C&O / GAP Forum

Looking for suggestions for a ride late April on the passage. Looked at the possibility of taking the train from Cumberland to Connellsville and riding back with a stop in Rockwood. Also would be interested in any feed back on out and back rides totaling about 50 miles.
Thanks for your response,
David Beier

The itinerary you described is a nice, doable trip and leaves time each day for sidebar adventures if you choose. Note, the train arrives in Connellsville around 10:00 pm. If you want a challenge, you can ride up the hill from Cumberland to the Eastern Continental Divide. That’s about 23 miles and the return trip back down the hill to Cumberland is quite easy. You could make your way up to Frostburg for a snack or bite to eat. Note, it is fairly steep up to Frostburg. Meyersdale to Confluence and back is around 50 miles round trip with nice small towns on either end and passes through Rockwood and the Pinkerton Tunnel. Just my thoughts.

Bike riders travel on their stomachs, so you might plan around places to eat. These are just places we ate that I'd recommend for hungry riders. There are lots of other choices, but we enjoyed these. Plan accordingly. :)

Crabby Pig in Cumberland. Not amazing, but nice patio, and you can park your bikes where you can see them.

Cafe Mark in Cumberland for breakfast. Nice heavy breakfast before that ride up to the Continental Divide.

Toasted Goat in Frostburg. Good food, good service, awesome old hotel you can poke around in. Worth the climb up from the trail.

Frostburg to Meyersdale would be a sweet little ride, with the divide and bridges and tunnels and windwills.

Fran's Bar in Meyersdale. Such a dive. Have a beer and a burger with friendly locals.

Mill Shops in Rockwood. Cool old building and history. Inexpensive and delicious pizzas and ice cream.

Mitch's Food & Fuel in Confluence. So good. Nice bike parking.

Kickstand Kitchen in Connellsville. Good bike parking, sweet owner, really good food.

We spent the night in Buena Vista, and dinner at the country club was really good and also inexpensive. It's a pretty tough ride from the trail, so you'd only eat there if you were wrapping up the day there, not jumping off the trail for lunch.

Gary's Chuckwagon and the bakery next door in West Newton. Just what you'd expect. Perfect rider food.

Yough Twister in Sutersville for ice cream. They had a long menu, but we only had ice cream.

I know PGH locals can get it all the time, but Primanti's in Homestead had easy trail access and good bike parking. I had the biggest most amazing steak sandwich ever there.

Over the Bar Bicycle Cafe in Pittsburg had hearty food and a bike rack.

Like I said, plenty of other choices. Those are just the one I can personally vouch for. As always, check with them ahead of time to see if they will be open on the day you are there.

Wow Bill. You've hit a lot of the haute cuisine locations along the trail. You've also identified a few that I've not wandered into over the years.

I'd add Morguen Tool for dinner and the GI Dayroom Coffee Shop for breakfast in Meyersdale. I'd add Lenora's in Perryopolis for dinner albeit you may need a reservation and a clean set of casual clothes.

Duke's Upper Deck Cafe in Homestead has the old steel mill feel about it from the yesteryear when the largest steel mill in the US was in Homestead. The Trailside Inn in West Newton is another decent option there.

Just note you'll have to ride a lot of hard miles to burn off all those calories consumed along the way not to mention ignoring your cholestorol count for awhile. :-)

Oh, yes, I only eat the finest food in the classiest places. Ha!

I have heard good things about both of those places in Meyersdale. We decided to hit the dive closest to the trail. :) It was sprinkling rain and we weren't in the mood for exploration.

For Lenora's, I think she publishes the dress code on her site. We weren't compliant, so we went to Randall's, another example of haute cuisine. Lenora's is a steep climb from the trail and I think she only does dinner.

When you're riding the trail, you gotta stay well fed so your body can recover! We will lose any weight gained when we get back to regular life!

In Meyersdale, I stayed at the Maple Festival Park Campground to shower up.
Right across the street is Donges Drive-In which is a diner. Pretty good food and super cheap prices, breakfast, lunch, or dinner and they have ice cream.

Because other cyclists were at the campground, I just left my bike there in the band shell (where I ended up putting my tent) and just walked over but I could have locked up if I wanted. It’s nice not to have to walk far after the grind up the continental divide! : )

Bill, a couple places we like are the Trailside which is expectedly just beside the trail in West Newton above maybe the best bike shop around.

Also just behind the Yough Twister is a nice place called Driscolls owned by the same people. While the GAP trail from Boston goes away from places, you can cross the bridge and take a parallel trail on the other side of the river. We like a place called Puzzlers which is about 2 miles from the bridge. They have a bike rack right off the trail, and a huge outside dining area. My wife loves their chicken salad made Pittsburgh style with french fries and cheese. The trail then connects back to the GAP at the 15th St. bridge in McKeesport.

There's a place very close to where we live called Muddy Waters. We don't go there much because it's too close by, but the food is pretty good and it's just a short distance off the trail.

See the message below that has been posted on the GAP Trail website.

"The Big Savage Tunnel will open for the season on Friday, April 9, 2021, according to Somerset County officials. This is a week later than anticipated, since deep snow remains on the Great Allegheny Passage at both ends of the tunnel; temperatures have not yet warmed sufficiently like they have in Pittsburgh or in Washington, D.C., and the tunnel is not yet safely or easily accessible.

Crews from Somerset County and Somerset County Recreation and Trails Association close Big Savage Tunnel each winter to protect the tunnel from cold winds and repeated freeze-thaw cycles that threaten to damage and fell its lining."

This is the good news.

The bad news previously reported is that the C&O Towpath just north of the Paw Paw Tunnel is and will remain closed through 2021 requiring through travellers to use the "up-and-over" detour. Also, the 9-mile portion of the GAP from Port Vue to Buena Vista that has been closed for sewer installation will not reopen until April 30 or perhaps later.

From the Great Allegheny Passage website:

This morning, Somerset County announced that it will close the Big Savage Tunnel for the winter on Friday, December 4. It seals up both tunnel entrances each winter to protect the lining of the tunnel from damage related to annual freeze-thaw cycles during the coldest months of the year. The tunnel will re-open no later than Friday, April 2, 2021. There is no recommended detour since the tunnel is surrounded by private property and local roads are narrow.

The GAP website has posted the message below regarding the scheduled date for reopening the Big Savage Tunnel for the 2021 season. Note the Paw Paw Tunnel will remain closed this year.

"The Big Savage Tunnel will open for the season on Friday, April 9, 2021, according to Somerset County officials. This is a week later than anticipated, since deep snow remains on the Great Allegheny Passage at both ends of the tunnel; temperatures have not yet warmed sufficiently like they have in Pittsburgh or in Washington, D.C., and the tunnel is not yet safely or easily accessible.

Crews from Somerset County and Somerset County Recreation and Trails Association close Big Savage Tunnel each winter to protect the tunnel from cold winds and repeated freeze-thaw cycles that threaten to damage and fell its lining."

My husband and I are hoping to ride the GAP and C&O this spring. What kind of tires (size) do you recommend with the dirt surface? Thank you for any advice.

If you ever ridden a crushed limestone rail trail, pretty much any tire will work maybe perhaps not those super skinny racing tires. The GAP is all rail trail and is 80% crushed limestone and 20% paved asphalt. The C&O is part mule path dirt and part crushed limestone.

Of course no one can account for rain, the C&O can get quite muddy even a day or two after rain.

Just to follow John W’s remarks and specific to your question, you can ride the GAP in 28mm road or hybrid tires in all but the worst of weather, albeit wider is always generally more comfortable. As John notes, the C&O Towpath is a mixed bag of surfaces and conditions and vulnerability to rain. If you plan to ride the entire length, in all but the driest of weather, I’d recommend a minimum 32mm tires and maybe even 35’s. Knobby tires would be good except, perhaps, on the paved WMRT if you choose to ride it, where road tires would be sufficient. In the worst sections under the worst of conditions, a fat bike would be much appreciated. :-)

Fortunately, recent resurfacing of the C&O between Shepherdstown and Edward’s Ferry has improved a significant portion of the C&O.

Not to be a wet blanket, and I would never contradict Rivnuts, but we rode the part of the C&O just outside of Cumberland a few days after a rain, and it was still a mud bog in places. The day after a rain, it would have been nearly nonstop soupy mud. I don't know what tires you personally would choose for that.

GAP is rideable on any hybrid or mountain bike, as it is nearly entirely really nice gravel.

There's no contradiction with Bill from Houston whatsoever. AAs Bill notes the worst part of the C&O in wet weather in my opinion is from Cumberland to Spring Gap and even on to Little Orleans. As I mentioned, under wet conditions a fat bike would be the biker's best friend.

Given the sewer construction on the GAP between Port Vue and Buena Vista, we'll have to see if the trail restoration work returns the surface to its preconstruction condition which was quite good.

I rode the section of the trail from Boston to Greenock (Twele Road) this afternoon. The good news is that the trail itself was not excavated for the sewer as the sewer runs along side the trail and not in it. The bad news is that the trail has been used for construction traffic and, as noted by others, it is rough as a cob. Hopefully the trail surface is leveled and returned to its original condition or better.

Just a reminder below about the multi-month closure of a section of the GAP Trail outside Pittsburgh.

OCT 30 2020 | Winter Construction to Close 10-Mile Section near Boston

The Regional Trail Corporation, which owns and manages significant sections of the Great Allegheny Passage between Homestead and Connellsville, announced that it will close the GAP to all travelers between mile marker 120.9 (the Buena Vista trail access area and parking lot) and mile marker 131.1 (where the GAP crosses Liberty Way in Port Vue, near McKeesport), beginning November 16, 2020.

This closure is planned to last for five months – at least until April 15, 2021, and perhaps slightly longer depending on winter weather and the progress of contractors. There is no posted or easy detour, as nearby roads are hilly and narrow. We will keep www.gaptrail.org updated on progress as we receive updates from the Regional Trail Corporation.

This closure will allow contractors deployed by Elizabeth Township to install municipal sewer lines underneath the GAP for approximately nine miles. Long-term benefits include the replacement or repair of culverts that divert stormwater runoff under the GAP, and a complete trail resurfacing between Boston and Buena Vista.

Our best advice to thru-riders, aside from shortening your trip, is to arrange a shuttle between McKeesport and Buena Vista. The following businesses may be able to serve you: Bill’s Car Service (412-855-4484), Wilderness Voyagers (800-272-4141), or 2 Wheel Escapes (240-674-7626).

As of this morning, the portion of the GAP from Port Vue to Boston is open. Conversely there is indeed a Trail Closed sign on the trail leaving Boston toward Dravo Cemetery.

Two announcements were posted on the GAP website on 2/22/21. At first they both appeared to be the same as those posted on 11/25/20 and 10/30/20 pertaining to the closures of the Paw Paw Tunnel and a 10-mile section of the GAP Trail respectively.

The new post regarding the Paw Paw Tunnel closure appears to be the same as the announcement last fall of its closure until mid-2022 and the arduous detour up and over the tunnel. At first glance the new post regarding the closure of the 10-mile section of the GAP Trail also appears to be the same as the earlier announcement. There is one subtle difference however. The original post indicated that that section would be closed "at least until April 15 2021". The latest post states that it will be closed "at least until late April 2021". This subtle change suggests that the work on this trail section is somewhat behind the original schedule. Perhaps the recent snows in the Pittsburgh area have impacted winter construction.

It would be well advised for those planning an early May trip to monitor the GAP website for any updates about the reopening of that trail section.

do you know if they will replace the surface of the trail from Boston to Buena Vista with crushed limestone? It seems to me that that surface takes a long time to "settle". Any chance they might replace it with asphalt?

Rick:

I don't know the answer to your question at this time but have made inquiries to the Regional Trail Council and GAP Trail information site about the restoration and resurfacing specifications following completion of the sewer line. Being in Greenock you surely have a birdseye view of that sewer work and the amount of excavation going on.

The method of restoration is quite important. The trail surface through that area was generally very good as you know in all but the wettest of times and even then soft but quite rideable. In some earlier forum string someone observed that the GAP Trail is generally much better than the C&O Towpath in wet weather because its origin was a railroad rather than an earthen path. Railroads typically have a substantial stone/gravel subbase which allows very good drainage beneath the surface. The excavations for the new sewer line are likely deep and may well have disturbed or removed the gravel/stone subbase. If so, I would hope they would return that material rather than simply backfill with compacted soil and then spread stone dust on top. We'll see what the response to my inquiry is. You may be able to see what they are doing as well.

With a good and properly installed subbase and surface layer, the resultant stone trail would be nearly as good, if not better, than asphalt paving in the long run. The restored section of the C&O Towpath that followed good restoration practices has been a noteworthy improvement thus far.

Asphalt paving deteriorates over time as Pennsylvania roads confirm. If the surface heaves or roots grow beneath the paving the asphalt can become rather uncomfortable. For example, the paved section of the WMRT that parallels the C&O Towpath that approaches Hancock is almost painful to ride.

We tried to ride from Boston to Greenock this week with the nice dry weather. It was nearly impassible, but I can't see that any effort has been made thus far to restore the trail itself. There are still sections of sewer line to be installed and a steady stream of tri-axle trucks heading up the trail toward Buena Vista. As there is no road access between us and Buena Vista, they are using the trail itself as the road. They have placed a large quantity of heavy rock on the trail to make it passible for the trucks which will have to be removed before proper restoration. In all, I think that their April 15 end date is a pipe dream (NPI).

So instead of being able to ride out or our back yard onto the trail, we have to do like everyone else and transport our bikes to a passible section.

Unfortunately the GAP website now states that the trail will be closed "at least to April 30 and perhaps longer". As for the trucks driving on the trail, at least we know the trail will be well compacted. The good news is that the placement of the large stone for them to drive on could be the start of a good, well-draining subbase.

Living in Homestead I am fortunate not to have to drive to a remote trailhead to pickup the trail. However, the views along the trail are not as nice or green as further out your way and beyond. Soon I am going to ride out to Boston and then try to ride up Greenock Buena Vista Road and bypass the construction to Buena Vista.

Update on the GAP trail from Boston to Buena Vista. My wife and I biked the section from Boston to our house (about 2 miles last week. It is very rough, but passable. Past us going to Buena Vista is nearly impassible, so we walked about 2.5 miles to mile post 124. For locals, this is where the Yough bends and they placed to benches there and there is probably the best view around. Also, the bald eagle nest is about 200 yds away from the benches. We didn't see any eagles. I'm guessing they are sitting on the eggs right now.

Back to the trail. There is still about 300 yds of pipe to be placed on the section we walked. Until it is placed, they can't start to renovate the trail surface. 3-4 brave souls had their mountain bikes and gave us updates passed where we turned around. the trail is very rough from Greenock to Dravo Cemetery, but gets better after that. Based on the progress made thus far, I can't see this getting done by the end of April.

Going from Boston toward Pittsburgh is also rough, but the trail is paved from Dead Man's Hollow which is about 0.75 from Boston.

Rick: Here's the response by the Regional Trail Council to your question about restoration/resurfacing of the trail following completion of the sewer installation project:

"It will all be resurfaced basically the same as it was previously, the drainage issues will also be corrected."

This doesn't identify the actual engineering specifications for the restoration but implies that it will be returned to its previous condition or better. I trust that will be the case. If the base and surface layers are properly compacted, the settlement should be minimal but I frankly would expect it will take a period of time for the stone dust to fully fill the voids remaining beneath following compaction.

Planning a west to east bike ride late Sept - mid Oct . Really dont want to book rooms in advance .Want to be flexible to enjoy the history. Will rooms be avaiable on daily basis ?

I don’t see any problems with snagging lodging late Sept-mid Oct. Trail traffic will have slowed down by then and students are back in school. My only suggestion might be to book the evening before or morning of arrival just to be sure.

I don't have much insight into bookings that time of year. I would defer to John W's remarks. I would add that last minute bookings in Ohiopyle might be problematic in that there aren't many options and it is a very popular fall destination for other than bikers, especially if the weather is nice.

In addition to Rivnuts comments on Ohiopyle, late sept-mid oct window might be leaf peeping season so while the GAP/C&O will see less bike traffic than during the summer, the trail towns could see lots of car traffic with people booking up hotels. Ohiopyle would 100% be a place that could happen. Not a guarantee but something to keep in mind.

I think most hotels give 72 hours to cancel with no penalty but I also realize your desire to be flexible and just go at your own pace so it’s kind of a game you have to play to do what’s needed.

Maybe just book something in Ohiopyle with the option to cancel?

I don't know if this has been reported here but the low bridge has been set up again so you can make it all the way through the Frederick County, MD section of the C&O. I don't know when they did it as I've been heading the other direction from Brunswick or riding on the trainer due to the snow...

I was planning a few day trip along the C&O trail in the next couple weeks and I was trying to plan out water sources. From my understanding they do not place the handles on the numerous wells until April. For those who have travelled this trail before, can you chime in if there are naturally occurring water sources along the way? Filtering water is not a problem, nonexistent water sources could pose a problem. I plan on starting out near Cumberland and heading east. Thanks in advance for any information.

The C&O parallels the Potomac pretty much all the way. You might have to wait until you reach the hiker/biker sites to get easy access to the shoreline. I know you cross Catoctin Creek east of Brunswick, MD. Not sure of other active streams but I’m sure there are some.

Most of the convenience stores in the towns along the trail are open if you choose to go that route.

Good luck.

Hello,

I am planning to do a one way trip with a friend from DC to Pittsburgh on the C&O Canal Trail + Great Allegheny Passage, but will need to rent a bike for my friend.

Are there any rental companies that offer one way rentals that start in DC and end in Pittsburgh?

- David

I don’t have any knowledge of bike rental shops in DC. However, there are bike rental shops in Pgh that rent bikes one way to DC, so they must have a means of getting them back to Pgh which means possibly one way rentals back to the ‘Burgh.

Golden Triangle Bike Rentals is the first that comes to mind. You might want to contact them at 412-600-0675 or check out their website for more info if you don’t find what you are looking for in DC.

Thanks for the pointer. In case anyone stumbles on this later...I got in touch with Golden Triangle Bike Rentals, and they said that they do not offer pickups in DC (only bike drop-offs).

Thanks for the pointer. In case anyone stumbles on this later...I got in touch with Golden Triangle Bike Rentals, and they said that they do not offer pickups in DC (only bike drop-offs).

Rode GAP last year sections at a time, and am hoping to ride C&O sections starting March 2021. I found a site with some ferry and visitor center closures and some high water warnings for the canal. Looking for information on the trail conditions and recommendations of a area to start ( I’ll find an Airbnb) to ride about 20 miles each way and back on gravel bikes in March.

Option 1: Start in Little Orleans and ride the paved Western Maryland Rail Trail (WMRT) that parallels and is within site of the C&O Towpath itself. The paved WMRT is maybe 23 or 24 miles long. You can stop in Hancock which is about half way along the route. You could then ride back along the natural Towpath itself back to Little Orleans.

Option 2: Start in Shepherdstown and ride to Brunswick and back. Nice trail surface with places to visit and park on either end. That trip is a little less than 20 miles but if you go across the river into Shepherdstown itself, then you'd be at 20 or a little more.

Option 3: Start at White's Ferry and ride to Great Falls. This is a tad over 20 miles each way with places to park on both ends and with interesting sites at each, assuming the ferry resumes operation.

The trail conditions from Shepherdstown to Edwards Ferry are quite good even in rainy weather. The balance of the Towpath is what it is especially in wet weather.

Others will no doubt have other suggestions or favorites for a ride of that length. Lastly, I would avoid the Paw Paw Tunnel area of the trail unless you want to use your gravel bikes for mountain biking of the detour over the closed tunnel path.

Thank you very much! I like all three options and will undoubtedly do all over time! I’ve already started looking for a safe place to rent.

In Little Orleans the Town Hill B&B was a nice place to stay, or it was 3 or 4 years ago when I was there. The Owner/Operator (Dave) was older and was selling the place to his daughter. It is a way up and off the trail but they had a trailer and came down to 15-Mile Creek to pick us and our bikes up.

I know there is a large, resort-like hotel in Shepherdstown. I'm sure there are some quaint places to stay there as well.

At Whites Ferry you'll probably have to go the 5 or so miles to Leesburg to find a place to stay. The old portion of Leesburg might be an interesting place to look to stay. I've stayed in some of the chain hotels in the newer part of town there as well but they weren't anything special.

I'm sure with more research such as what you are doing, you can find some decent places stay near those places.

Thank you. Although I often stay in hotels and B&Bs, due to the pandemic, I will be staying in a rental property hopefully within a few miles of the trail.

I would use Harpers Ferry as your base and go east and west. They trail is improved there and you’ll have good chance of finding a rental in HF.

My wife and I have done all of the GAP trail in sections. We are looking to do a 30 mile trip to Harper's Ferry this spring. The plan would be to park at a point on the trail, bike to Harper's Ferry, stay the night, then ride back the next day. Are we better off coming from the east or the west? That looks like either Downsville or White Ferry. Any advice on this would be appreciated along with any recommendations about where to stay once we get there.
Thanks.

That's an interesting question. Your 30-mile limit changes my first choice. If the Whites Ferry resumes service before then, one option would be to start there and maybe cross the river on the ferry and then head west to Harpers Ferry which would be around 30 miles. However, I'm not sure where you would overnight park on the Virginia side of the river. You may be able to overnight park at the park on the Maryland side but you should confirm that is ok with someone from that area. This trip would pass through Point of Rocks and Brunswick in route to Harpers Ferry. If you've not been to Brunswick before, I would recommend stopping at the Beans in the Belfry Cafe for a light meal or coffee and a pastry. Its a rather unique setting in that the owner's converted a small, old church into the cafe.

My first choice would be ride east from Williamsport to Harpers Ferry passing through Shepherdstown. However, this is a longer ride of about 37 miles one way. Williamsport offers more options and overnight parking availability than Whites Ferry. But the main reason I would prefer this direction is that Shepherdstown is one of my favorite near-trailside towns. Its a quaint little old town and home of Sherherdstown University. Lots of nice little shops along the main street including, you guessed it, a cafe with coffee, pastries and ice cream. It is a mile or so upgrade ride from the trail across the bridge over the river, past the University and into town but easily done with decent gearing once you get up to the bridge from the trail.

Others may have different thoughts for different reasons. I can't offer any lodging options in Harpers Ferry. I've only overnighted there once in a B&B in town. It was marginal at the time as it was undergoing renovations. I'm not sure it even still exists as that was 3 or 4 years ago. As you probably know, you'll have to carry your bikes and gear up the spiral stairs up to the railroad/pedestrian bridge to get from the trail over the river to Harpers Ferry. I've done it several times but it may not be your cup of tea.

PS: The trail surface improvements from Shepherdstown east to Edwards Ferry make that portion of the C&O Towpath quite nice to ride now.

Thanks Rivnuts. We are very familiar with the GAP, but not the C&O, so this helps a lot.
Rick

This is somewhat GAP related. Currently, there is local trail that goes from Weirton, WV to Walkers Mill, PA. A proposed 2.27 mile extension would be on an abandoned rail line and would extend it from Walkers Mill to Carnegie, PA.

https://nextpittsburgh.com/latest-news/carnegie-borough-seeks-public-input-on-a-proposed-2-27-mile-extension-of-the-panhandle-trail/

If you live in the area or use the trail, there is a “Letters will be accepted” link in the article to provide feedback and tell the Borough of Carnegie how much you’d like to see this extension happen. You can do so through the end of March.

This has been considered one of the easier and more straightforward extensions out there in this area.

After this extension is in place, this would leave one final missing link...Carnegie to Pittsburgh. Local advocates think some sort of protected sidewalk on the Port Authority West Busway could get riders safely from Carnegie to Carson St in Pittsburgh and connect to the GAP. Others have suggested building a trail alongside Chartiers Creek all the way to the Ohio River. There also appear to be some rail lines coming out of Carnegie heading towards the Ohio River but I do not know if they are active or abandoned.

This second extension of the Panhandle would be much trickier of course but we have to take victories when you get them!

Many people who use the C&O/GAP on cross country trips often find it hard to get between Pittsburgh and West VirginIa and this extension, while not a total solution, brings this reality one step closer.

John

Unfortunately a safe, tour bike route from Carnegie to Pittsburgh is not likely to be seen in my remaining lifetime. As John notes the proposed extension of the Panhandle Trail from Walker’s Mill would be a good prelude however.

It’s so sad that there isn’t a workable solution to make this happen. I know it’s not an easy connection but are there any actual plans in place? I’ve don’t believe I’ve seen any. It’s seems like it’s nothing more than a few random ideas being exchanged on various cycling message boards. Like Rivnuts said, it could be years or decades before anything serious is proposed, if ever.

One could bypass Pittsburgh altogether and connect to the Montour Trail at McKeesport but a lot of people like going through Pittsburgh (restaurants, hotels, bike repairs), plus it’s a fun ride in and around the city on the GAP. Others may find the cut through from McKeesport to Clariton to be challenging but certainly not as challenging as getting from Carson St in Pittsburgh to Carnegie.

The primary challenges in linking Downtown Pgh to Carnegie and the Panhandle Trail would appear to be the terrain between the two and the existing infrastructure, i. e. roads. The first is hilly and the latter are narrow and winding. Conquering those two is a major challenge.

One possible solution for bike tourers to get between downtown Pgh and Carnegie would be to take a Port Authority bus, I.e. Route G2 via the west busway, all of which have bike racks. Unloading your gear from the bike and carrying your gear onto the bus would be a pain but can be done. The Pedalshift Project host has explained that plans for a bike tour can incorporate modes of transportation other than the bike to complete or enhance a particular adventure.

Looking to ride approximately 150 Mi of trail.
For myself, my girlfriend, ??(maybe) and others ??(very maybe)
Advise on what could be considered the most scenic & historical points of interest.
Want to camp (improved sites),airbnbs or hotel,known good grub but staying true to the trail route as possible and away from big cities.

Big on list is natural beauty &wildlife viewing.
Avoiding worst time of year for black fly, no seeums and mosquitos.

Thank you in advance for any replies.
Brian

Brian, can you give us a starting city/ending city range? Are you doing the C&O (DC to Cumberland) or the GAP trail? (Cumberland to Pittsburgh)?

I’m sure people here will chime in once we know a few things. Are you flying/driving into DC?

John

With no other info, I would say to just do the GAP. Good trail, 150 miles, nice amenities, good grub.

I have a E-trike. Can I use on trail? Thank you. kenj.

Ken J. - Definitely! The GAP (Cumberland to Pittsburgh) is old rail trail with crushed limestone. You’ll be fine. The C&O (DC to Cumberland) is a little bit trickier. There are some parts that are old mule paths and dirt tracks with grass around them. Not bad but you have to watch for tree roots and rocks. But not all of it is that bad. The Park Service has been adding segments of crushed limestone down to look and feel like a rail trail so progress is being made. But the C&O is a bit rougher in parts.

Don’t forget to divert off to the paved Western Maryland Rail Trail that parallels the C&O for 20+ miles on both sides of Hancock. A nice diversion from the dirt and sometimes mud.

Also, if they get the ferry situation fixed (see the thread here in this forum about that), you could do DC to Leesburg, VA on the paved Washington & Old Dominion Trail, then cross over the Potomac and hop onto the C&O at Whites Ferry, MD. This will add 10 miles but it’s paved (though admittedly not as scenic). The only down side to taking the W&OD is you will miss Great Falls which is nice. On the positive side, you can access all of Leesburgs restaurants and lodging if that’s your thing. It all depends what you value on your trip and your wants and needs.

John

We rode a bit of the C&O Trail near Cumberland. There were stretches that I would call "singletrack", where the trail was about 10 inches wide of dirt, and then there was tall grass on either side. Plus there were some muddy stretches. I'm not sure how well a trike would do with either scenario.

Planning on camping at the Adirondack type shelters just outside Connellsville. Appx. 58 mile day so a shower would feel good. Anyone used the shower at the Comfort Inn Motel? Cost, etc?

Get there early! The Adirondacks fill up quick in summer and I ended up having to put my tent on the grass.

Not sure about hotel costs or shower availability outside of a hotel, I’m sure someone will chime in.

John

A couple of years ago when the now Comfort Inn was the financially-ailing Cobblestone Inn, there were notices posted in the Adirondack shelters that bikers could go there, get a shower and use the Internet for $10. I don’t know if the comfort Inn still offers that opportunity or not. You can call them to see. The place is only a few years old so I would expect things inside to still be suitable for showering and the like. It’s just a short 1/4-mile or so beyond the Adirondack shelters.

If the o fort Inn no longer offers that service, you might want to consider camping at the Uniontown (Connellsville) KOA Campground. While it is primarily a campground for RV’s, there is a nice designated area for tent camping, some with and some without electrical outlets albeit with little shade. However, they have showers, a pool and a gift shop with ice cream and snacks. This KOA is located right on the GAP Trail about 3 miles before you get to the Adirondack shelters in Connellsville. There are no Adirondack shelters per se’ at the KOA but they do have some small, 4- and 6-person log cabins there. I’ve not stayed in any of those cabins but they look ok from the exterior. You’d have to contact them about rates and availability of those cabins. The tent sites are not heavily used so I suspect you would’t need an advance reservation simply to tent there.

Hope this info helps.

Planning on camping at the Adirondack type shelters just outside Connellsville. Appx. 58 mile day so a shower would feel good. Anyone used the shower at the Comfort Inn Motel? Cost, etc?