C&O / GAP Forum

Just back from a GAP-C&O tent blast.
I left PGH Wed morn and stopped in Confluence for the night at the Army Corps park or something. Since it’s a National park thing, being old has advantages.. was only $7.. for a tent.
Aaahhh.. sleep.
Woke up Thursday morn to cold and rain. It’s Part of the adventure!
Up I go.. rain all day. Snow on the trail long between Rockwood and Myersdale… on the trail.. not just the area.
Blasted through to Cumberland and beyond!.. stopping in Cumberland long enough for a quick meal at the BBQ place there.. then onward just to Evitts Creek to set up camp for the night.
Minor issues on GAP.. no closures or detours.. that I recall.
Friday morning.. nice, but cool weather.
Oh, Big Savage tunnel is open.. lots of wild natural beauty on that trail but slogging through the mushy, snow gravel.. I was happy to be able do 7-8 mph for quite a few miles.
Some trees down but nothing major.
C &O was a different story.
PawPaw tunnel is closed and requires a hard 1.5 mile climb up and over! Be prepared with shoes.
Up a rocky, rutted single-track.. exceeding 10%!
Then Down a muddy, wet, slippery mess.. but part of the adventure.
I stopped in Cumberland Valley HB site.
The Hiker-Biker sites are pretty nice.
All handles are on.. except Little Pool.
This morning, Saturday, somewhere near mile 94, there is a trail closure and detour.. up and around to MM 88. It added about 10 to the trip. Don’t do it at night!
A few other minor ‘detours’ but nothing terrible… a few trees down.
4 long days and one heck of a ride!
If you have specific questions, ask fast before I forget.

Thanks for that summary as I prepare to do the trip in a few days albeit in the other direction. Aside from the snow, the rest of the trip sounds like what I encountered last Fall including the Paw Paw and McMahon’s Landng detours.

The snow is not all that unusual in April especially at those upper elevations of Rockwood and Meyersdale.

Did you make your reservation at the campground in Confluence online or were you able to simply pay on arrival? Was the shower house open there?

Reservation was made with assistance from the camp hostess, there.
Yes, all facilities were working.
It’s a nice spot to layover.
Yeah.. the snow. C’est la vie ou c’est la guerre?
Part of the adventure!
I rode this trip on a Trek 520 with Schwalbe marathon plus.
And aside from filth, no issues.
Oh, the trail east of Swains Lock into DC.. soooo hard on my eyes, and tail.
Those rocks! Ugghh!

But, again, the biggest HURDLE is PawPaw tunnel, but maybe if you approach in a non-workday, you can walk through, but it looked like they are replacing the Timbers inside.
Careful!

A little more for those that haven’t done these trails.
I saw: deer, snakes, scary large snapping turtles, myriad other turtles, a gazillion birds, owls and falling to sleep with the sound of frogs singing is what camping is about!

How about the trains at night not just the frogs. :-)

I’m surprised about the rocks east of Swain’s Lock. They have never seemed to be an issue in the past

The ‘rocks’ are roundish, embedded into the trail. Great for walking but hard on a tired, sore biking body on a steel, unsuspended frame. It felt like baby cobblestones.
??
And I don’t mind the trains, actually. It makes me think of older days for some reason.
And who doesnt like a train anyway?
The engineers are friendly and when pedaling, will wave or even toot a hello.

Four days!? You, sir, are a monster.

…and through the snow!

Oh, thank you. That’s kind.
In fact, it was a training/challenge to see what I can do because on May 22, I leave for a solo XC from McLean, VA to SF to raise money for Alzheimer’s.
So, I was testing myself as well as my rig.
In the meantime, if someone is near DC and needs help, I can be reached at tbrduc@gmail.com.
I have tools and skills.

Tom:

Since you are from Vienna which the WOD runs through, did you get off of the C&O to transfer to the WOD and, if so, where, since the Whites Ferry is not operating?

No sir, I did not exit the C and O.
I went in to Georgetown then up Martha Curtis trail (rte 66) to W and OD.
But I DID consider coming across Point of Rocks..
While I have used Whites Ferry in the last, as you stated, it’s not an option now.
PoR, 15 into Leesburg is the only other choice and 15 is really narrow to share with cars and trucks.

Tom:

Since you are from Vienna which the WOD runs through, did you get off of the C&O to transfer to the WOD and, if so, where, since the Whites Ferry is not operating?

Tom - What a great trip report. Thanks for sharing it with this forum.

You must be stoked to get going on your XC trip, DC to SF. Sounds like a little C&O, TransAmerica and….Western Express? Intriguing route! We’d love to hear about your adventure if you don’t mind sharing.

John

@Rivnuts: I think I answered your question about White’s Ferry.
@John: yea.. I’m stoked and nervous while I gather up my gear. Soon, I’ll post. Link to the Alz.org site that will allow updates and donations if folks want. I decided to let someone else do some thinking for me, so I’m following AdvCycle TAT and W Express.. yes. Look, I do like the C&O nd GAP, but.. I want smooth asphalt, as much as possible.
And their routes are proven and tested.
Thanks for the encouragement.
I’m not the oldest here, but I’m no spring chicken either, having qualified for the Federal Parks Senior pass.

Tom:

I'm envious of your impending TAT ride albeit I don't think I'd be confident enough to do it solo. I look forward to the link to Alz.org and your experience. I rode the Natchez Trace with a retired Air Force officer from the DC area that was prepping to do that same ride. At the conclusion of this TAT he sent a summary of his trip. He said it was all he had hoped it would be especially meeting all the kind and generous people along the route. I trust you will have a similar and safe experience.

Curiously, how many days do you plan for the trip to take?

This may show up several times.. not sure what’s going on.. I’m doing something wrong on this otherwise awesome site.Anyway, congrats on doing the Natchez Trace!
I’m allowing for as much as 70 days but am targeting 60.
I know there are a few hills between Virginia and San Francisco.
The url might be hanging up my responses, but if you go to Alz dot Org slash Ride and look for Spokes Series, you will see my activity.
Toms Cross Country

The Trip Planner tool now has a new "Timeline" feature. You can provide your starting time and travel speed, to get a listing of the expected times of arrival at each town along your route, as well as travel times between towns.

Your timeline appears in a new table underneath the business listings. You can check it out by clicking the link above, or "Trip Planner" in the menu near the top of this web page.

Happy trails!

Ray:

Thanks for adding this new trip planning tool. Having worked with it for a little while, it appears to be quite useful in the breadth and depth of the information you can select to see in one's planning process. It must have taken a fair bit of effort to develop and test this new tool. Of course you can use it for the other trails you support as well.

Now, if you could only plug in the days and times that it will rain or snow along the way, that would be perfect. :-)

Oh yes. Very nice enhancements!

Today the GAP website reports the following:

"Intermittent Closures in Cedar Creek Park (GAP Mile 110) Partially Obstructed: Intermittent closures in Cedar Creek Park; expect brief delays during daylight hours."

Would anyone know the exact location that the Renner Sky Ferry came across the Yough. Both on the Sutersville side and the Smithdale side.

I do not know the answer to your question. I'm sure you have Googled the Renner Ferry Company and seen the one photograph that pops up although it does not reveal the location where the ferry crossed the river.

There are some other photos of that ferry on the Historic Pittsburgh website that might provide some clues as to its location. These photos were taken from the Frank B. Fairbanks Jr. rail transportation collection.

https://historicpittsburgh.org/islandora/search/catch_all_fields_mt%3A%28Renner%20Ferry%29

Inasmuch as Smithdale is located in Elizabeth Township you might be able to find your answer at the following:

The Elizabeth Township Historical Society
5811 Smithfield Street
Boston, PA 15135

412-754-2030
https://www.familytreetracer.com/ETHSpage.htm

Next time I ride the GAP to West Newton through Smithdale and Sutersville I'll keep my eyes open for any local residents of those communities and ask your question.

I rode out to Smithdale and Sutersville today. No one on either side of the river had heard of the Renner Ferry. I found no signs or markings on either side locating the ferry. The only thing I saw that could be related to that ferry were two old concrete foundation piers on the east side of the trail about 1/4 mile south of 1st Street (aka Mars Hill Rd). They are about 10 feet apart with a bench now resting between. These piers could have been to support the cable car receiving platform shown in the old photos. Whether these were, in fact, for that cable ferry Is uncertain.

Also, from the old photos, there are some buildings visible in the background on the Sutersville side. I need to go back there and look for these buildings or remnants thereof and look for any similar piers on the banks of the river.

I rode back to Sutersville yesterday to see if I could identify/locate the houses on the Sutersville side of the river shown in the historical photos of the cable ferry. There is a red building that has been reroofed with new siding that looks like the one in old photo. Some of the background looks the same as well. All that said, I believe the ferry came up at the base of the road down to the river between that red house and the present playground there in Sutersville.

I’d still like to find an old-timer (like me) to confirm or correct this observation.

My previous observations must be in error insofar as I saw today a sign for the Renner Cable Ferry at the west end of Smithdale where Smithdale Road previously crossed the trail before being closed.

I’m on the trail now. Stopped at Pigmans Ferry for a break and a truck came up. Two workers came out and let me now they were installing handles all the way from Paw Paw to Cumberland. Not sure the status of the pumps on the other side of the tunnel. I’ll keep you posted

Great news as I prepare to make the trip soon. I look forward to any future updates about water availability and detours. Hope the remainder of your trip goes well.

In addition to Pigman's Ferry that Jlacho49 reports, the C&O site lists the following as now being on as well. As stated there may be even more as well as the Canal crews continue to install handles.

On Purslane Run Campsite (MM 156.9)
On Town Creek (MM 162)
On Potomac Forks (MM 165)

Nice one.
I'm leaving Pittsburgh on Sunday morning.
Going to try and slow down a bit this time. I need to smell the roses more. ??

Sunday's weather in the 'Burgh is forecast to be a little brisk with an overnight low Saturday night of 36 and a high for the day of 49. The forecasts for Monday and Tuesday are about the same albeit with a 50% chance of some showers on Monday during the day and the night.

Depending on when you leave town, I may see you along the way.

Good luck.

That would be great to see you on the trail. Booked in at the GapTrail camp ground for Sunday night. The thought of a hot shower sounded too good.
Yes the weather looks brisk.

Monday’s forecast has deteriorated. The forecast is now a 90% chance of 1/2” of rain during the day and a 60% chance of rain followed by snow showers that night. If it gets too miserable on the trail, you could bail out in Connellsville, either indoor or in the Adirondack shelters there.

Yep. I saw that. Hopefully I can get to Ohiopyle, as I have reserved a Yurt there.Fingers crossed.

I'll be heading out from Pittsburgh around 6am, straight off the train from Toledo

There are a couple of places to eat breakfast in the large Waterfront shopping area in Homestead through which the trail passes. There is an Eat n Park restaurant and a McDonald’s there. That’s about an hour out of town albeit maybe longer in the dark.

I’ve got to take daughter to airport for an early morning flight so you’ll likely make it to Homestead before I get back. I’ll be in an orange jacket and white helmet should we cross paths toward West Newton.

Probably been asked a gazillion times, but....
Looking for a safe secure place to store bike while I visit some attractions, museums etc.

DC is a bike friendly city.

There are bike racks to lock your bike to at many of the individual Smithsonian museum buildings.

My son-in-law who lived in DC until recently offered the suggestion below as well.

”One option is to tip a hotel luggage storage person and ask if he could store the bike in the temporary luggage storage at the hotel - get a claim ticket like a suitcase. I’ve done that before even at hotels that I wasn’t staying at.”

My son-in-law who lived in DC until recently offered the suggestion below as well.

”One option is to tip a hotel luggage storage person and ask if he could store the bike in the temporary luggage storage at the hotel - get a claim ticket like a suitcase. I’ve done that before even at hotels that I wasn’t staying at.”

Thanks. Good tips.
That would be the prefered method as I will have all my bags on the bike.

Does anyone know of any lodging options besides the lockhouses about halfway from Harpers Ferry to Georgetown? There seem to be places available on the south side of the Potomac but no easy way to get there? Any ferries available to take you across?

This isn’t the answer you’re looking for since I, myself, don’t have a good answer to your question. But, an off-the-wall alternative would be to leave the C&O at Harpers Ferry or Brunswick in route to Purcellville, VA and/or Leesburg, VA where lodging is readily available. This would break up the distance between Harper’s Ferry and Washington albeit by completing the trip into Washington on the W&OD Trail. This would require a fair amount of riding on the roads to reach the W&OD Trail and some climbing, particularly getting up out of the Potomac River valley. I’ve ridden from Purcellville to Harper’s Ferry. It is rideable but certainly not for everyone depending on one’s confidence to ride on the roads and their fitness.

As I said, probably not an answer you were hoping for but an option nonetheless. Hopefully, someone in that area can provide you a better solution.

I don't know what might be a reasonable cost for you but I did a quick search on airbnb and see some options around poolesville and seneca that aren't terribly far from the tow path.

24 miles east of Harpers Ferry Is Whites Ferry, cross the Potomac, Leesburg is about 4 miles up route 15. you should be able to secure lodging there.

24 miles east of Harpers Ferry Is Whites Ferry, cross the Potomac, Leesburg is about 4 miles up route 15. you should be able to secure lodging there.

Lenny. The only problem with the Whites Ferry crossing is that the crossing has been shut down for over a year.

It revolves around a property dispute between the landowner on the Virginia side and the ferry operator. The selling of the ferry service to a new owner hasn't budged the dispute.

This is so unfortunate. I used to love crossing the ferry with my bicycle when traveling through the area.

That said, I would cross the Potomac at Brunswick instead of Harpers Ferry. Brunswick is about 7 miles east of Harpers Ferry on the Canal. You still have to travel on roads. Personally I feel that there is less "Death Race 2000" traffic going from Brunswick to Purcelville than Harpers Ferry to Purcelville.

Hello all! Looking for any info you can provide for latest trail conditions. I will be biking from Cleveland, OH to Chesapeake VA starting 10Apr22, and will be taking the the GAP + C&O. Is the Big Savage and PawPaw tunnels open? are Water pumps unlocked yet for the season? thanks again for your insight!

It has been reported that the Big Savage Tunnel will be opened on April 1. I've not seen any indication that the exit of the Paw Paw Tunnel has been reopened obviating the need to take the bypass up and over the tunnel.

The C&O website that all the pumps at hiker/biker campsites along the C&O are currently off.

Remote Water Faucet List

On Fletcher's Cove (MM 3.21)
Off Lock 5 (MM 5)
Off Lock 10 (MM 8.8)
Off Carderock Recreation Area (MM 10.5)
Off Marsden Tract (MM 11.5)
Off Anglers Access (MM 12.2)
On Great Falls Tavern Restrooms (MM 14.3)
Off Swains Lockhouse (MM 16.64)
Off Swains Campground (MM 16.7)
Off Seneca Creek/Rileys (MM 22)
Off Horsepen Branch Campsite (MM 26)
Off Chisel Branch Campsite (MM 30.5)
Off Turtle Run Campsite (MM 34.4)
Off Marble Quarrry Campsite (MM 38.2)
Off Indian Flats (MM 42.4)
Off Calico Rocks Campsite (MM 47.7)
Off Bald Eagle Island Campsite (MM 50.3)
On Lock 34 (MM 61.5)
Off Huckleberry Hill Campsite (MM 62.9)
Off Antietam Creek Campground (MM 69.6)
Off Killiansburg Cave Campsite (MM 75.4)
Off Horseshoe Bend Campsite (MM 79.7)
Off Big Woods Campsite (MM 82.4)
Off Opequon Junction Campsite (MM 90.8)
Off Cumberland Valley Campsite (MM 95.2)
Off Cushwa Basin Restrooms (MM 99.7)
Off Jordan Junction Campsite (MM 101.2)
Off Four Locks Picnic Area (MM 108.9)
Off North Mountain Campsite (MM 109.2)
Off McCoys Ferry (MM 110)
Off Licking Creek Campsite (MM 116)
Off Little Pool Campsite (MM 120.7)
Off White Rock Campsite (MM 126.5)
Off Leopards Mill (MM 129.9)
Off Cacapon Junction (MM 133.6)
Off Indigo Neck (MM 139)
Off Fifteen Mile Creek Campground (MM 140.9)
Off Devils Alley (MM 144.5)
Off Stickpile Hill Campsite (MM 149.3)
Off Sorrel Ridge Campsite (MM 154.1)
Off Arbaugh (MM 155) - Out of Service until further notice.
Off Paw Paw (MM 156)
Off Purslane Run Campsite (MM 156.9)
Off Town Creek (MM 162)
Off Potomac Forks (MM 165)
Off Pigmans Ferry (MM 169)
Off Spring Gap (MM 173)
Off Irons Mountain Campsite (MM 175.4)
Off Evitts Creek Campsite (MM 180)
Off Cumberland Visitor Center (MM 184.5)

I am curious what bike route you are taking from Cleveland to Pittsburgh?

Solid feedback! thank you so much!

Cleveland to Bolivar OH via Ohio-Erie Towpath Canal Trail
--Zoar Valley Trail to Zoarville, OH
--Road/gravel roads to Bowerston OH
--Conotton Creek Trail to Jewett OH
--Road to Steubenville OH
--Pick up the Panhandle trail in WV to Montour trail in PA,
---Connect to Gap trail in Mckeesport.

thats the rough plan!

Thanks again for your help!

JLacho49:

Thanks for that route info from Cleveland especially the Ohio portions as I am quite familiar with the Panhandle and Montour Trails as well as the GAP and C&O. FYI, there are no campsites on the Panhandle Trail aside from stealth camping and only a couple on the Montour Trail in route to McKeesport. Aside from purchasing water, there are virtually no pumps/faucets along the Panhandle and Montour Trails that you will be taking. The first campground on the GAP would be at Dravo Landing which normally has potable well water there. There may also be city water in McKeesport and Boston, PA if it has been turned on by then.

What date do you think you'll hit the GAP at Pittsburgh?
I'll be starting my thru trip to DC 4/17/22.

Kim,
I should be through and into Cumberland by Monday. I’ll report back the trail conditions once I’m done. Good luck!

Thanks. That would be really helpful.
Looking at the 14 day weather forecast, it looks like rain for my first 3 days.
Enjoy your trip.

What’s the latest and greatest with the Paw Paw tunnel? Can you bike through? Or do you still have to bike-a-bike over the mountain? I’ve visited the website, but it doesn’t seem like it’s been updated lately. Anyone been through this year yet?

Thanks I’m advance!
-Jake-

If you don’t hear from a rider that’s been through that area recently you should be able to get confirmation of the status of that area by contacting the National Park Service at 301-739-4200 itself or one of the local lodging options in Paw Paw.

I just heard back from a C&O employee and there are no changes in 2022. The tunnel status is the same as last summer. It’s technically “open” but the downstream side is closed and they recommend the detour up and over the hill to bypass the bad parts of the rock fall.

That said, many have gone through and carefully negotiated the debris after you exit the tunnel, most of which you will be walking your bike over. The risk, besides rocks falling on you, is that it’s so muddy and impassable that you have to do a 180 and go back through the tunnel to reach the detour. That will at be an hour of wasted time minimum. You can attempt it but be prepared to have to turn back. Like Rivnuts said, as you are 10 miles or so from the tunnel, ask approaching riders what they did. Did you ride through or take the detour? If the majority say they went though then you know its a relatively easy pass. That’s what I experienced last summer when I went through.

The person that I spoke to added that they are hoping the project gets completed by the end of 2022 but no guarantees so this whole summer riding season will see the detour question appear again.

Good luck.

The GAP Trail website added the following two new trail alerts today:

Slope Repair Near Frostburg (GAP Mile 11) Partially Obstructed: Work will begin in early April and is scheduled to last for two or three weeks, depending on weather conditions.


Resurfacing in Ohiopyle State Park (GAP Mile 86) Partially Obstructed: The GAP remains open during resurfacing, but travel cautiously and watch for construction vehicles. Be prepared to stop.

Trying to help put together a trip on the C&O for a Boy Scout Troop.

They have done it before, but I can not remember the name of one of the camp sites that you can drive to.

As I recall it has like 6 camp sites and a small bridge to walk over to get to the sites. You did need to pay to use the sites.

Plan:
Cumberland (YMCA)
Paw Paw campsite
????
Brunswick Family Camp Ground
Swains Lock

Thanks;

Gary

There are reservable, pay-to-stay camp sites that you can drive to between Paw Paw and Brunswick at Fifteen Mile Creek, Fort Frederick, McCoys Ferry and Antietam Creek. The latter two are roughly mid way between Paw Paw and Brunswick. However, I’m not certain that either match your description. Perhaps, locate them using the satellite view in Google Maps to see if either look familiar.

Today the GAP website reports:

The resurfacing and culvert repair project between Connellsville and Whitsett (GAP Mile 90) is complete and a new trail surface welcomes travelers.

Is the trail to Dravo open now?

As far as I know it is open. It was late last year when I last rode out that way. The trail to Dravo Landing was closed for a major sewer replacement for several months but was reopened last spring.

I rode from Homestead, PA to West Newton today passing through Buena Vista and by Dravo Landing in route. Indeed the trail is open following the adjacent sewer line replacement project completed last year. The trail was in good shape especially given the time of year and recent rainfall.

I rode from Homestead, PA to West Newton today passing through Buena Vista and by Dravo Landing in route. Indeed the trail is open following the adjacent sewer line replacement project completed last year. The trail was in good shape especially given the time of year and recent rainfall.

Looking for a good campground close to mile 0.

If you are referring to Mile Marker 0 of the GAP in Cumberland, I would recommend the YMCA there. It’s maybe a mile away from Canal Place in Cumberland where the GAP mile markers begin counting. It’s a pay-for-stay site but you have access to the YMCA facilities, notably the showers, and there is a small covered pavilion if you encounter inclement weather there.

If you are referring to Milepost 0 of the C&O in Washington, i am not aware of any campsites nearby. The last camp site on the C&O approaching DC is at Swain’s Lock which is around 17 miles from Milepost 0.

Perhaps someone local to DC can offer additional insight into camping areas around DC.

I hope this answers your question.

From the GAP website today:

"Somerset County will open the Big Savage Tunnel for the season the afternoon of Friday, April 1. Take caution while biking or hiking near the tunnel as the limestone trail surface will remain soft from melting snow and lingering winter temperatures at that altitude."