C&O / GAP Forum

Hello - Hoping for some insight / advice - My friend and I are riding the C&O in early October and staying at Lockhouses along the way. We really wanted to take the ferry and ride into Leesburg. I've read that while there are plans to widen Rte 15 and add bike shoulders, currently there are several spots where there is absolutely no shoulder on this 4mi stretch and that it is very dangerous? How safe / dangerous is this ride - We will have touring gear etc on bikes, and while it would be nice to ride to town for a good meal and visit, don't want to get creamed by a car to do it. Thoughts?

Thanks so much in advance!

I've ridden that road a couple of times in route to overnight lodging. It is indeed a busy highway. If you choose to do so, hopefully you have a mirror to keep an eye on the traffic coming from behind. Also, you are well advised to make yourself as visible as possible while on the road with bright colors and blinking lights. If possible, you'd be well advised to avoid rush hours on the road. Lastly, you can avoid riding it twice if you elect to ride from Leesburg to Washington on the Washington and Old Dominion Trail rather than return back to the C&O on Rte 15 from Leesburg.

I second Rivnuts suggestion for W&OD Trail. A nice alternative to the mud of the C&O. It's an MUP that is really well marked. The only downside is you will miss Great Falls if you take this from Washington DC to White's Ferry. For some people that's a deal breaker (and an understandable one).

Also, don't forget the Western Maryland Rail Trail (WMRT) before and after Hancock, MD. Look for the map online as it will have the switch off points so you can connect back to and from the WMRT/C&O. 28 miles of paved goodness.

Just crossed Whites Ferry coming back from my Alexandria to Pittsburgh and back trip just last Tuesday.

Whites Ferry Road doesn't have any shoulder, but little traffic if not at rush hour(~1 mile).

Route 15 has a wide shoulder (~5ft) while traffic passes you at 50 mph until the turn off to business 15 from 15 bypass (~2 limes).

Then its minimal to 2ft shoulder the next mile into Leesburg (but at least the speed limit is posted at 25-35 mph).

I find this section from Whites Ferry to Leesburg and the connection to the WOD trail as less dangerous than my commute through DC and Arlington 5 days a week.

Thanks folks!!

My Friend and I are making the trip on the C&O. We do little day trips, but have never done something like this. Seeking recommendations on hotels versus camping, packing food versus restaurants, packing essentials, daily mileage expectations. We are planning this for the end of the month.

Those are all great questions to ask and research. Three of us will be riding the C&O and the GAP at the end of the month too. It will be our first time. We are in our 60's but ride quite a bit. We decided to camp every other day and spending the off nights in inexpensive motels. We plan on eating at restaurants along the way but will keep snacks and one meal with us as a precaution. You never know what might happen along the way.

We bike packed the KATY Trail, here in Missouri a couple of years ago and went between 50-70 per day. My advice is to ride at a comfortable pace and enjoy the trip. You can always find packing lists on line but I found www.pedalshift.net very helpful.

Items to not forget are food, plenty of water, bike repair tools, pump, patch kit, spare tube(s) and the ability to do minor repairs.

I love riding these types of trails and Ray (webmaster) provides an excellent forum/website for us trail riders.

Having ridden the C&O a few times, here are some thoughts for consideration:

* For your first trip on the C&O, I would suggest that you avail yourself of hotels or B&B's especially if the weather predictions are not favorable. While there are several free hiker/biker campsites along the towpath, they are primitive. If camping, the pay state parks along the way are arguably more hospitable. Having ridden the trail once, you'll have a greater understanding of the trip to choose what you'd like to do for the next time you do it.
* Unless you want to carry a lot of food, you'll find enough cities along the route to find meals as you go. You may want to pick up an extra meal, when stopping to avoid making numerous stops or having to travel some distance off the trail to get food.
* The previous respondent's packing recommendations are spot on. I would add to look at the weather forecast to determine if some cooler weather clothing would be desirable for early morning riding or overnight camping.
* The most common daily mileage is around 50 miles. Without any climbing and more riding hours during the day, you can do more miles to shorten the duration of your trip.
* Lastly, take a little time to read about the history and points of interests along the trail before departing to better enjoy the trip and its history.

Pick up the "Trail Guide" book for $10 from the Great Allegheny Passage store:
https://gaptrailstore.org/collections/trailguide/products/trailguide-15th-edition

This book has everything you will need to prepare for your trip. It also comes with a water proof map in the back.

We’ve been biking the canal every October for last 30+ years and have always camped , but I think it depends a lot on whether you really enjoy camping (we do). Camping gives you real flexibility as to how far you want to go each day as there are campsites every 5 to 10 miles with few exceptions. We used to bike 50+ miles each day but now average closer to 30 so we can really enjoy our trip, it all depends on how much time you have (we allow ourselves a week, 2 weeks if we start in Pittsburgh). The nicer the weather the slower we go, and we like to set up camp early to enjoy the evenings by a campfire. We feel it’s a good idea to eat when you can, taking advantage of most every food stop along the way, but we do carry snacks and a few freeze dried dinners just in case.

I ridden from Cumberland to DC twice over the past few yers. I stayed at the following hotels, which both were satisfactory:
Hancock - Super 8
Harpers Ferry - Econo Lodge

As for food stops, Liberty Gas Station in Paw Paw, WV, Bills Place in Little Orleans (although I have heard it may have closed), Desert Rose in Williamsport (EXCELLENT and VERY biker friendly), and Whites Ferry Grill in Whites Ferry (but I think it closes for the season on 31 October, then re-opens in April). Plus several places in Hancock, Shepardstown, Harpers Ferry, and Brunswick.

Enjoy!

Hello
Bills Place is closed on Tuesdays (I think), but I was there twice in the last two weeks.

I would give a recommendation for the Hillside Hotel 19105 Keep Tryst Rd., Knoxville, Md 21758 (phone 301-660-3585).

This is on the Maryland side of Harpers Ferry. You get off the trail near mile 58 where the Application Trail leaves the towpath.

You don't have to mess with the steps on the Harpers Ferry RR bridge, But you have a steep but doable 1 mile assent to the Hillside Hotel.

Extra bonus is a nice liquor store next door and the Guide House Restaurant across the street.

Camping is for sure the more flexible option, as there are hiker biker sites evenly spread out along the trail. With the flexibility comes the fact that you will be backing heavier than if you are staying in hotels along the way. Same goes with food....if you choose to pack camp/dehydrated meals, you will have to include the stove/pot as well. Totally depends on what your preferences are.

I would highly recommend taking advantage of the Canal Quarters program if you have the opportunity. We stayed in Lockhouse 10 and really enjoyed it.

My packing must haves beyond the normal items would be.....earplugs (train could be loud whether camping or staying in a hotel), water mix-ins like propel...dual purpose...replenish electrolytes and mask the iodine flavor of the well water along the trail (I personally didn't find the water poor tasting, but others in the group did), extra socks, portable USB charger (get one that is at least 10,000 mAh...mine charged my cell a few times before I had to recharge the battery).

I just rode from DC to White's Ferry and the mosquitoes are incredibly bad in that stretch of the trail and i will assume that its no better further up, so i would recommend some kind of wearable mosquito netting if you're going to be camping out, ie hat with attached netting, for example this is what i ordered for my trip around October 31st to Cumberland and i'm leaving then just because of the mosquito problem:
https://www.amazon.com/Camo-Coll-Outdoor-Anti-mosquito-Protection/dp/B01HR5A5JQ/ref=sr_1_194_sspa?keywords=mosquito+netting&qid=1568589450&s=gateway&sr=8-194-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzVUVXOUg1TVcxTEg3JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTEwOTA4MVdOMktCVTJRUDJNSiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzM1MDYyMVBWUjA1TE02VEk1TSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0Zl9uZXh0JmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Also if you don't have "waterproof" panniers, i found that those new "flex" trash bags work really well as they really stretch and don't puncture that easy!

Happy trails!

Thanks for the heads up on the mosquitoes as I prepare to depart for DC next week and camp in route.

Rivnuts, let us know how its going during your trip or if you run into anything along the way, happy traveling!

Thanks for the heads up on the mosquitoes as I prepare to depart for DC next week and camp in route.

What is the distance from Reagan National airport Parking to the C&O start point

6.5 miles

Just posted my latest video. A ride to Niagara Falls from the Peace Bridge. If you ever get an opportunity to do this ride don't past it up. It was great.

https://youtu.be/Tmy5Imz9fKw

Just high lite it and open the link. All my videos can be seen at Pat Stillriding on Youtube.

Thanks for sharing!

I took the liberty of posting this on the Erie Canal Forum (I run that site too) because this ride is very accessible from the Buffalo end of that trail.

Looks like an awesome ride that I look forward to trying out myself someday.

Thanks Ray for doing that. So glad you liked the video. It is such a nice ride to do. How many websites do you run? I think you run the Mickelson Trail site also. That's a awesome trail also. Do they have a site for the Key West Trail? I am doing that in a few months.

Yep, I run the BikeMickelson website, and a handful of others:

Katy Trail in Missouri
C&O / GAP in Maryland / Pennsylvania
Cowboy Trail in Nebraska
Mickelson Trail in SD
Erie Canal Trail in NY
Silver Comet and Chief Ladiga Trails in GA/AL
I&M Canal Trail in Illinois (site under construction)

... and always open to suggestions for others.

I don't know about Key West but that sounds like a fun ride!

I do the ride to Niagara Falls the day before the Erie Canal Tour sponsored by PTNY with several other riders. It's always exciting to see the Falls. Once across the Peace Bridge, the majority of the trip is on a bike trail/access road. Some of tha lake front homes are quite impressive.

Ray:

If you are truly interested in creating yet another trail forum, you might want to consider the Natchez Trace. Like the C&O, it is managed by the National Park Service and is a well known and commonly ridden trail that would benefit from sharing information pertaining to that trail.

Getting ready to head from Pittsburgh to DC in a few weeks - still need to pick up a handlebar bag of some sort (2 of us going - one pulling BOB trailer and one just doing bike bags). Any suggestions? This is our first time doing the route (and our first bike trip) - so will take ANY words of wisdom/suggestions (in addition to handlebar bag recommendations) folks have!

One other question - we are hesitant to plan out stops, because want to be flexible on what the weather gives us and how we feel each day to decide how many miles we will get in. Will we regret the "wing-it" approach? Thanks in advance to all who respond!!

Take a look at this one. I bought it on eBay. It's design is virtually identical to that of Ortlieb but at much lower cost.

RockBros Bicycle Handlebar Bag 14-15L Cycling Extra Large Capacity Bag Black

If you are camping, then there is no problem with "winging-it". You just need to know where the various camp sites are located along the trail. If you are staying indoors, you could have some issues. If you choose to wing it, I would recommend you seek out multiple lodging options along the way to insure you can find a room on short notice. Some of the options could be a way off the trail itself.

As a former Hoosier born and raised in Decatur Township and having moved to and lived in Pittsburgh for many years now, I've ridden the GAP/C&O several times and will be doing so once again the end of the month. if I can be of any assistance, including guiding your way out of Pittsburgh, or provide any information just drop me a note.

I am from Clayton, Indiana, just down the road from Plainfield, I will be doing the GAP and C&O with my sister-in-law starting on September 12. We have hotel reservations along the way, and train tickets reserved for us and our bikes. I am using panniers, and a trunk bag on a rack on the back wheel.

Clayton indeed. I've ridden along portions of SR 39 near Monrovia and through Cartersburg while visiting family in Mooresville and Plainfield. If you'd like a guide out of Pittsburgh or even some of the local sites there, I'd be happy to meet you downtown and ride a ways down the trail to where the trail is straight forward and beyond the urban portions.

If you need any local info or details about the train back, just let me know.

Regardless, have a great trip. You'll enjoy it even more if you read a little of the histories of the GAP and the C&O before riding them.

Handlebar bag:
My favorite handlebar bag is by Jandd, one of the Touring Handle Bar Pack series. It mounts easily on most types of handlebars and has a map case on top. The only disadvantage is that it is not waterproof, but it is way cheaper than the waterproof Ortleib handlebar bags. I use a large ziplock to protect all my essentials inside the Jandd bag.
C&O/GAP:
I have ridden the C&O/GAP many times, as it is by far my favorite ride (350 miler w/ NO cars!), but you must be prepared for rain. The GAP is very smooth and easy riding, with many small towns and camping opportunities. The C&O is much more of a challenge, as it is rough in many places and is no place for a road bike. There are primitive campsites every few miles and a few nice towns. You should check the website before you go for updates on washouts and other detours.

I used the Ortlieb Ultimate 6 S Plus handlebar bag and liked it...I was able to put a mileage chart/itinerary/fact sheet in the transparent sleeve on the top, it was easy to access, held everything I needed and is waterproof (it didn’t rain on our trip so I didn’t get to really test this feature out) . I also had a Revelate Designs mountain feed bag that I LOVE! You can fit a Nalgene sized water bottle in there, but I actually kept things that I would need/want while riding, like my camera/phone, lip balm, sunglasses, snack bars, etc

Hey riders!
I've heard a horror story regarding getting your bike and gear up a spiral staircase (which has been described as the Stairs of Cirith Ungol in Mordor) from the C&O up and into Harper's Ferry.
Can anyone give me another viewpoint?
Is this a total drag?

Thanks!

The staircase isn’t a huge deal except that you will likely need to first remove anything heavy off of your bike first. I think the stories are overrated.

I was on the towpath from Little Orleans, MD to Harper's Ferry, WV and back toward the end of July this year. There were two instances where we had to lift our bikes and carry them up and down staircases: (1) In Williamsport MD, they are repairing the towpath and there's a detour in town over a wooden bridge. The wooden bridge has a rail on the side on which one can ride their bike up and down -- you have to angle it so that the pedals don't strike the rail. (2) In Harper's Ferry to cross the river one has to go up the bridge on the Maryland side but on the WV side there's a ramp for rolling your bike.

Neither bridge was too challenging. However, although we had heavy bikes, our panniers were pretty small and light. I saw bikers on the towpath with some serious panniers attached to their bikes that appeared to be laden with a lot of stuff. I'm guessing they would have to unhitch the panniers off the bikes and carry the bike and the panniers up separately.

In our case, we took at most 10 minutes on the bridges, so it wasn't challenging at all.

One small addition to my previous post: in Williamsport, it is possible to avoid having to lift and carry your stuff up and down the bridge. On the south side of Williamsport, one reaches a lock just before reaching the town. You can exit the towpath at the lock to a small parking area that leads to roads into town that will allow one to go to the other end of the detour. Same thing can be done in reverse -- the lock on the south side of the town is the key to this strategy.

We were coming from Cumberland to DC so we had to bring our bikes up the staircase. It looked worse than it actually was, definitely don't be discouraged! We took off our panniers and other heavy things like someone else noted, brought the bikes up, then went back down for the gear, loaded the bikes back up, and rolled into Harper's Ferry. All in all, probably took about 10 minutes. I can see how it would be more treacherous/difficult in rainy or icy conditions. Or if you were wearing cleats (we wore civilian shoes on our trip). There's a bike rack at the bottom of the staircase, and the staircase itself lets out on a bridge with a separate bike/ped path. Good luck!

I think the main issue is that the bridge and staircase are metel so there may be a issue with regard to biking shoes.

We used to bike the canal every October loaded with camping gear and never even shed our gear to carry our bikes up. I would carry my wife’s bike but it’s not really that bad a climb even with full gear. Don’t be intimidated.

I was simply not going to visit Harper's Ferry when I read the description of the "spiral" staircase to get there. I have since changed my mind when I read the historical, and interesting features that Harpers Ferry had to offer. I also looked at the actual stair case on google maps. It looks like a reasonably wide stairway that wraps around a bridge support. It does not look like your typical spiral staircase. I will update my post after I have climbed the "Stairs of Cirith Ungol in Mordor" to let you know how it went!

I have done this and it is NOT Mount Everest but you should be careful if you have biking shoes as opposed to mountain biking shoes. If you take it slowly you will be fine. Plus if you have bags on your bike you can take the bags off take the bike up and then bring the bags up.

You do not have to take the staircase and go to Harpers Ferry to continue on the C&O. You only need to drag your bike and all your stuff up the staircase if you want to go to Harpers Ferry you can continue along the path just fine without it

You probably shouldn't complain about taking a bike and gear up the spiral staircase. During the Civil War, Union troops hauled a 20,000 pound cannon up the road to Maryland Heights that looms above the staircase.