C&O / GAP Forum

The Hostel is permanently closed as of October 25, 2019 per the phone recording.

Thank you for the heads-up on this. I have updated the listings.

Happy trails!

Hoping to do a long day trip from HF to DC this weekend with a friend. A bit ambitious and not enough time for camping and sightseeing, but wanted to be outdoors for a good long day. I've seen comments on this board about the section between Shepardstown and Brunswick being recently resurfaced. Anyone have info or observations about the condition of other sections of the towpath in the HF to DC stretch?

Road from Shepherds Town to Brunswick Monday and Tuesday . It has been resurfaced, like riding on pavement.

I know it’s a little late for Gabe but just got back from a week on the trail and about 5 miles of trail below Whites Ferry is resurfaced. Also about 3 miles above Whites Ferry, then you get a longer section that’s been scrapped in preparation for resurfacing but right now its very bumpy.The slack water paved section is in excellent shape as well.

Are electric bikes allowed on the trail?

Of course, "motorized vehicles" are prohibited on the trail, but I am unaware of any prohibitions of ebikes and have seen several on the trail. That said, there isn't a whole lot of need as the grades are very slight and gradual.

I must say I am flat out against ebikes on the trail. I would be OK on a permit only basis based on disability for example but otherwise these things move way to fast compared to a pedal bike or hike and I think they should not be allowed. Just my 2 cents.

I used to be against electric bikes on the trail. But then I met an older gentleman and his wife on that paved trail and spoke with him for a while. He said he used to ride bikes a lot and wanted to keep riding. Apparently, with these EBs you can “dial in” how much work you want to do. So, without the EB he wouldn’t be riding at all. With the EB he can still enjoy life on his bicycle. I don’t think it is safe to ride an EB fast in the C&O or GAP. After talking to him, I changed my mind.

E-Bikes are very legal to ride on the trail. Everyone on a E-Bike or regular bike has to obey all the same rules. The speed on the trail is 15 mph. With that said, yes,I have seen E-Bikes go over that but also regular bikes go over that. When you see someone on an E-bike chances are they are older, heaver, or may have a disability that you may not even be able to see. The point is these bikes cost more money and they are spending it so they to can still enjoy the trail or maybe just being able to ride a bike again. I don't like being passed but if a person calls the pass out before hand and for the most part the trail is plenty wide enough, it's all good. And yes, I have an E-Bike,and two regular bikes and depending on the ride location, length, time and how I feel that day, then I decide on which bike I take. It's never just because I want to go fast, however, I do enjoy being able to pass people again at 67 which does not happen on my regular bikes. Hope this helps. Any comments are welcomed. Enjoy the ride.

I have very mixed opinions pertaining to e-bikes. I have been through the C & O trail a number of times now, and have come to feel an almost spiritual reverence for the sights, smells and sounds when passing through this historic and majestic place. The thought of any type of electrically propelled bike seemed to be inappropriate for these types of trails.
I kind of changed that outlook one day on a trip from DC to Pgh when I happened to meet an elderly gentleman who was slowly making his way up the towpath riding on an electric wheelchair-type scooter. He said he was 86 years old and he had been hiking the C & O since the 1960's. Bad knees and hips now prevent him from walking the trail. As he looked around as he talked to me, I saw the same reverence in his eyes and his words for the trail that I felt. Apparently his grandson drops him off at a trailhead, and he tries to make it to the next trailhead to be picked up. How fantastic to be 86 and still set goals. E-bikes should be allowed possibly with special permits to limit the use to people who really need them.

Been reading the recent posts re: e-bikes. I’m nearing age 70 and have biked all around the world. Still love to ride, but putting big mileage on day after day for a week or two or even more is getting difficult. Just bought an e-bike a few weeks ago. For me, it’s not about the speed, it’s about endurance and continuing to enjoy what I love most. Biking!!! Still have my regular road and mtn bikes, just another option when needed. (I admit I felt a little guilty when I first bought it, but it sure feels great to stay in the saddle longer).

Are electric bikes allowed on the C&O Canal NHP Towpath?

As I recently noted an earlier forum thread on e-bikes the National Park Service as of August 30, 2019 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.

Currently, according to the NPS website on the C&O, ebikes are NOT allowed (how some did searches without finding it shows they don't know how to navigate a website).

https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/hikingandbiking.htm

Having said that, I've heard that it may be changing. But the official website still shows them as not allowed.

See the attached Executive Order for additional information.

https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/sites/default/files/attachments/so_3376_-_increasing_recreational_opportunities_through_the_use_of_electric_bikes_-508_0.pdf

Friends and I would like to plan a bike trip next year, either spring or fall, to bike the GAP and C&O; however, we heard the C&O is in bad shape and not really maintained. We’re wondering your thoughts on this. We may skip the C&O and just do the GAP, as we’ve heard wonderful hints about the GAP, not so much with the C&O. FYI, we all have hybrids.

The C&O can certainly be less enjoyable than the GAP, particularly in wet conditions. However, the history along the way is worth experiencing, at least once. Sections of the Towpath have, in fact, been improved. As noted in an earlier forum thread, the section between Shepherdstown and Brunswick has been resurfaced and is much smoother and with better drainage than its earlier, natural condition. I'm told that another section of the Towpath downriver from Brunswick has also been similarly resurfaced.

Also the WMRT that parallels the Towpath is a very nice, paved trail.

So, I guess it depends on your tolerance for some mud, roots and rocks.

Guys I set out to do both the c and o and the GAP trail Last year October 8th I made it 286 miles until I had rear wheel failure I will say the C and O path is definitely a lot rougher than the GAP however it is ok when the conditions aren't super wet some parts are not passable when it is soaked. The bugs are surprisingly bad this time of year so plan accordingly the bugs were a problem. the temperature is absolutely perfect though and the scenery and historic stops are amazing plan accordingly and research your stops and camp sites headlamps head lamps head lamps and maybe an extra headlight just in case.

How far from the C&O trail is the campground? How steep is the access road?

According to Google Maps and Ride With GPS, the Treehouse Camp at Maple Tree in Rohrersville, MD is 8.3 miles from Brunswick with grades up to 11% as you approach the camp.

I’m looking for suggestions for a section of trail to sample on a one day out and back ride. I’m considering a full trail trip next season but find myself with a free Saturday this month and an itching to try out the C and O. I’ve done the GAP twice, so it’s time to try something new.

What is the best section of trail to try out?

Thanks...

My suggestion would depend on a number of things such as your location, what you want to experience and the distance you'd like to ride in a single day. One thought would be to start in Hancock and ride toward Little Orleans on the paved WMRT that parallels the Towpath and then drop down on the Towpath itself and head back to and beyond Hancock to the downriver end of the WMRT and return to Hancock on the WMRT.. That would be about 45 miles and you would get a good sample of the Towpath and a fairly easy ride. Perhaps the best part of this ride would be the ability to finish off the ride with dinner at Weaver's Restaurant in Hancock.

There are numerous other options depending on your location and preferences.

Possibly the section between Williamsport and Shepherdstown would be good for you if your coming from Allentown. Williamsport is probably the nearest trailhead to you, plus the Conococheague aqueduct at Williamsport was just rebuilt and rewatered & appears to be an interesting location. Also the concrete structure section of trail at Slackwater around mile 87 is worth seeing although probably not recommended for inexperienced riders & kids due to the unprotected drop to the river. If you have access to Google-Earth you can actually see what the trail looks like in "street view". Not sure how they filmed the trail, maybe in an ATV, but it gives you an excellent view of the trail as you would see it from a bike. Possibly have lunch in historic Shepherdstown, then back to Williamsport for a do-able 55 mile day.

Once we make the trip from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. on the GAP and then the C&O we would like to take a train to Philadelphia. Is there a train that will accept us and our bikes?

I don’t have first hand knowledge but road this week with a chap from Philly who said he was taking the train with his bike to Philly from DC.

There are four trains that have baggage cars that handle bikes between WAS and PHL during the week. Please go to Amtrak website and become familiar with making trial reservations for trains between WAS and PHL. Look for the bicycle and baggage symbols among the many listed trains.
You will need a reservation for yourself and the bicycle. You will have to roll your bike to the baggage car and pick it up.

Train 56 Vermonter *Recommended as it originates in WAS
Train 80 Carolinian
Train 90 Palmetto
Train 66 Northeast Regional

Good news from Amtrak this week! The Pennsylvanian now allows bike roll on without boxing the bike. Service available at:

Pittsburgh

Altoona

Johnstown

Harrisburg

Lancaster

Philadelphia

Newark

and NY Penn.

When you book your seat you will see the Bicycle logo and you pay 20 USD.

I'll be taking the train with touring bike from NYP to Pittsburgh tomorrow and riding the ACA Chicago to NYC alternative.

Kimo Goree lgoree@gmail.com

I had read that one or more sections of the Towpath had been resurfaced. Yesterday in route to DC I rode from Shepherdstown to Brunswick on one of those sections. What a delight. Compared to the Towpath upriver, it was smooth and without mud and puddles. It was much like the GAP Trail albeit different color. I don’t know what aggregate material was used or what installation procedures were used but it was a very welcomed improvement. I hope more sections will be similarly improved.

While the aqueduct restoration project in Williamsport is complete, I noted that the former path across the canal at the “basin” has not been returned. Instead, an elevated wooden crossover walkway with steps was built which is not bike friendly. The detour to town that was built while the restoration was underway is still there but not marked and eroded near the top. There is a canal crossover at grade a little further down river but you’d do well to get some local assistance to direct you to it from town.

To those who've camped before; is there ever an issue with the hiker-biker campsites being full? I am planning a trip for mid/late October and it sounds like there may be a lot of folks on the trail around that time based on the message board, so I was concerned about the possibility of being closed out of the camps. Is that even a thing???

Hi Andrew, we’ve been biking / camping the trail mid to late October for past 30+ years and seldom had to share a campsite. We prefer to camp alone so often if one site is occupied you can simply go another 5 miles or so to the next one. Usually, If the occupants are hospitable, we’ll share a campsite especially if its getting late. On the rare occasion that the occupants don’t seem too friendly we’ll simply push on to the next site. We find that most people biking the trail in October are not camping.

I just finished the trip today. I had camping mates two of the three nights on the trail. However I’ve never seen a “full” camp site.

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