If I can be of any assistance, just drop a message here on the forum.

Can anyone give some insite on weather expectation for early June on the GAP? Or availability on open campsites for tent camping.

The typical daily high in early June in Pittsburgh is in the mid to high 70’s with a typical daily low in the mid to high 50’s. It will generally be somewhat cooler at the higher elevations approaching the Easter Continental Divide, e.g. Meyersdale PA and warmer as you travel south beyond there. On any given day there is a typical 41% chance of some precipitation. Check out the data at www.weather.gov site for this and more weather info.

All the discrete free and pay-to-stay campsites are open at that time. You’ll want to review all the available campsites and there amenities to plan your overnight stays to match your itinerary. This site and the GAP and C&O Travel Guide book identify those sites.

If you need more info, just post a message.

I'm planning on Spring 2025 ride from Pittsburgh to DC. Camping the entire way. I would like to do some siteseeing in DC on the cheap (never been). Trying to figure out where to stay, storing the bike and gear? Do I get into town early, ride around to different sites, and then ride back to the first campground on the trail? Any suggestions would be great!

Thanks!

The first campground (Swains Lock) on the trail is 17 miles from the end of the C&O and add another 3 to downtown. It’s doable but a rather long commute. Staying closer to town would be more convenient. Hotels are expensive but with some investigation and planning, you can find an AirBnB in the form of a room in a house for much less. Typically such places have a place to secure your bike and gear. You may not be immediately downtown but can usually use public transportation to get there. You’ll want to be cautious what part of town you stay in but you can assess the various neighborhoods with some research.

I did this successfully a couple of years ago. Just my two cents worth.

See announcement below from Amtrak regarding merging of its Capital Limited and Silver Star routes.


Beginning November 10, 2024, Amtrak will temporarily combine its Capitol Limited (Chicago to Washington D.C.) and Silver Star (Washington D.C. to Miami) routes to create the Floridian. The Floridian (trains 40/41) will operate on a similar schedule, make the current stops, and follow the same tracks used by the Capitol Limited (trains 29/30) among Pittsburgh, Connellsville, Cumberland, Harpers Ferry, and Washington, D.C., preserving the option of return trips for travelers along Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath. So if you’re seeking to book a trip on the Capitol Limited after November 10, look instead on Amtrak’s website for the Floridian.

It has been announced that the Big Savage Tunnel will be closed for the winter on Wednesday November 27.

I'm planning a month long ride from Cumberland to Georgetown and back to Cumberland, possibly around beginning of April, and have two questions(more will come soon I'm sure).

What can I expect of weather for the month of April in terms of cold vs warm?

Is there an area in Cumberland that I can park my car for a month without the risk of it being towed?

I know I could complete a back and forth trip in a week, but I'm in no rush, and I'm considering trying to camp at every hiker/biker campsite (skipping the drive ins) in one run. I know that scenario is near impossible unless I only ride 8 to 12 miles a day, and skip every other campsite.

So far, that's my plan. I'm sure it'll change between now and then.

Hey 2025 rider:

Check with the Fairfield Inn people in Cumberland. Nice place. There is a bike shop on the boardwalk nearby as well. The proprietor may have some ideas about parking. A copuple of bike shops in town as a matter of fact. April might be a good time to ride.

Regarding the weather, I’ve responded previously that I believe May is a better time for such a trip. Limiting your trip to the C&O versus the GAP reduces your risk of encountering some quite cold weather. Race could be an issue however over the course of a month.

There is free, public parking under the overhead highway near Canal Place in Cumberland.

Rain not race in previous message.

Hello all:

Just recently completed the GAP. I had heard in Rockwood, PA that a bridge was out before Hancock on the C&O. Stairs were an alternative according to some cyclists. But can someone provide details?

When I went through there in August, there was indeed a bridge out on The C&O. I jumped up onto the WMRT to get past that bridge. I did not incur any stairs there.

Is anyone else having a problem with the Towns & Services tab on the bikecando.com website?.
Everything else is working fine but when click on Towns & Services it lets me pick a town then goes to a blank page.

It is working for me at this point in time.

Hello everyone:

Riding the train back to Pittsburgh from Cumberland, MD on 28 October. The GAP was great. Perfect weather for it. I need a ride from the train station to Baldwin, PA with the bike at nearly midnight. Can anyone help? Will check back.

Good afternoon, dear friends.
When I book a train from Washington to Connellsville I am given the option to add a bicycle. In the past, roll-on, roll-off service was available only where there was baggage service. There are no Amtrak humans at Connellsville, as I understand it. Perhaps the roll-off service is nonetheless available at "COV" because no local Amtrak personnel are needed - only a person on the train to hand the bike down to me.
Can anyone confirm that the roll-off service is available at Connellsville ?
Thanks.

Pittsburgers often take the train to Connellsville with their bikes and ride back to the 'Burgh so roll-on/roll-off service is available there as far as I know. You can call Amtrak to confirm however for your peace of mind.

Thanks, Rivnuts. That is the confirmation I was looking for. Unfortunately, when I called Amtrak the agent looked at the same booking program that I had looked at and said, "If they let you add a bicycle to your reservation, then it must be possible."

I agree that if the Amtrak reservation system allows you to add a bicycle reservation for your selected route, then the origin and destination stations support bicycle loading and retrieval.

However, the converse is not true. That is, if the Amtrak reservation system does not offer a bicycle reservation on your chosen route and day it doesn't necessarily mean that bikes are not supported at the origin and destination stations. It may simply mean that there are no more bicycle reservations available on that day.

The phone number being advertised for the Peddler's rest is not the current phone number, it is actually my personal phone number and I receive about 5 to 10 calls a week for people looking for Peddlers rest.

Our sympathies.

Spoke with attendant at the YMCA desk over the phone. Yes, warm showers and hot coffee in the a.m. Cannot set up tent on site until 6 p.m. due to school kid traffic nearby. Careful getting there it's busy.

For clarification, I believe the after 6:00 PM set up time only applies to weekdays.

I am planning on riding the GAP and C and O from Oct 8-12 and my biggest concerns are if there are any closures on either trail. Please let me know if you are aware of closures or detours. TIA

There are none at this time on the GAP.

Detour involving steps at Dam 5 on C&O. Can be a challenge if you’re solo and carrying gear. Otherwise, it’s clear on Gap and towpath.Just finished the route on 9-21.

Thanks- I appreciate the updates.

Thanks- I appreciate the updates.

Mark Brown:

My departure date from Pittsburgh is 15 October. A camp stop the first day then probably one more down the road. Seen some rain coming about 18 October. I'm going as far as Harpers Ferry on this trip due to all the election stuff going on in Washington D.C. Keep me posted on your progress. Good luck.

I just finished riding from Pittsburgh-DC (Thurs-Sat). The GAP was in good shape, if its regular slog up to the Eastern Continental Divide. (That day was powered by Coffee at Crawford in Connellsville, ending with Yuengling-battered haddock at Take Six in Meyersdale.) Despite the heavy rains last week, the C&O was also good to Hancock, with a posted detour at from Mile 106.8 to 106, up a flight of wooden stairs and along a temporary path.

Note that leaving Hancock on the Western Maryland Rail Trail will be a short trip, as work began on 10/3 from Mile 9 to Mile 2.9. Divert back to ol' bumpy, alas.

Things were smooth out of Brunswick to the Seneca Aqueduct at Mile 22.8. The trail is rock-hard (literally) from here, and there's a detour at Mile 11 that takes you up to the road for one half mile.

The new WWI Memorial near the White House is worth checking out (there are ramps). I rode to DCA, threw the bike in a rental car, and was home for dinner.

Squirrel Hill:

That Yuengling battered fish n' chips in Meyersdale sounds good. I'm nearby for a camp stop. But your updates on the GAP were helpful. Concerned, however, about mud slogging on the CO with my 28" wheels. Appreciate it.

I rode on 28" inch tires, and thankfully did not have any punctures or even slips. Some unexpected bumps on the C&O when my attention wandered, and the Paw Paw Tunnel felt rougher than in the past, with the echoing "pings" from my back tire making me nervous. The roughest part of the trail for me was the end - from Seneca through Great Falls until the Capital Crescent Trail. I traveled as light as possible (one pannier) but still carried two spare tubes and both a battery-powered and manual pump, as I was certain I'd have a flat. At Mile 0 I realized I had never even once needed to add air to the tires. May you be as fortunate!

Hello,
Don't know if my message got sent through.
Just wanted to say I am leaving N.J. on Monday to drive down to Cumberland Md and have a room booked at the Fairfield In for Monday night then on to the Amtrak Tuesday to start my bike ride back to Cumberland Md from Washington DC on the C & O if anyone is interested in doing this ride with me reach out to me.
FYI Bikes are still available on the Amtrak.
So if you see and Oldman on a green felt gravel bike come and say hello.

Michael

Hello everyone,
Driving down to Cumberland Md on Monday 10/7 got a room booked at the Fairfield inn right on the trail and getting on the Amtrak on Tuesday morning for Washington DC, got my Bicycle all set for the train to start my C & O ride back to Cumberland MD if anyone is interested to do this ride with me let me know.
also if you see an old man on his Felt gravel back come and say hello.

Michael

I am planning to start my ride to Pittsburgh from DC on 9/30. Looks like there will be more rain on top of all of the other rain we have had this last week. Anyone have any trail condition updates, especially on the dirt sections of the C&O between DC and Cumberland? Thanks!

John

Given you are starting tomorrow and no rider on the trail at present has responded I'll provide what information exists (which you probably already have) along with my experience living/riding along the GAP and several rides on the C&O over the last 10 years.

There's a light rain in Pittsburgh this morning and is forecast to continue most of the day today as well as tomorrow morning. Tuesday and beyond look dry with clearing skies. As a result and excluding the first 20 miles on pavement leaving Pittsburgh, the GAP with its crushed stone will likely be soft with an occasional puddle or two.

Looking at Cumberland, a more steady rain is expected today with more rain and showers on Monday and Tuesday before clearing the rest of the week. Thus I would expect some sloppy conditions on the Towpath with puddles and some mud, especially between Cumberland and Spring Gap as well as between Paw Paw and Little Orleans where there have been no trail improvements made. The balance of the Towpath in route to DC where new surface improvements have been made may be a little soft but decent with improving weather and some sunshine to aid in drying out the trail.

Those would be my expectations if I was undertaking your trip tomorrow. Hopefully, someone on the trail presently can give you real time info. Enjoy your trip and be safe.

Thank you for your insights. I’m going to postpone this one.

Thank you for your insights. I’m going to postpone this one.

Spent a great night in Paw Paw at the newly opened Heritage Inn. Great house, great breakfast. Take the turn off into town, cross the river, blue house with great front porch, one house up from the gas station. Gas station has a grill, beer, etc. 304-359-0075

Spent a great night in Paw Paw at the newly opened Heritage Inn. Great house, great breakfast. Take the turn off into town, cross the river, blue house with great front porch, one house up from the gas station. Gas station has a grill, beer, etc. 304-359-0075

Fantastic stay, she’s for your bikes, great breakfast- don’t miss it!

Does anyone know an address for the trail parking in Shepherdstown?

The C&O Towpath itself does not pass through Shepherdstown WV but rather runs along the Maryland side of the Potomac River opposite Shepherdstown. The closest street address to the trailhead there would be:

16334 Canal Road
Sharpsburg, MD 27822

Enter that address in Google Maps in satellite view and you'll see the trailhead there.

Alternatively, enter the following coordinates:

39.436501, -77.799560

for the trailhead.

Hello,
Curious about the cost of shuttling bike luggage on the C&O. Four day trip.

Thank you.

To be clear, are you looking for a single shuttle from one end of the C&O Towpath to the other, i.e. between Cumberland and DC, or multiple shuttles from town to town along the Towpath?

In either case, your best info would come from prospective shuttle operators unless others reply with recent experiences.

If adventurous, you might consider renting one of the Towpath Lockhouses near Potomac MD. You can find them on the Canal Trust website.

Looking for a place to stay near C&O in Potomac area. Our abnb canceled on us. If we could get across the Potomac River in that area would also be helpful, but it looks like that is not possible. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks all

Is it legal to park at pump station in Homestead?4

Yes and it’s encouraged albeit not foe overnight parking. It’s parking area is occasionally closed for special events held there on a particular day, usually a Friday or Saturday but there are a variety of other places riders can park in the adjoining shopping center.

Thank you

Son and I are doing GAP next week. We'd be camping and he will be using a hammock. Are the mosquitos bad this time of year and will he need a bug net for his hammock. He has the rain fly, but didn't know about mosquitos.

Thanks!

Mosquitos are not much of an issue along the GAP as long as you camp in the maintained mown areas. Now the C&O is a different story until the weather gets colder.

Thank you. I did it several years ago and didn't remember mosquitos but wanted to make sure..

We will be riding the GAP from Cumberland to Pittsburgh at the end of this month, Sept '24. Are there any trail closures or detours that we should be aware of ?? Very much looking forward to this trip.

There are no actual or planned closures or detours at this time. The most recent detour between Adelaide and Dawson has ended.

Good News. Just saw this on the GAP's webpage. Closure Between Mile Markers 92 and 94.5 (GAP Mile 92) Cleared: Project completed on 8/31; GAP open for normal travel
Reported: June 3, 2024
Last Updated September 1, 2024

Thank you for sharing! Than is great news!

I see I reviewed the Donges Drive Inn way back in 2013. This time we (myself, my two brothers, my sister, a sister-in-law, and my wife) stayed at the Donges Motel while biking the great Allegheny Passage. It was clean, quiet, and comfortable, just what I expect for a bike ride.