C&O / GAP Forum

I am wondering if 40 miles per day is a decent goal for two recreational bikers who plan to camp along the trail (we are 59/63 years old). We are very outdoorsy and camp alot but this is our first camp bike trip!

Yes. Forty miles per day on the GAP and C&O is indeed a reasonable goal especially if you ride frequently. If not, you would be smart to take a couple of day rides of that distance to gauge your preparedness. That said you may have to ride even further a couple of times to accommodate your itinerary especially on the GAP where the campgrounds are not as frequent as the hiker/biker campsites on the C&O.

Is it difficult to find parking at Fletchers Cove lot on a Sunday morning?
Does it fill up quickly?
Thanks

No, I would not think so. While the parking lot next to the canal lockhouse is fairly small, if you drive through the tunnel under the canal, you will reach a very large parking lot on the river side of the canal. It has lots of capacity (at least 150 cars, I expect). It was nowhere close to full yesterday afternoon when I rode past. (Admittedly, that was a Sunday afternoon in August.).

This is my first time on the trail . I’ll be learning as I go.
I’m planning on driving to Cumberland then taking the train to DC on Thursday 10/5. Where I’ll begin the ride back at 11:30 am from Union Station I’m planning on camping on the trail .. if anyone is starting the ride around the same time that that knows the trail , it would be great to ride with others

Unfortunately you’ll be one day behind me. I’m arriving at Union Station on 10/4 to begin riding back to Pittsburgh on my ninth trip between the two.

Note, I’m surprised by your arrival time in DC. My train thru Cumberland doesn’t arrive in DC until 1:05PM.

Thanks for catching that. I meant 1:30
From DC

E ,
Read your comments about starting in Cumberland can you please tell me where there is long term parking that can be trusted?
Or for that fact anyone here this sounds interesting to me and the train is just right.

Ed, Everyone thanks for your time.

From the GAPTrail website:

Free overnight parking is allowed at the municipal parking lot in Cumberland at 16 Howard Street under I-68 which passes overhead. Other riders have indicated they have parked there in the past.

I was thinking that the Amtrak station had a parking lot . But there are so many things that I don’t know like do I have to make pre-arrangements for my bicycle. I read on some post that it’s $20 to transport the bicycle and others there’s no charge ….

Sprockets:

Although I've been through the Amtrak station in Cumberland a number of times I can't recall if there is overnight parking there or not. Regardless, the municipal parking lot on Howard Street is just a few blocks from the Amtrak station albeit along city streets.

If you are planning on taking your bike on the train you need a rollon "bicycle" reservation costing $20 to go along with your "personal" reservation. You need to make that reservation before arriving at the station insofar as there is but a limited amount of those bicycle reservations available. Not to throw a wet blanket on your plans, but they are rarely available on short notice. You should contact Amtrak to see if bike rollon reservations are still available.

Alternatively, if you can box up your bike you can ship it as "baggage" for similar cost as the rollon reservation.

There is long term overnight parking along Howard St. right underneath I-68 in Cumberland and within walking distance to The Crabby Pig and all kinds of shops. Parked there 4 weeks ago.

Large Parking lot. Not on the street.

Rivnuts.
I want to think you very much for your help with getting me started. After reading your last reply. I quickly made my train reservation and was able to get the last bike roll on spot available from Cumberland. I appreciate you …..
curious to know , do you set a mileage goal per day are do you just ride casually.

Sprockets:

Although I am retired I can't afford to be as casual as I might like. (My marriage still matters :-) My daily mileage is determined by the planned duration of my trip which depends on a number of factors including places along the route I plan to explore, the amount of daylight at the time of year and the need to reach the end destination on a given day. That said, I typically take 6 to 7 days to make the trip from Pittsburgh to DC or vice versa. That results in riding between 45 and 65 miles per day. Many take fewer days by riding more miles each day.

The length of each day's ride depends on available or preferred overnight locations. When camping there is more flexibility in planning each day's ride, especially along the C&O Towpath with the frequent hiker/biker (H/B) campsites. When planning to spend overnights in hotels and/or BnB's your daily mileage options are less since you are generally limited to the larger cities and towns along the route.

FYI, keep your eye on the weather. The forecast cold front at the end of this week along the route may bring some softness or puddles especially between Cumberland and Little Orleans. Using the WMRT rail trail that parallels the C&O Towpath on either side of Hancock MD would avoid some of those potential wet conditions beyond Little Orleans.

Have a great trip. If you have more questions don't hesitate to ask.

"Alternatively, if you can box up your bike you can ship it as "baggage" for similar cost as the rollon reservation."

In general the box-a-bike option is only available between stations with baggage service; and Cumberland doesn't have it. Also, some station with baggage service don't sell boxes. I doubt the arrival station needs to sell boxes, but has to have baggage service. But then it's Amtrak so you never know. So look it up by googling the the station (e.g., Pittsburg station) and click the "baggage" link. You will find that you can buy a box at Pittsburg or DC and ship it to DC or Pittsburg.

It costs a $10 service fee plus $15 for the box, although you can supply your own box.

Amtrak's box is always my choice because they are much bigger than the boxes you can get from a bike shop. All you have to do is remove the pedals, turn the handlebars sideways, roll the bike into the box and tape it up. If you are on your way home and someone is picking you up, you can save the box for next time. Otherwise, you just leave it behind at the station.

Ed I am waiting for this weather to break and will be doing the same thing driving down to Cumberland and train to D.C. to start the trail .
Did part of it last year in September and had to get off around near Hancock Grand daughter got sick.
If I do Start in December I'll let you know .

Does anyone have this app. for there iPhone ??
I was thinking of down loading it but instead pf paying $ 2.99 I would ask everone here.

Thanks for your time.
EZ

I’m not sure what app you are talking about because I didn’t see anything. Maybe I missed it. The C&O Canal Trust has an app in the Apple App Store. Here is some info from the Canal Trust’s website: https://www.canaltrust.org/plan/explorer-mobile-app/

I did see another app that cost $2.99 but don’t know anything about it. It seems the Trust’s app is a .99 download. You can read the reviews in the App Store.

Meh. Limited use. Static maps and a list of POI. Emergency info feature is interesting as it lists the nearest upstream and downstream access points and current position - could be handy when calling for help. But nothing you can't get from a proper map and tracking app like RideWithGPS.

Has anyone had issues with the 2" bike tire width limit on Amtrak's roll-on service routes? I have 2.2" tires on my mountain bike and wonder if I'll have a problem.

While I typically take bikes with 35mm tires for trips on the Capital Limited route with roll-on service, I’ve never seen anyone check or look at my or others’ bikes for compliance with the tire width limitation. That said I’ve not seen anyone try to take a fat bike on the train.

While I’m not certain, I think the bikes on that route are simply loaded in the baggage car along with other checked baggage and not in hanging bike racks where the tire width might be a constraint. Other routes may employ hanging racks, so I’ll leave others to comment on their experience on those routes.

In making preparations for my annual GAP & C&O bikepacking trip, last evening, I was surprised to find the price of the Amtrak Capital Limited return trip in coach was $114 in either direction for roughly the next three months. I don’t remember exactly what it was last year, but I think it was around $72. The bike reservations remain at $20.

The increase in the passenger reservation ticket seemed like a significant increase over what I paid last year. This may represent a recognition of an increasing demand in that route. The other, longer route option between the two cities was notably less but doesn’t offer bicycle roll-on service and takes a few hours longer and requires a change in trains.

At $114, it would be cheaper to drive if it was an option even with PA Turnpike tolls or make renting a car more attractive if you could find a bargain one-way rental.

The good news was that finding dates with available bike reservations seemed easier this year which might be because of reduced demand due to the increase in the passenger reservation cost.

During the pandemic Amtrak greatly reduced the consists2 (i.e., the list of cars in a train). The capitol limited was down to 1 coach, 1 sleeper, and a food service car at one time. They have been very slow to bring back the cars for various reasons. One of then is that short consists reduce the cost of running a train; and with the surge of customers since the end of the pandemic, they can charge pretty much whatever they want. Have you checked sleeper prices? I think the answer to your question is simple supply and demand.

We are planning to ride the GAP C&O starting from Pittsburg then taking the Amtrak back to Pittsburg.
Can we park our car at the Amtrak station in Pittsburg while we do the ride?
Thaks

There is no public parking at the Pittsburgh Amtrak station. There is public parking garage across the street from the train station albeit with a daily fee.

Grant Street Transportation Center Parking about $13.00 a day
The parking garage is called Grant street.
Hope this helps you.

Just got this email update and I coped and paste it for you all to read.


Closure for Pipe Replacement; Shuttle Service Provided
A 2.5-mile segment of the Great Allegheny Passage will be closed for a major underground pipeline replacement undertaken by Texas Eastern Transmission, beginning July 8 until mid-October. The segment is between mile markers 92 and 94.5. A free shuttle service for travelers and their bicycles will be provided by Trail Connect every 30 minutes, first-come, first-served, between 7:30 am and 7:00 pm, seven days a week. For details, visit www.trailconnect.com.

Hope this helps anyone doing the GAP.

Here is a Reddit discussion with some additional details:

https://www.reddit.com/r/gaptrail/comments/1e27c1b/gaptrail_closure_shuttle_experience/

I just finished the GAP yesterday and rode through that section on Friday. The shuttle service was great. You load your bike on a trailer, it gets strapped down, and if no other riders are coming, they take you to the drop off point. Near Connellsville going toward West Newton, you have to go up to the campground area. The trail is closed and there is a big sign. Coming from West Newton, the trail is closed at the construction site. There is a construction person who can help you cross the construction zone safely. The van is a white van that is parked on the other side of the construction area. The van drivers are extremely nice and knowledgeable about the area. To not take the shuttle would be dangerous for most, if not all bikers. It would be a route on narrow roads that climb and climb. Again, the service is great.

With the White's Ferry croosing closed, this inquiry is a continuing and probably frequently asked question; however, with the closing othe White's Ferry crossing and the assumed lack of access to Leesburg, beyond Lock House 25, what are our lodging options.

Will the Leeburg hotels cross the river and pick you up and return you to the trail?

Our projected date for this need is Sept 20th/ mid week.

We are not overnight campers and would desire lodgings with a shower and bed linens provided.

Thanks.

The Leesburg hotels should consider your suggestion but I’m unaware of any that do. To my knowledge the last public lodging near the trail in route to DC is in Brunswick, MD.

You might want to consider a shuttle service to take you across the river to Leesburg for the night and continue on into DC via the WOD trail the next morning.

Perhaps a forum reader from the area has some better ideas.

I would contact hotels/motels in Leesburg directly. I know that one or more used to do shuttle pick-ups, but those notes are long-lost.

To Fred’s point, several years ago I once used a hotel shuttle from the Virginia/Leesburg ferry landing to a hotel in Leesburg to avoid riding on Highway 15(?). However that is a much shorter trip than having to pickup riders on the Towpath on the MD side of the Potomac. I suspect that is why such shuttles are likely no longer running. However, as Fred suggests, there’s no harm in calling the hotels themselves to inquire.

I don't know why you would try to get a hotel in leesburg to shuttle you at this point. If I was inclined to do something like that I would see about something from germantown or gaithersburg maryland instead. Leesburg is not close at all any more. ;)

WKR: Good point.

Does anyone know the status of the Catoctin Creek culvert replacement? The second link shows an actual new bridge. I have bittersweet feelings about the replacement. The first year I rode from Pittsburgh to DC was the year that the culvert washed out, so I have always had to cross the creek. The first year was from rock to rock, and then on the low bridge every summer since. :)

I also wished that they had had the funding to rebuild it in the original style of the culvert, but I understand why that was probably not feasible.

https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/replace-culvert-82-bridge.htm
https://www.reddit.com/r/towpath/comments/1cfmhxf/replacement_bridge_north_of_point_of_rocks/

When I rode by about 2 weeks ago the new bride framing was up and they were starting on the deck.

Huh, I do not remember it being anything special. Wasn't it just a little wooden bridge? As a local I probably ignore a lot of interesting things since I see them all the time. ;)

That second link appears to be that “temporary low footbridge” that’s been there the last few years since the collapse of the original bridge. If they have begun repair of the original bridge as Lucas notes, that’s good news. It had been reported earlier that that repair work would begin in the Fall of 2023.

That second link appears to be that “temporary low footbridge” that’s been there the last few years since the collapse of the original bridge. If they have begun repair of the original bridge as Lucas notes, that’s good news. It had been reported earlier that that repair work would begin in the Fall of 2023.

Yes, they've definitely been working on getting a bridge up. I haven't been through there in awhile as the heavy equipment was chewing up the trail surface. I'm curious so I'll see about going over there this week.

I went ahead out at lunch today to look. On the way I could tell they had smoothed out the tow path surface from the gate at brunswick all the way to the bridge. The RVs tear it up and there was a bunch of additional damage from the heavy machinery. There is a metal bridge up. It's got stacks of wood on it that I assume will be the floor. No work was happening today.

I don't know if I can post links but I took some pics:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/g6TELapJYnvCwpMd7

1 is of the bridge from the side, the next just shows the machines sitting, and then a pic of the bridge where you can see the stacks of wood.

So the answer is I can cross this culvert in July? The weather here in Michigan has been quite cool. It looks like riding from Pittsburgh to D.C. could be comfortable. I'm a roadie that thrives on hot weather cycling. But loaded with panniers and such means a relief is helpful from scorching temps.

I just realized the bridge hasn't changed since that reddit link above was posted. I had the impression things have been sitting still for awhile but I'd forgotten about the picture in that thread. So, my news and pics were of no interest. ;)

Mark, unless there's a big storm that washes out the low bridge it's no problem to go through there.

WKR

Thanks for that info and photographs. Looks like they are well underway. Not that the temporary low bridge/walkway is onerous but it will be nice to have the towpath itself restored.

Thank you WKR. Will be departing 8 July, on my birthday. No greater way to celebrate it than a gap/co tour.

The low bridge actually can be onerous for inexperienced cyclists who choose not to dismount. I witnessed someone ride onto the bridge, put on his brakes while on top of the bridge where there's also some loose gravel, and go down hard since the gravel on wood might as well be ice. Destroyed his helmet and rang his bell pretty good.

It's no problem riding across the bridge even while loaded as long as you stay off the brakes.

As of Tues, 6/25 when I rode through southbound, the wooden decking of the new bridge appeared to be complete. The fill on either side, final grading, approach railings and signing still needs to be done.
The bigger challenge was bit further down the towpath with a huge tree that fell across the trail. It was about 3 ft in diameter.

My wife just showed me something on facebook indicating that the bridge is open. I'll have to head over there soon to see it for myself.