C&O / GAP Forum

Any tips on the best type of bike for the C&O and Great Allegheny ride? We are planning to ride Pittsburgh to DC and camp along the way.
We have done trips of similar length with our road bikes outfitted with paniers but I am hearing they will work on the GAP but not the C&O portion. Can they work? Any tips would be appreciated.

If you’ve done other rides of similar length, you’ll be fine on the C&O. Some of it is crushed limestone but most of it is old dirt mule paths (like tire tracks). The only time those mule paths get sketchy is after it rains a lot.

You can also connect to the Western Maryland Rail Trail for 27 miles before and after Hancock, MD as it’s paved asphalt. It runs parallel to the C&O and everyone hops on.

I ride a Trek Hybrid but a wide array of bikes are used on the C&O.

If you want to take the time, there are numerous past forum postings discussing bike types, tire sizes, trail conditions and weather related to your question but John W's responses is a reasonable summary thereof.

C&O can get really really muddy. As rivnuts says, this has been discussed many times. Search the forums for "hybrid" and you'll find plenty of old discussions.

** PUBLIC SERVICE POST **
I visited the WMATA "Metro" website to research whether bikes could go on the DC Mass Transit system. Here is what I found out:

Bicycles are welcome on Metrorail during all hours; however, we encourage bicyclists to be considerate of other customers and adhere to these rules when traveling with a bicycle.

>> Bikes are not allowed on crowded railcars. Use good judgment and only board cars that can comfortably accommodate you and your bicycle. The middle cars are usually the most crowded, so consider boarding the first or last car of the train.

>> Do not block aisles or doors of the train.

>> Senior citizens and people with disabilities always have priority. You must make designated seating areas available if needed by another passenger.

>> When boarding the train, use the doors at either end of the railcar - not the center doors.

>> Bicycles may not be carried on escalators. Use elevators only.

I take my bike on the metro all the time. Since COVID the metro is almost empty so lots of room to bring a bike on board. I use to bring my bike regularly before COVID. Back then, I avoided rush hours as much as possible just to be considerate but did not have any issues hopping on a train.

I'm looking for advise to find out if historic sites like Antietam and Harpers Ferry or any others along the way are worth scheduling extra time to stop and explore.

Not looking for someplace "this is interesting," but more along the lines of "This is very worth taking time to see" types of places.

Good example -- Antietam: I read up on it and although a Nat'l Park, I'm not convinced seeing the Cemetery and Dunker Church are well worth the time to stop. If someone advised me that it was "Way cool" then I'd build in the time to stop.

Many thanks in advance! (I'll be riding in late July/Aug)

Others on here are more well versed with local history but a few things I consider “can’t miss” are the following.

Great Falls just outside DC. The water power here is impressive here compared to the rest of the calm Potomac and you’re so close to it you can feel it rumble.

Swim at Ohiopyle State Park. If it’s hot, I always try to get down from the trail and take a swim (or at least soak my feet). You’ll know where to go, as there will be hundreds of people in the Youghiogheny River below you on the GAP trail. You can change your gear in the bathrooms at the Laurel Highlands Information booth after you cross the bridge, you can’t miss it.

Big Savage Overlook. After you exit the big savage tunnel, you get an amazing view of the mountains on your left. This is personally my favorite view on the trail. There are benches to sit and relax. Mason Dixon line is shortly after.

Train depot at Frostburg. Park your bike at the trailhead and walk up the switchbacks to a well preserved train station. There’s also a “Turn Table” where the engines turn around. The Western Maryland Scenic Railway departs from here if your lucky to see it.

From Pittsburgh to McKeesport, note the industrial-ness of what’s around you. Lots of old steel mills and note all of the railroads you be criss-crossing or riding parallel to. I love the rumble of the trains (though not so much the rooting of the horns!).

@John W.
Awesome. All good to know. Remember, I have done the GAP and agree that each of your points of interest are great. I didn't know about the option at Ohiopyle, but I have rafted the Yough! It sounds like a worthwhile stop. Nor did I know about Frostburg and the train depot and turntable. Interesting, because I took a fairly long break at the Trailhead last year.

Same with the Big Savage Tunnel -- it truly is a spectacular view and I had the perfect day last year! Besides, you are now pretty much on a downhill roll into Cumberland. It surprised me that it wasn't a coasting downhill, but pretty much effortless peddling all the way.

Great Falls also looks like a place to take in. Of course, you are talking with a guy who has Niagara Falls in his backyard! LOL You mentioned the falls before and I researched and saw pictures. Very worthwhile I am sure.

>> Another question from my other post about my C&O trip. You mentioned using the WMRT. I downloaded the Trip Planner here and selected campgrounds as follows:

Little Orleans (Fifteen Mile Creek)
Williamsport (Opequon Junction Campsite)
Dickerson (Marble Quarry Campsite)

Each of these are listed as On The Trail. Will I still be able to reach them if I am on the WMRT? I really haven't researched the actual WMRT yet, so apologies if this is rather straightforward. [FYI: I planned a rather short 40 mile day after Little Orleans because of the Paw Paw tunnel detour. If things go well, I may adjust camping places as I travel.]

Thanks again for the good advise!

WNYBubba: Oh wow, you’ve rafted the Yough so you’re familiar with that area! Great swimming river, cool and refreshing.

Your first opportunity to get on the WMRT will be at Fifteen Mile Creek/Little Orleans. So you can start your day on the pavement! This is Mile 140.9 of the C&O.

Look for Bills Place/High Germany Rd. area on the map and the WMRT runs over High Germany Rd. You can take the trail through to Hancock. As your riding, look down the embankment to your right and you will sometimes see (although not always), the C&O Canal below you. The two trails are really that close.

After Hancock, the trail runs for another 9 miles and counts down to its own Mile 0. After you reach Mile Post 1 of the WMRT, be on the lookout for Ernstville Rd. When you see it, take a right off of the trail and onto the road and then look for the dirt path down to the C&O. If you look at Google maps and turn on the Biking mode, you’ll see this connection. This puts you back on the C&O at approx. Mile 114.

Opequan Junction is mile 90.9 so you’ve got 24 or so miles to get there on the C&O.

To answer your question, you’ll be able to reach your campsites no problem, you’ve just taken a parallel route for part of the day (the first 26-27 miles).

Buddy Lou’s restaurant in Hancock is highly rated by traveling cyclists if you’re hungry, definitely a great place to eat.

John

For information there is a fee at the Little Orleans and 15-Mile Creek campgrounds. However, just down the towpath is the Indigo Neck hiker/biker trailside free camp site which still allows good access to the WMRT to continue on to Hancock. (PS: If you find any loose derailleur parts at Indigo Neck they may be mine having lost some in trying to repair my rear derailleur there one evening after a branch jumped up into it and bending it to shreds. :-)

Stop and see Jerry Heil at Taylor’s Landing Rd, near Sharpsburg.
Cool dude.. fair prices of water and drinks.
Wood worker, motorcyclist, general all around good guy.
He’s got a cool little store there right next to the trail and loves to chat!

Planning a Bikepacking weekend on C&O soon. I’m a little unclear on exactly what the status is is with the Paw Paw Tunnel and trail? I read the actual tunnel is “open” but perhaps I still would be forced to take the “bypass trail”? Is this correct? Sites make mention of the bypass trail taking 1-2 hour additional time and wanting to plan my overall day and distance accordingly. Appreciate any current and additional feedback. Thanks!!

Here’s the information source regarding closure of the C&O Towpath at the Paw Paw Tunnel.

https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/pawpaw-closure.htm

Yes you are right Steve. If going from DC to Cumberland, you can enter the tunnel and come out the other side but you won’t go much further as construction will be blocking you just after you exit (not to mention some sheer walls on each side that you can’t go up!).

If going from Cumberland to DC you will not reach the tunnel, just all of the construction with no way to pass it and enter the tunnel.

From what I’ve heard, you’ll be pushing your bike a mile or so up and over the hill. It’s too rough to try and ride it although some may be able to.

Just coincidentally Tim Mooney, the voice of the Pedalshift Project podcast just posted today the first of a three-part series of his recent trip to check out the Paw Paw Tunnel bypass detour. The first part can be found at:

https://youtu.be/eeVxwCpceJI

The first part of his trip in route to the downriver side of the Tunnel from Hancock, MD is the subject of Part 1. He states that Part 2 will be uploaded in two weeks. That Part should provide another and current opinion of the condition of the tunnel bypass detour and his efforts to traverse it.

Just circling back fo thank you all for the very timely and helpful feedback to my question. This forum is a great resource!

From our extensive esearch--this is what I understand: The Cumberland side of the tunnel is open (not the DC side) and you can enter the tunnel from this side (cumberland side) and have a look at the tunnel (? even go all of the way to the end), but the tunnel is blocked on the DC side (so you cannot exit the tunnel). you can go in , have a look and then come back out the cumberland side. from there you need to take an "up and over" trail over the top of the tunnel which seems to come out on the C and O trail about 1/2 mile out from the DC side of the tunnel.

I think you’re right! I had my upstreams and downstreams inverted in my earlier comment. I guess I’ll find out if/when I do Pittsburgh to DC this year.

The confusion may arise because, while generally you are riding from north to south when riding from Pittsburgh to DC, the section through the tunnel is south to north when travelling toward DC.

yes, it took as a while to figure that all out---upstream/ downstream, north/ south.
I'm just so happy we can get a look at the tunnel still. the "up and over" path sounds like an interesting challenge, hopefully that's what I will say about in the moment ;)

Please add your feedback about the tunnel bypass route for others to consider in planning their trip. Understandably, different people will have different observations about it depending on the time, direction, weather, bike and bike load, personal condition, etc. It will be helpful to all of us.

I had to take this trail in the fall of 2017 when the tunnel was closed as well. You are advised to walk the bike both up and down the hill, especially with the load. It is what it is, just be ready for an additional hour or so.

Part 2 of the Pedalshift Project’s recent traverse of the Paw Paw Tunnel bypass trail has now been uploaded to YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1L0X5jYKTc

In this part Tim Mooney describes his recent experience taking his unloaded bike up and over the mountain above the tunnel. His description is very similar to my recollection of that trail although in my case I was fully loaded and it was much warmer and wet. You can take his information into account in planning your trip. Note that Tim is travelling upstream toward Paw Paw during his description.

Great episode. I was surprised to hear there were multiple paths/trails up at the top of the detour...so many that the park service needed to put signs up so people wouldn't get lost!

Tim described the views at the top of the detour as "the best views on the C&O".

Part 3 of the Pedalshift Project/Tim Mooney’s recent traverse of the Paw Paw Tunnel bypass trail has now been uploaded to YouTube. Interestingly, on his return trip Tim found the towpath downstream of the tunnel itself was not closed and was passable. Apparently the construction work there has not begun or been resumed at this moment in time. In that the Towpath's closure has been advertised for some time now, closure could occur at any time going forward necessitating the use of the bypass trail.

6 of us are riding from Pittsburgh to Harpers Ferry on May 1st to the 4th. We are wondering what the time line is on reopening of the Paw Paw Tunnel.

I believe project is expected to take 2 years and they are just beginning this spring. So all of 2021 for sure and likely 2022 (unless they finish early).

Expect and prepare for the detour up and over the Paw Paw Tunnel.

You should monitor the status of the closed section of the GAP outside Pittsburgh. It is close to reopening but is not fully open as yet.

Planning on parking the car near the trail at Deal PA and cycling to Connelsville PA.

Questions
1) Is there a place to park the car near the trail area at Deal?
2) Will we be able to get a shuttle back to where we parked from Connelsville?
3) Any recommendations for shuttle service?

Thanks in advance.

NR

Yes, there is a trailhead adjacent to the trail in Deal. Lots of parking there and never heavily used when I’ve passed through there. I can’t offer any firsthand recommendations for a shuttle in that area. I might suggest you contact the trail side bike shop in Connellsville at:

Bikes Unlimited
724-628-2453
Bikes@bikesunlimited.biz

They’ve been quite helpful to me and they’ve been there for sometime.

Perhaps one of the outfitters in Ohiopyle such as Wilderness Voyageurs could/would provide a shuttle. If you Google “GAP bike shuttle services” it will return a number of possible shuttle operators. That said, I do not have any personal experience with any of them.

Thanks, Rivnuts. This is very helpful.
NR

The GAP Trail website has reported that the Big Savage Tunnel has been reopened for the 2021 season on Friday April 9.

A sign that the summer cycling season is just around the corner!

Heads-up outdoor enthusiasts and cyclists, as of March 2021, everything has been removed out, there is a For Sale sign in the driveway, Steve’s website has been pulled down, and the domain name is for sale. Asking price is $174K so hopefully someone will take on this historic property and there will be once again lodging in the sleepy hamlet of Little Orleans.

Four of us are planning to bike from Cumberland to DC in June. We need to rent a vehicle to drive with our bikes to Cumberland. Any thoughts on what vehicles might work? We are considering a van with stow and go rear seats.

I have done this the last three years, for three people returning (once with two bikes, twice with three bikes). I rented a minivan one-way each time. I think I had a Grand Caravan the first time and Chrysler Pacificas the other two times. I am not sure if you can stand 4 adult bikes up in the back. I took the front wheels off, and laid them down flat. I got some cardboard to put between the bikes to cushion them. Worked fine. Maybe having the people in the back sit tandem (fold seats down on the right, backseat passengers in different rows) would enable the bikes to be stored upright.

I think I used Enterprise once, and Budget the other two times. I used local offices in Arlington twice, and the counter at National Airport the last time. Make sure you inspect the car thoroughly, and I always take pictures at pickup.

I drove by Steve's place last week after attending Good Friday Mass at Saint Patrick Catholic Church and there was a "For Sale" sign at the intersection just after crossing Fifteen-Mile Creek bridge, and another in the driveway. Also, the lodge website has been taken down and the domain name is for sale so that tells me that Steve is either very sick (COVID, etc...) or the family has finally had to put Steve into a nursing home because of his advancing Alzerhimers/Dementia. It is sad that we, the C&O Canal community, are losing this icon and hopefully someone will buy the place and restore it to its former glory.

Not looking good for the ferry for the 2021 season:

https://dcist.com/story/21/04/07/whites-ferry-reopening-could-be-pushed-into-2022-by-continuing-dispute-over-virginia-landing/

Planning a bike trip to DC! Is camping here free? and do we have to make a reservation ahead of time?

Dravo Landing hiker-biker site is free and does not require reservations. Room for 25-30 plus one Adirondack shelter. Just show up as you see fit and pitch your tent.

In addition to the Dravo Cemetery/Landing campsite, you’ll find free trail side camping along the GAP at Cedar Creek Park, Round Bottom Camp and Stewart’s Crossing in Connellsville. No reservations are required but access to the Adirondack shelters is first come first serve. Of course you can always pitch a tent at any of them.

Of course, there are numerous free hiker/biker campsites along the C&O Towpath as well.

As part of an overnight bikepacking trip along the GAP, I left the GAP Trail for an out-and-back diversion on the Sheepskin Trail over to Dunbar, PA. I had ridden that trail a couple of years ago. At that time a portion of that trail passed through a rail car staging area which consisted of course railroad ballast stone. It was a short but unpleasant ride. Since then that section of the trail has been resurfaced with crushed stone like the rest of the trail. It is now a smooth surface making that side trip quite pleasant. It was dry yesterday but could become a little soft following wet weather.

Various Western Pennsylvania newspapers are reporting today that a new visitor center opened today in Connellsville. It is located at 100 Torrance Avenue, right along the GAP Trail in the Yough River Park. This visitor center will be open from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm on weekends in April and May, then Tuesdays through Sundays in June and daily in July and August.

I just spoke with a super friendly and helpful Amtrak Reservation agent over the phone. I was looking online and kept seeing “Sold Out” for Bicycle tickets on every date I attempted and getting frustrated. So I decided rather than to keep searching and coming up empty, I would just call and see if they could locate tickets for me. It worked.

I simply asked them what dates in June still had bike tickets available going from DC to PIT on the Capitol Limited. They were able to quickly pull up the information and I ended up reserving the first date they mentioned, the last ticket available for that date.

I was curious about how many tickets were still remaining so I asked them about other dates in the month of June and they said the only ones remaining were the following dates:

June 22 - 1 ticket
June 24 - 2 tickets
June 29 - 2 tickets

I didn't ask about the rest of the summer (July or August) as I didn’t want to waste anymore of their time, but feel free to call and speak to an agent. Their number is 1-800-872-7245. I probably waited 8-10 minutes on hold. They also mentioned that there are no tickets available *before* June 22. This information is for DC to PIT only, I did not ask about the other direction.

If you're wanting a Bicycle ticket ("Roll-on, Roll-off") to ride GAP/C&O this summer, I wouldn't wait too much longer to reserve, what little they have seem to be going pretty fast!

Big pool was where I grew up have to clean out my home place since brother passed away.Was planning to use our grandson"s camper to stay in .thinking of last week in April was wondering the price per night to stay there.

Sylvia, give the campground a call and see about their rates.

The number is reportedly:

301-842-3336

This location is shown as closed permanently on google 3/30/21

Hi All!

Planning a bikepacking trip from DC to Cumberland this coming Thursday 4/1. Considering we had a couple of rainy days over the weekend and more rain is forecasted for Wednesday, any advice or insight on what to expect in terms of trail condition? Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

Soft, puddles and mud in other than resurfaced sections.

Hi all.
Looking for any advice and suggestions. I am planning a bike trip between DC and Cumberland. Can't decide which way to ride. Is it better to start in DC and end in Cumberland? Or the other way round? In terms of grade and elevation?

Also I understand that it is possible to get on Amtrak with a bike but cannot figure out how from the website? Do you have to call them? Or is it better to rent a car or a shuttle service?

Any suggestions appreciated.

You could give reservations a call and they’ll walk you through it. Your looking for the bike ticket (roll-on, roll-off). I’ve spoken to Amtrak reservation agents and they’ll know what to look for. I wouldn’t wait, those tickets go quick. If you don’t find the dates you want ask when the next available is.

What direction? All depends. I personally would do Cumberland to DC. Cumberland to DC is downhill, albeit very slightly. The Potomac empties into the Chesapeake Bay and you’re basically following it. That said the trail is pretty flat overall. The locks you do encounter this direction will be downhill but there ain’t much to them. Better going down that up I say!

If you can’t get a bike ticket you could box your bike. If you do it this way, make sure to bring a pedal wrench, you will need to remove them. You will need to loosen your handlebars and turn them to fit in a box. You’ll have zero problems getting a ticket if you box your bike. The Capitol Limited never sells out.

You could rent a car. I have personally rented a car and dropped it off at Reagan Airport and made my way back to Cumberland/Pittsburgh. Cumberland is much smaller than DC so choices maybe limited on one way drop offs. You might want to price shuttles to see if they are comparable to a car/pickup rental. That could be a good way to go as well.

In addition to John W's remarks, note the difference in train departures and arrivals depending on which direction you choose to go. From Washington the train departs around 4:00 PM and arrives in Cumberland around 7:30 PM. From Cumberland the train departs around 9:30 am and arrives in DC around 1:00 pm. Depending on your travel itinerary, lodging, etc., one of these schedules may be better for you than the other.

Regardless of which direction you choose and if you have not followed some of the recent postings on this forum and/or the C&O website, be aware of the bypass detour required up and over the Paw Paw Tunnel. That may influence your preferred direction also.

In my opinion the first couple of days ride leaving Cumberland can be more difficult and with fewer points of interest so you may want to do those first, especially with the Paw Paw Tunnel bypass now required.

Hi all.
Looking for any advice and suggestions. I am planning a bike trip between DC and Cumberland. Can't decide which way to ride. Is it better to start in DC and end in Cumberland? Or the other way round? In terms of grade and elevation?

Also I understand that it is possible to get on Amtrak with a bike but cannot figure out how from the website? Do you have to call them? Or is it better to rent a car or a shuttle service?

Any suggestions appreciated.

For those interested in activities along the GAP Trail this spring, the GAP Conservancy has made the following announcement:

"Pennsylvania Maple Festival in Meyersdale Starts April 24.
Don't miss the syrupy goodness of the Pennsylvania Maple Festival, held in Meyersdale right off the Great Allegheny Passage April 24 and 25, and April 28 to May 2. Meyersdale is Pennsylvania's "Maple City," and this year's festival features a tree-tapping ceremony, horse-drawn carriage rides, tours of the Historic Meyers Manor Homestead, and maple syrup-making demonstrations at the Meyers Sugar Shack and Sugar Camp. Live entertainment, arts and crafts, and the crowning of the Maple Queen make this annual event a sweet crowd-pleaser."

More details of the Festival can be found at:

https://www.pamaplefestival.com/mc_cid=9e39e73f07&mc_eid=f416bf8b2b

If you were planning on staying in Meyersdale during these dates, you may want to check/confirm availability.

Hoping to do the above segment April 1 and 2 and wondering if anyone can comment on the condition of the trail and whether there are any concerns. Thanks for any input

The actual C&O from Hancock to Harpers Ferry will be a breeze. Getting from Berkeley Springs to Hancock to get on the trail will be a challenge. I’ve read that there’s a serious lack of shoulder along the highway. Call the bike shop in Hancock and ask if people ride US-522, if it’s safe, and if not, if they recommend alternatives, such as a shuttle.

My husband and I are biking the GAP and the C&O Canal. We are starting in Pittsburgh and ending in DC. Does anyone have a good suggestion on who to rent a car from at the end of the C&O Canal? We are trying to avoid going into the city. Also, any recommendations of where to stay when I end the trip in DC? Thanks

Avis has an office on Wisconsin Avenue just a couple of blocks of the trail near its end. Another option is to continue to Reagan Airport. It adds a few miles but can be reached without going into the heart of town. As you might expect there are a number of rental companies that operate at the airport.

I have personally done the airport to airport rental, Pittsburgh to Reagan. Easy as a breeze. I dropped mine off at Reagan and it was super fast and I’m sure picking one up will be likewise.

I stayed at a hotel in Arlington, 20th st. But that’s may be farther from the C&O than you like but getting to and from Reagan it was super close.

My husband and I are biking the GAP and the C&O Canal. We are starting in Pittsburgh and ending in DC. Does anyone have a good suggestion on who to rent a car from at the end of the C&O Canal? We are trying to avoid going into the city. Thanks