C&O / GAP Forum

Are there any rules or restrictions against e-bikes on the GAP or C&O?

This subject was discussed in detail several months ago on this forum and it was determined that all types of electrically assisted devices are strictly prohibited from the C & O and the GAP trails.

Is there a way to search this forum to find that discussion somewhere in the 106 pages?

Randy that's a good point, thanks for bringing it up. In fact I do have a forum search on one of the other bike trail websites that I run (BikeKatyTrail.com).

This won't help you right now, but give me a few days and I will get that forum search feature integrated into THIS website. Then at least in the future you'll be able to do a simple search instead of digging through page after page looking for a topic.

More details soon - Happy trails!

I don't know for a fact if they are specifically restricted but I have seen them on the trail and have not seen any evidence of any attempt to enforce such a restriction. Of those that I have seen the riders are generally older and use them solely for power assistance and not speed. Any combustion engine is clearly prohibited.

The following are a couple of articles I found related to your question. The latter pertains to the Montour Trail around the south suburbs of Pittsburgh rather that the GAP Trail itself.

https://www.post-gazette.com/life/outdoors/2011/03/21/Electric-bikes-OK-d-for-Great-Allegheny-Passage-trail-use/stories/201103210210

https://montourtrail.org/plan-a-visit/rules/

Not true

JK...which comment above is "not true?"

C&O has an ebike ban because it's National Park Service who have a nation-wide ebike trail ban. GAP on the other hand does permit ebikes up to 750w source: https://gaptrail.org/plan-a-visit/trip-preparations/trail-rules

There is a search already on the site. It is right next to the merchandise box on the top.

Also, you can do a Google search on any site by typing in the word site followed by a colon and then the website followed by a space and then the search term.

For instance, suppose you want to search all bikecando for tires. Type in the following into the search box: site:bikecando.com tires or suppose you wanted to search Trek's website for tires. Search for site:trekbikes.com tires (note: you may get advertisements too!)

I am assuming other search engines besides Google have something similar.

The 750w assist on the GAP is only good for "disabled persons", not for general use by non-disabled.

@Tampa_Biker, I tried that and the search does not search the forum.

OK, the forum search is now ready. It's on the right-hand side near the top of the forum page; look for the magnifying glass icon.

I tested it by searching electric bike (1 discussion) and e-bike (several discussions).

The topic of e-bikes has been pretty well discussed in this thread by now, but hopefully the Forum Search will be helpful for lots of other searches.

Happy trails!

Thanks Ray!!!

As of August 30, 2019 the National Park Service has adopted a new policy that generally permits e-bikes within the national parks albeit subject to any specifically different policies of the individual parks. A search of the NPS webpage for the C&O Canal Towpath does not appear to identify any restrictions to the use of e-bikes therein.

I will be traveling on the C&O from mile zero to Cumberland MD starting on September 1st. Can anyone tell me what detours I may encounter along this route? If detours do exist what is the best way to get around them.
Thanks

See the National Park Service web site for trail conditions along the C&O Towpath.

Are there tunnels on the trail that lights would be needed?

I went through all the tunnels without any lights. That said, you may be more comfortable going through Paw Paw tunnel if you have a light. It's over half a mile long and is completely dark inside. (You'll want to walk your bike throught Paw Paw regardless of whether you have a light.)

The Big Savage Tunnel on the GAP is long as well. I ride through it without a light but you may well feel safer with one.

Looking forward to biking this trail in October, 2019. What are the average high low in mid October?

Thanks

Check the links at the bottom of this page:
https://bikecando.com/c-o-weather.aspx

...for temperature and precip averages by month.

Happy trails!

Starting in DC on Sept 1 riding to Cumberland
Is there any place along the path to take a dip ??

You are biking along the Potomac so all along the C& O Canal

See also https://potomac.org/blog/2018/6/19/potomac-river-swimmings-laws-regulations-washington-dc.

A new pay campground has been constructed along the GAP Trail in West Newton, PA. It is located on Collinsburg Road which parallels the Trail about 200 feet away. It has open space along the river and has city water, bathrooms, showers, a pavilion, fire pit, free morning coffee, etc. The fee is $19/night per person. Reservations can be made at www.gaptrailcampground.com. It looked quite nice when I rode by it today.

Is there a place to park a truck for the three days that it will take us to bike down from Hancock?

This site lets you subscribe to a daily digest email. On days when there are no posts, you receive an email that says there were no new forum posts.

Since that happens frequently, it might be nice to allow subscribers to opt out of "no new forum posts" emails.

Thank you for a great suggestion. The individual opt-out would have taken quite a bit of effort, but I came up with an easier solution. If there are no posts for the day, we simply will not send out any emails at all. So if you don't see a digest, you know there were no posts the prior day.

Of course you're getting a digest today because of this post! (plus a couple others)

thanks again for bringing this up, and happy trails!

Went to the C & O Canal yesterday after waiting two years for the construction/renovation to be completed. If this is the completed new design, I cannot expresses how disappointed my wife and I are, and how difficult the access has become. Bike access is now impossible for some. The access of the new wooden steps across to the canal is not wide enough to walk side by side, especially if you were carrying a child or small bike plus your own. Two bikers cannot pass each other on steps as there is only one rail for the bikes let alone anything else. There is no handicap access that I saw. The bridge access is way too narrow. It used to be get out of your vehicle, hop on your bike or just start walking, pulling your kids or pushing them in something and there you were, on the trail. But I didn’t see any of that now. The aqueduct is very nice but not designed for cyclists. If this is what $10 million buys we are extremely disappointed!!!

The towpath is closed between Pennyfield Lock and Swains Lock because of storm damage. I was out there this morning, July 27. The signs gave no indication of when it will reopen. The only bypass that I know of is River Road. It is a high speed road with a 40 mph speed limit (most go faster) with a moderate shoulder. There is a lot of bike traffic on it normally, and regular drivers tend to look out for bikes. Still, it's not totally safe. In addition, it has several steep hills no matter which way you are travelling. Those add about thirty minutes to what otherwise would be a twenty minute segment.

According to a comment on the NPS Facebook page, this is now open.

I’m biking from Pittsburgh to DC now and should be in this section tomorrow, does anyone know if it is open?

@Mm can you report back on what you found here? expecting to be there on Sat AM. The Facebook commments are contradictory. Best wishes!

The C&O is open! Just rode through the area 16-19, it’s in good shape. Enjoy!

@Mm thank you!

I’m contemplating doing the Pittsburgh to Dc route. Am not in tip top shape, but feel I can manage. Trying to figure how many miles a day. What would be reasonable mileage for the steepest part? Will be looking for budget lodging. I want to rent a bike and send it back to Pittsburgh via shuttle, and take Amtrak back to Vt. I’m familiar with DC. I’m 64. Any thoughts?

I rode Pittsburgh to DC two weeks ago. If you are unsure about your conditioning, consider riding only the GAP trail, i.e. from Pittsburgh to Cumberland. The GAP is better-maintained than the C&O so it's a little easier to ride.

I also found there were more cyclists on the GAP than on the C&O. On the GAP, I never went more than 10 minutes without seeing another cyclist. I rode 60 miles on the C&O from Cumberland to Hancock without seeing more than ten people on the trail the entire day. There were long stretches of the trail where cell coverage is lousy, so you should depend on other people -- and not your cell phone -- to get help in an emergency.

If you are unsure of your conditioning, I would also be careful about riding the C&O during the summer. Two weeks ago it got progessively hotter and more humid as I headed east toward DC, where the heat index was 105F. I live in a town when the temperature exceeds 100F every summer, and I bike a lot, but even more me it was hard to stay hydrated. A shopkeeper in Brunswick told me an inexperienced cyclist had to be hospitalized in Leesburg for dehydration.

How much do you bike right now? What's the longest ride you've done in the last six months?

The few times I’ve been out was on a local rail trail doing about 30 miles. My plan is to get out 3 or 4 times a week and increase the distance. Even the 1st ride of the season my recovery was quick.
Thanks for the info on the trail & conditions. I’m looking for another person here who will join me, but no. One yet. Will be traveling in September.

You've presented several questions in your post, some of which are intertwined. The question of how many miles per day you can ride is intertwined with your desire for "budget" lodging and, frankly, how much time you have to make the trip. With the training regimen you outlined between now and September, I would expect you could easily ride 30 to 45 miles per day in good weather. You may want to include in your itinerary a rest/layover day with no riding because of weather, trail conditions or need for additional rest.

The GAP rail trail and C&O Towpath consist of only modest and easily rideable grades along the route. Going from Pittsburgh to DC, you'll notice the modest uphill grade from Connellsville to Rockwood the most in my opinion but that section is still easily rideable albeit perhaps in one lower gear than you would use inroute to Connellsville. The "steepest" portion of the trip is on the GAP from the Eastern Continental Divide to Cumberland. However, going in the direction from Pittsburgh to DC, that section will be all downhill and a very easy ride.

I suggest you study the route map and its various guide books, including this bikecando.com website, and select/reserve lodging along the way that meets your definition of "budget". There are a couple of hostels along the way but your indoor lodging choices will primarily be motels, hotels and B&B's at varying costs and qualities.

While I can't do the entire trip in September, I'd be happy meet you in Pittsburgh and guide you out of town and ride down the trail on your first day ...assuming I am home that week. I live very near the trail just beyond downtown Pittsburgh and am very familiar with the city and trail.

Thanks for the input. I’d like the trip to be 7 days, which would mean higher mileage. I will be getting the official trail guide and I have been reading online. If it all comes together, I’ll get in touch.

Indeed for a 7-day trip, you'll need to average between 45 and 50 miles per day. That is typically what I have done during my trips to DC. Most commonly that results in 3 days on the GAP and 4 days on the C&O Canal Towpath. If it's any solace, I made my first trip solo at age 65 just 9 weeks after having a knee replacement.

Make sure you have an emergency plan or contacts should you have any mechanical issues along the way especially if you are riding solo. As others have noted, you can generally summon and receive assistance along the GAP rather readily. Along the C&O, similar resources and proximity to them is not as available and cell phone coverage is spotty or nonexistent in several stretches. That's not meant to scare you but simply to be prepared should some unforeseen issue arise.

Good luck and contact me if I can be of any assistance. It is a nice ride especially that time of year. Just watch out for the walnuts. :-)

My Dad and I rode the GAP and C&O starting May 23rd and finished May 31st. The GAP is beautifully maintained. I'm glad we completed both trails BUT the C&O is a butt pounding ride. A 40 mile day on the GAP was quite doable whereas 40 miles on the C&O took a lot more effort. I will admit that weather played a big role in the poor conditions on the C&O. Lots of rain turned the C&O into a mud bog.

For accommodations I used this forum and AirBNB. We rented our bikes from Golden Triangle in Pittsburgh and they have a drop off point in L'Enfant Plaza.

I'm happy to share any information I have from my trip. Lots of things to consider and I wish you luck!

We want to bike to the Ruins Project in Whitsett. Appears the bike trail is only suitable for mtn bikes? We have road bikes. Somebody please advise.

You can ride a road bike along the GAP Trail in all but he most inclement weather, e.g.. following heavy rain. Wheels with 28mm tire widths or greater would be more stable and comfortable than narrower tires inflated to high pressures. Under dry conditions virtually any bike can be ridden on the GAP Trail.

The Whitsett Trailhead has a large, paved parking area and covered pavilion with water available. The Ruins Project is on private property. You can request a tour at the mosaic shop nearby.. It is an ongoing project of various types of mosaic art placed on the remnants of the old, cement coal mine structures.

Has anyone every parked a car here for long term? Is it allowed?

My wife and I stopped at the Deli today for lunch while biking the C&O canal. We had two subs and fries. It was delicious. The sub roll and the turkey and ham were all very fresh. The place was clean. We definitely recommend this place for a lunch stop while riding the trail.

Just finished the GAP and C&O trail to DC with my son Rusty.

Left Friday 7/7 and arrived 7/12. Just wanted to share a few comments:

Overall -- excellent trip and the trails were in good shape, despite some recent heavy rains.

In Connelsville, we stayed at SEAMS LIKE HOME B2B and it was Great! The owners, Rick and Donna were excellent hosts. The place was clean and comfortable and the shuttle service offered was perfect. Highly recommended. Rick was one of the nicest persons I've ever met.

In Myersdale, we stayed at Yoders Guest house. This was a nice place. Clean and comfortable. Would stay again no doubt.

Little Orleans -- We stayed at town hill B&B. Also very nice place, clean. Great breakfast. Great view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Pretty good dinner at the local Exxon (which hosts a diner).

Wiliamsport: Bays Farm B&B. This place was beautiful! Super clean and comfortable. Jessie was very nice and made a great breakfast. Not much in the town -- but the pizza/pasta place across the street was pretty good. They also have a Sheetz!

Lees Colonial Inn -- Leesburg, VA. I would not stay here again. The place was dated and old. Smelled musty. The bike shuttle service wasn't good. Took 45 minutes and the truck was too small to carry two bikes. I damaged my bike as a result

Thanks for the info ! We’re the B&Bs far off the trail or close and easy access ?

@Lyn. Some were just off the trail: Yoders in Myersdale, and in Williamsport, Bay Farms was just a few blocks away. The others had free or very inexpensive shuttle service that picked us up at the trail head and returned us the next morning. This worked out fine for us

How far in advance did you book lodging?
Am planning for late Aug ride deciding camp/ b&b , etc

I booked my stays a couple of weeks in advance.

Is there a shuttle available 1:00 pm on a Mnday to pick up 1 person and take to Harpers Ferry to AT?

Im doing the C&O in stages so I need info on logistics, especially shuttling vehicles. Im starting in Frostburg, MD and first stage will be to Paw Paw. Ive not done that distance in a day before but going to give it a try. Depending how I do, I may try Paw Paw to Fort Frederick the next day. So how do my friend and I leap frog our vehicles? Is there a shuttle or Uber that could ride one of us back to the start to fetch our car? How do most people do this?

I rode from Cumberland to Hancock today. I took the C&O until I reached the Western Maryland Rail Trail, opting for a paved trail for the last part of the ride. The mud on the C&O was not as bad as I expected.

I ride a Surly Long Haul Trucker: a bike with mountain bike width tires but without a mountain bike’s suspension. The mud puddles were no big deal. Most were only a few bikes lengths long and were narrow enough that you could steer around them. Sometimes I had to pass through a puddle but not that often. There were only a couple that were deep enough that I needed to slow down.

The trail is bumpy compared to the GAP, but the GAP is unusually smooth for a bike trail.

If I had been on a road bike I would have been unhappy. A hybrid bike with, say, 38 mm tires might have been ok, but I recommend something closer to mountain bike width.

More concerning to me was the condition of the water pumps. I went for around twenty miles without finding a working pump. Luckily there was a place selling water near the start of the WMRT. That guy is try to sell the place, so I would not count on him being there. My advice is to bring enough fluid with you to avoid depending on the pumps.

Just finished up the gap/c&o on 16 July 2019. Every pump I tried along the c and o worked and had water. Some had took more pumping than othersz

I rode from Cumberland to Hancock today. Trail could definitely use some maintenance. Ran into some water pumps that didn’t work but some that did. You really need to pump for a while. Important in this stretch because there aren’t towns immediately on the trail. Water from pumps is treated with iodine, so you if you are a water snob bring plenty from your starting point.

Is this a free biker campsite?

Yes. All “hiker/biker” sites along the C&O are free. The GAP is a different story.

While the Hiker/Biker (H/B) campsites along the C&O Canal Trail are free there are other campsites along the C&O that are not free such as at Spring Gap, 15 Mile Creek, Antietam, etc. While they may appear to be H/B sites they are generally larger and better maintained and hence why they require a reservation and fee.

There are free trailside campsites along the GAP Trail although they are not referred to as "H/B" sites. There are free camp sites at Connellsvile, Round Bottom, Cedar Creek Park and Dravo Cemetary.

My lodging tonight is at Lenora's Inn, in Perryopolis. Many towns near the GAP have exit signs on the trail, but Perryopolis does not. I went five miles too far before I realized I needed to turn around.

If you need to go to Perryopolis, look for the small parking lot within about 50 yards of the 102 mile marker. Go through the parking lot, then turn right on the road. Take that until it dead-ends, then turn left and follow the road about a mile into Perryopolis.

Arriving in DC via Amtrak train to do the C&O trail.
Anyone know how to get from train station to trail head ?

It's easy. From the train station, ride four blocks to the Mall. Ride west along the Mall until you get to the Lincoln Memorial. From there, go two blocks to the river where you'll see a bike path. Follow that west into Georgetown, under freeway, past the smelling garbage bins, and you're at the trail head. Maybe four miles in all. A mile from the Lincoln Memorial. Except for the four blocks from the train station to the Mall, you don't have to ride on streets unless you want to.

From Google Maps, this looks like it may be the Lincoln Memorial route, or you can use this if you get lost

Take Union Station Dr NE to Columbus Circle Northeast
1 min (417 ft)

Head west on Union Station Dr NE toward Columbus Monument Drive Northeast
285 ft

Merge onto Columbus Monument Drive Northeast
131 ft

Turn left onto Columbus Circle Northeast
47 s (230 ft)

Turn right at the 1st cross street onto Louisiana Ave NE
3 min (0.4 mi)

Continue on Constitution Ave NW. Take Virginia Ave NW to Wisconsin Ave NW
16 min (3.3 mi)

Use any lane to turn slightly right onto Constitution Ave NW
0.3 mi

Turn left to stay on Constitution Ave NW
Parts of this road may be closed at certain times or days
1.2 mi

Use the right 2 lanes to turn slightly right onto Virginia Ave NW
0.5 mi

Continue straight to stay on Virginia Ave NW
322 ft

Continue straight to stay on Virginia Ave NW
0.5 mi

Use the right lane to turn right onto Rock Creek and Potomac Pkwy NW
May be closed at certain times or days
0.2 mi

Turn right onto the ramp to K St/Whitehurst Fwy
344 ft

Continue onto K St NW
0.3 mi

Turn right onto Wisconsin Ave NW
0.2 mi
Georgetown

On the Sharpsburg info you list 5.4 miles to Downsville yet the mile maskers calculate to 10.5.

77 For Sharpsburg and 87.5 for Downsville

Flash flooding didn't impede us from crossing Little Catoctin Creek. We crossed at 3:30pm and the water was about 1.5 below the temporary (although rather solid) bridge. This was after all the rain/Flash flood warnings.

I found these types of postings helpful so figured I'd share a general summary of the recent trip. This was my first time on the C&O and the GAP.

Left Georgetown early on Wednesday, July 3rd. Encountered 4 fallen trees I had to lift my bike over in the first 30 miles (I don't recall specific mileposts). One was large enough that I had to remove my panniers, toss them over, then bring my bike along.

Conditions were a bit wet and muddy the first day but nothing like I had prepared myself for. The Brunswick temporary bridge was super solid and easy to cross-I was impressed. Made it just south of Williamsport and shared the Cumberland campsite with a group. It was great to be able to hop in the river to get the mud off. Every pump I tried was working with the exception of one around mile 60 that didn't have a handle. I found the water fine to drink as well. Got one flat I had to patch on trail. This was after the area north of Sharpsburg. A red arrow is painted on a tree. I will walk my bike through there next time. It felt like some mountain bike trails.

Left camp early on the 4th. Made it through Williamsport, the detour was well marked. Got spooked by a dog in the part that goes behind some houses. I walked my bike when it turned back into trail. That area was super rutted and looked like an easy accident for me. Grabbed breakfast and another tube in Hancock. The Western Maryland Rail Trail was a really pleasant ride and I found easy to follow when leaving and joining the C&O.

After the WMRT, things got pretty muddy. Huge puddles. It was all pretty manageable but it's something to be prepared for. Got another flat on the damaged tube just outside of Paw Paw. Repaired that. It started raining pretty hard and got seemingly even muddier in the last 10 miles into Cumberland. I got a stick in my rear derailleur and knocked it when dropping into a big puddle at some point in here. I'd been warned about the trains, heard the fireworks, and needed a shower so I opted for a hotel. Ramada inn let me spray my bike down and bring it to my room.

Left Cumberland about 7am on the 5th. The climb to the divide was pretty gradual. Here's where I realized my drivetrain was acting up. Gears were slipping and super noisey in most gears. Big Savage tunnel was such a cool experience. The drop on the other side of the divide was very pleasant. Trail conditions on the GAP were great. Really nice trail the entire way.

Made it to Confluence and sought out the Confluence Cyclery. The three gentlemen there were extremely helpful. Grabbed food at Mitch's across the street. They made a minor adjustment to my derailleur which improved things slightly. We agreed it'd get me home. They suggested camping in Connellsville. Made it there after one more rain shower. The trail was a bit more crowded through Ohiopyle.

Left Connellsville early on 7/6. Made it to Pittsburgh before 11. McKeesport was the only area to that point I had trouble following the trail. It wasn't super clear to me that I had to cross the bridge. Into Pittsburgh was fine and mostly paved. I lost the trail in the last mile but ended up at Points all the same.

Definitely a great trip. Would recommend at least one additional tube and to know where the bike shops are on route. Folks are extremely helpful along the entire trail. Don't underestimate the mud north of Hancock.