C&O / GAP Forum

My daughter and I are biking from Pittsburgh to DC. Our last stop is White's Ferry. Any hotel/B&B recommendations would be appreciated!

Across the river Leesburg is a few miles away. 1 of the motels use to offer a free shuttle. Can't recall which one.

White's Ferry is sort of the middle of nowhere on the Maryland side at least for hotels. There are a number around Leesburg, Virginia. You can take the ferry across the river for a few dollars, and Leesburg is just a couple of miles away. Unfortunately, the road there is dangerous. Once you get off the ferry, you have about a mile to Highway 15. There are several, small, blind hills on that road. I ride it but always worry about someone coming up behind me at high speed. But since bikes are the last things off the ferry, usually you can make it to 15 without anyone coming up from behind. Highway 15 is more of a problem. Cars whiz by at 60 mph. There is a wide shoulder and rumble strips to let cars know if they stray onto the shoulder. All the same, I don't enjoy the two-mile ride on Highway 15 into town. It's pretty safe once you get into Leesburg though. Streets in the old part of town are narrow but have sidewalks. Many of the newer areas have walking paths. There may be AirB&Bs to be found on the Maryland side. Otherwise, there isn't a hotel within ten or fifteen miles. White's Ferry is in the county agricultural preserve, meaning commercial buildings aren't allowed. You really have to go on into DC to get a hotel. It's about 30 miles on the towpath and an easy three hours.

Best Western in Leesburg sent a van to pick us up and take us back for free. Very helpful staff. Another hotel was going to charge us so call if you stay somewhere else. Lots of restaurants in the main hotel area.

Comfort Suites in Leesburg, VA has a "bike and stay package." They pick you and your bike(s) up for free from the shuttle and take you to your room. They have a hose outside to wash your bikes and let you keep your bikes in your room. Once there, if you don't want to ride your bike anymore, they will also provide a free ride to a restaurant or anywhere else in town and come pick you up when you want to return. They also provide food for you to take with you on the remainder of your trip. (Except we forgot to pick up our free food for the ride home!) Phone: (703) 669-1650

Tampa Biker, Thanks, I couldn't remember the name of the motel that offered a shuttle. I'm not sure why Richard stated there were no lodging choices within 10-15 miles of White's Ferry. Leesburg is only a couple of miles and yes biking on the road is a pain in the butt.

I just crossed Whites Ferry on September 8 during my excursion from Pittsburgh to DC.

The cost to cross the ferry on a bicycle is $2.

The total mileage from where you turn off the C&O trail to get to the ferry to where you turn on to the W&OD trail on the other side of Downtown Leesburg is 5.0 miles.

The distance from the ferry to 15 is 1.2 miles. Traffic on that road is not as bad as others have stated. Unless you have your music turned up too loud you can easily hear approaching traffic.

Make no mistake- 15 is a busy road, at least until the 15 bypass. The good thing is that during that part there is a 10 ft wide paved shoulder with a rumble strip between the traffic and you.

At the bypass where 15 becomes business 15, the paved shoulder becomes much narrower, but the speed limit drops to 35mph to 25mph at the edge of downtown. There is a sidewalk if the shoulder seems too sketchy.
Once in old downtown Leesburg, there isn’t anyone going 25mph. I felt safe riding down the center of the traffic lane downtown.

If you opt for the W&OD trail at Leesburg, it will be a completely different biking experience. The W&OD is a paved rails-to-trails that runs beneath a big power line, is rather treeless and boring, crosses roads, and passes through a number of built up areas. I'm not a fan although tastes differ. The C&O on the other hand just starts to get interesting between White's Ferry and Georgetown. The towpath is still dirt, and hence possibly muddy, until you get to Violette's lock at the 23 mile mark. But before you get there, you pass Edwards Ferry, which used to be another ferry across the river and which was the site of a lock allowing boats from the river to enter the canal, particularly canal boats from the Goose Creek Canal across the river in Virginia. During the Civil War, Confederate guerilla units were crossing the river from White's Ferry to Pennyfield Lock (mile 20) and Union cavalry patrolled the towpath. At Violette's, you look across the river at Trump National Golf Course. The river is partially damned there and a lake is formed by the backed up water. Here you also pass Seneca quarry which provided the red sandstone you see on building in DC like the Smithsonian castle and the broken viaduct over Seneca Creek. The last lock keeper here was John Riley. His family lived in the lockkeeper's house you see until his young daughter drowned in the canal and the family moved away from the water. Eventually you'll get to Great Falls. The walking path to the Falls is still closed, I think, buy you can still see parts of it from the towpath. Traffic on the towpath picks up from here to Georgetown but it isn't too bad. In sum, the towpath has a lot more history to it, river views, and trees than the W&OD Trail does. While the towpath north of White's Ferry is not in good condition, the surface from Violette's Lock to Georgetown is macadam (rocks and gravel mixed with clay) and stays pretty dry. But if you are tired of the towpath experience and just want to get the ride over with, the W&OD is an alternative.

Thanks everyone for the input. Booked at Comfort Suites and they pick up from the ferry!

Hi everyone! Does anyone know if overnight parking is allowed at the Dawson Trailhead? If so, do i need to contact local police or anyone? Also, is it safe to leave a car overnight there? Thanks for any help!!

You can leave car at our house, contact me.

Thank you! How can I get in touch with you?

What is your email?

dstizz73@yahoo.com
thanks

I rode the GAP and C&O over 3 days. Pretty aggressive, 106 miles on Day 1, 104 on Day 2 and 124 on Day 3. Here are some notes/suggestions (sorry for the lengthy post). 3 days is alot of riding and since the weather conditions were wet/muddy - Day 2 and Day 3 were alot longer that planned. If I did the ride again, might do it in 4 days. I knew going in 3 days was aggressive, but challenging. Any questions, please let me know.

Day 1 Pittsburgh to Rockwood.

Accommodations: Stayed at the Springhill Suites Southside - 2950 South Water St. On the GAP trail. Allowed you to take your bikes to our room. Breakfast @ 6:30 am. In Rockwood. Rockwood Trail House located on the GAP trail. When you check in, you just find your room number and let yourself into the house. Nice B&B - bring earplugs. There are trains running thru the night. Spend the extra money to have Debi make breakfast!!

Food: Stopped in West Newton for snacks. Rite Aid and other places right off the trail. Lunch in Connellsville - Bikes Unlimited suggested Keedys. Warm subs and waitress filled bottles/bladders. Food in Rockwood is limited - Rock City Cafe closes the kitchen @ 7 pm. We ordered from the Rockwood Mill Shoppes - a pizza/sub/salad place.

General advice: nice riding, you do have a false flat - so don't be surprised why your speed drops.

Day 2 Rockwood to Hancock

Accommodations: Super 8 - Limestone Rd. Biker friendly. They have a hose outside to clean your bike and provide towels to dry your bike. Rooms have refrigerator and microwaves.

Food: Cumberland stopped at European Desserts for sandwiches and of course dessert. Hancock - Subway in town. Ordered extra sub for the next day (highly recommend). The towns off the C&O are actually off the trail. There isn't anything on the trail like the towns on the GAP. Need to make sure you have plenty of food with you.

General advice: Stop on the Salisbury Viaduct - nice views. Once you hit the Eastern Continental Divide - it is all down hill. Shortly after the Big Savage Tunnel, you will cross the Mason Dixon Line - photo op. Bring headlight and taillight - due to the many tunnels. At lock 56, be sure to take the PAVED Western Maryland Rail Trail to Hancock, MD

Day 3 Hancock to DC (a really long day)

Accommodations: Key Bridge Marriott. I don't think you can find a more convenient hotel. A short ride across the Key Bridge from Georgetown.

Food: Stop by Barrons right of the trail to get some snacks near Snyders Landing. For lunch, we stopped in Shepherdstown at the Blue Moon Cafe. Good food and very biker friendly. We picked up 2 sandwiches for the rest of the ride. Good bike shop in town - Pedal & Paddle.

General Advice: Heading out from Hancock,take the PAVED Western Maryland Rail Trail down to Ernstville Rd - take the right and get back on the C&O towpath. Stopped to enjoy lunch @ Catoctin Aqueduct. Nice view of the Catoctin Creek.

All in all, I found the ride challenging but not impossible. I commute to work about 17 miles round trip and ride 50 - 70 on Saturdays. As well as I mtn bike ride, so the C&O with mud wasn't overwhelming. As I posted earlier, your speeds will drop. I ride an avg speed of 17 on the road, but on this ride avg 11.

Best of luck to those who are planning their trips.

Thanks for sharing the details of your ride. I did the ride last year with a friend and am planning another trip in the Spring. My friend and I have been deliberating on 3 or 4 days. I think the way you laid things out helped us get to a 4-day decision. Thanks. Nice work out there!

My wife and I want to ride on the Cumberland trail. We usually ride 15 to 40 miles round trip back to our car and then drive to a hotel. We would like to ride on four or five sections of the trail and do the best sections.

Do you mean the C&O Tow Path?

Getting ready to ride the trail starting in Cumberland 9/18 to D.C. Has anyone been on the trail recently to give an update on the conditions?

Was on C&O Sept 5 through 7. Mile 176 through 170 was a mosh pit in places that I had to walk bike through. Used old credit card to scrape mud out of front fender.
Paw Paw detour took 45 minutes. Steep but not that much of a killer.
Otherwise mud puddle jumping most of the way.
Got tired of puddle jumping and took Whites Ferry to cross the Potomac. Rode the 5 miles to the W&OD trail from Leesburg to DC

Biked GAP and C&O in early Sept. The C&O was muddy and spent most of our time dodging mud/ The trail takes a long time to clear up after a substantial rain. Conditions didn't really improve until we approached Great Falls. Definitely carry wire brush and chain lube.

Lisa, we are starting from Pittsburgh at the end of September and going through tomDC somI will be very interested to know how you find the C &O . It isn't our first time so I know what It can be like but an up date is always welcome. Hope you have fun.

Anybody think the C&O will dry out by next weekend (9/23)? Looking to do a very fast run from Pittsburgh -> D.C. I've dealt with the post-Cumberland mud pit before and was hoping to get away with using my cross bike instead of larger-clearance mountain bike...

Rode from south from Hancock today - decent conditions...

I biked from Cumberland to DC from 9/15-9/22. Entire towpath bone dry.

Over the Labor Day weekend, I rode from Pittsburgh to DC over 3 days. Yes, I agree this was aggressive, but only had a limited vacation. Here are my suggestions/advice.

Bike - Crossbike or adventure bike. I rode a Diamondback Haanjo Comp Carbon

Tires - 34c tires at a minimum with tread. I rode Kenda Flintridge Pro 35c tubeless and carried extra tubes just in case of an issue with tubeless setup. (I had no flats over the 3 days)

Water - Camelback bladder and 3 water bottles - you can never have too much water.

Pedals - Clipless mtn bike shoes/pedals. I rode TIME pedals

Lights - front and back. Lights you can actually use to see as well as if you are out riding later than planned. Some of the tunnels are pretty dark.

Rack and bags - I rode with Topeak rear rack and Ortlieb Back Roller Classics

Food - carried plenty of bike food. On the GAP, there are plenty of places in the towns and pretty close to the trail. On C&O - most towns were off the trail. So my advice is buy food and carry it with you vs waiting to find a place off the trail. Better to have food when you want it vs not having it.

I will post more info about each day and suggestions.

Where is the best place to park a vehicle and load a bicycle after completing the trail near mile marker 0 in DC?

The towpath ends under the elevated Whitehurst Freeway in Georgetown. There is plenty of street parking. It has parking meters. But since it's a deadend, you can double park while you load bikes onto a car. There is also street parking for miles in all directions. If you are asking where you can leave a car for an extended period, there are parking lots although they are rather expensive.

If your biking the complete route park/leave your vehicle at Great Falls. With a pass you can park that multiple days. Your only 14 miles from the end of the trail. Contact me for more info.

The official mile 0 is located behind Thompson Boat Center. Here is a video on how to find the marker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kzs51zRsSY

There is a small parking lot for the Boat House. Check out their website

http://boatingindc.com/boathouses/thompson-boat-center/

Also, there is a parking garage for The Washington Harbour as well.

https://www.thewashingtonharbour.com/visiting-parking

Any recommendation for inexpensive waterproof shoes? I am not used to riding in the rain and I cannot carry several pairs of shoes on the trip. Not clip-on. How about shoe covers?

I have found the plastic bags that my morning paper come in make excellent disposable, rain covers over my regular shoes. Don't take any space to carry.

I use bike sandals (cut for clips, but don't need to use them), much like mountain bike shoes. Also easy to walk in. Smartwool socks for rain or cold, and barefoot in warm. Socks are way easier to pack and change (and wash too). Sandals were $50 on sale.

From the GAP to Benner's Meadow Run at Ohiopyle, is it an arduous 6 mile climb uphill to the campsite?

Terrain isn't the issue. Narrow, blind curve roads and country drivers are the issue. Be smart, be safe.

Looking for a bike shop to repack my bike into a box for flight home. Looking at October DC-Pitt. Any recommendations? Thanks!

bike heaven is a shop/museum/curiosity place of all things bicycle. Just north of carnegie science center in Pittsburgh on the 3 rivers heritage trail about 2 mi from the Point. (412)734-4034 These folks will do it or will know who will.

If anyone finds a Skaggen watch between miles 100 & 124, please post. Reward!

Find out what you need to improve in yourself to become more effective!

I would rather be riding through the rainy, muddy C&O than sitting here in Tampa watching the weathermen on the news talking about a Cat 3 hurricane coming right for my house to Tampa.

Hope all goes well for you and everyone else down in that way!

Is there an easy/safe route by bicycle to get from the airport to the GAP? We have a rental car to turn in once in Pittsburgh and thought it may be easier to start our journey from the airport instead of having to be taxied back to Pt.State Park. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

You might google public transportation in Pittsburgh

Yes, bike the Montour Rail Trail from PIT Airport into the point park & there at point join the GAP.

The SAFEST route in my opinion is to take the Airport to the Montour Trail. Then take the Montour Trail to the Clairton Trailhead. Then the the trail connector to the GAP in McKeesport. Anyway you go you will be doing many miles on the Montour Trail and roads but some roads and directions are less busy and safer then others. If you want to start off at mile 0 in Pittsburgh then you would have to Google that information. For the other directions just search YouTube for the Montour Trail connector and it will bring up the videos that you need. Hope that helps.

Thanks for the info. How far is it from the airport to Clairton/GAP?
First overnight is Connellsville. Want to keep mileage to around 60. Will leaving from airport require more miles than leaving from Pt.St.Pk?

Here is your numbers. From Pgh. Point State Park mile 0 to Connellsville is 60.5 miles. From the airport parking lot to Pgh. Point State Park is 27.5 miles. From the airport parking lot to Mckeesport is 43.5 miles. So unless your willing to do 90 to 100 miles that 1st day (and I would not and/or could not do) I will get public transportation to Pittsburgh like Joe said and do the 60 miles from there. Good luck in your planing and trip. Hope this helps.

Hello
Okay...If it is 43.5 miles from airport parking lot to McKeesport, McKeesport is at the 132 mile marker on the GAP trail, Connelsville is at 88 mile marker, then the distance from airport to Connelsville is 87.5 miles.
Stillriding is correct 87.5 miles might be rough for a first day.
You might want to make the first stop either Perropolois (72.5 miles) - or Smithton (67.5 miles) or West Newton (61.5 miles).
I’ve stayed at the Choice Inn in Smithton. It is a steep 1.5 mile climb from The Gap Trail at Cedar Creek Park to the hotel, but doable.

We got a ride from the Pitts. airport to the beginning of the trail in downtown Pitts. from the guy who rented us our bikes (Tom, from Get Out and Go) and it took about 40 minutes or so. So we didn't get started til about 1:00pm. With trying to find the trail, stopping for a monsoonlike downpour, a stopped train, taking pictures, etc., we were so glad we had booked a room at the Bright Morning B & B in West Newton. It is right on the trail, beautiful view, hose to wash off bikes, shed to lock them in, comfortable, great breakfast, and nice place to eat dinner about 100 yards away. I'd highly recommend staying there, especially on first day starting the trail.

Stayed there as well on our recent trip. Great place.

We flew into Pittsburgh, then took airport bus 28 X to downtown . Where you can find your way to the Point park. It cost $2.50 from the machine near the baggage claim, and the bus runs every half an hour.

For those have ridden the C&O and GAP, how does your speed on the trail compare to your speed on an hour or two ride on the street?

I averaged about 20% slower on the trail than on the street (even with stop and go traffic).

I average 14-15 mph. on paved roads. Riding the C&O and GAP an overall average of about 10 mph. Better on the GAP, the Canal was not in the best of shape when we rode it a couple weeks ago.

I agree completely with anonymous. On the downhill part of the Gap from the Continental Divide to Cumberland, you can go as fast as traffic permits, but on muddy stretches of the Canal, I slowed to about 9 mph.

Just finished a 3 day - Pittsburgh to D.C. last night. We rode the following: Pittsburgh to Rockwood, Rockwood to Hancock, Hancock to D.C. So yes, it was aggressive. I normally ride on the road about a 17 mph pace, the pace on Day 1 was avg of 12, Day 2 was avg of 11, and Day 3 was avg of 11. Day 2 and Day 3 - the trails were muddy and wet.

Expect 20 % slower on the GAP, possibly 30 % slower on the C&O, especially during and after rain.

Riding the trail in late September/Early October and we are planning on alternating between camping and hotel/B&Bs. Just wondering--do the hiker/biker sites fill up? I know online it says they are first come first serve, but wasn't sure if anyone had encountered a site that was full before you arrived? Thanks in advance for your help!

I will be starting my trip on September 1st and will be camping I will let you know what I find.

The C&O campsites are supposed to be first come..but I've shared sites on numerous occasions. Also most are quite large. People are usually very compatible.

I just finished yesterday the only campsite that had multiple tents set up was in Connellsville I don't think you will have a problem.

Never in my four full trips have I seen a crowded campsite.