C&O / GAP Forum

We are flying into Pittsburg 11:20 am. We have someone meeting us at the airport and dropping us off with our rental bikes at mile zero in Pittsburg. I figure we should be on the bikes by 1:30 pm. We couldn't get a place in West Newton so we are riding to Perryopolis (48 miles to our lodging). Hopefully, this is doable before it gets dark. I figure it gets dark about 8:30 pm so we have 7 hours to do our first day. Hopefully, the plane won't be late. I have never ridden on anything except pavement so, I am a little nervous. Can anybody give me a perspective on how much difference in speed the crushed gravel makes versus the road on the same type of bicycle? That is, how fast do you normally ride on the street compared to how fast you ride this part of the trail? Thanks in advance.

My wife and I got to Perryopolis in a day. We stayed at The Inn at Lenoras because it was close to the trail and it was a good choice. Would stay there again. It is a long climb up to the town but not to bad. Just something I'd rather not do at the end of the day. The biggest headache was navigating out of Pittsburg. The trail is marked but while your watching the sights and wayward cars you might miss a turn. The paving is solid and hard packed for all of the GAP trail. I would recommend cross tires about 30mm with some nubs on them. The more you go for mountain bike style tires the slower you'll go. You should average about 10 miles an hour and that's conservative. The turnoff isn't clearly marked for Perryopolis so watch for the bridge overpass and soon after that is the turn. Figure everything that could go wrong. You may be cutting it close but it is doable.

The turn off is hard to find, but Whitsett is right before it and you'll see the signs for that. It was pouring rain and muddy for that part of the trip on our first day last week which slowed us down a lot. We started in McKeesport and went to Connellsville, which is about the same distance you'd do. Be sure to stop at the Trailside in West Newton to eat!

How far is it from Harpers Ferry to Brunswick and back? What is a reasonable hiking distance per day on the canal for a non-hiker?

oops see comment above. I just spent 4 hours cutting overgrown grass and I am spent. I could do a 5 hour hike though.

Brunswick is right on the path and it was a quick little hill to the best coffee and pie on the entire trail. Beans in the Belfry was a great spot to have a bite. Very popular with cyclists. The visitor center rail museum across has very limited hours and was closed, of course. But we were glad we stopped to listen to jazz and have a bite.

Is there a typical rain pattern in Cumberland, MD? For instance, in Tampa, FL during the summer it is clear, hot and sunny until about 3 pm and then storms for about an hour and then stops. You can set your clock by it. I am wondering when I see rain in the forecast, does it generally rain all day long? Or is there no specific pattern at all. I am prepared to ride in the rain but I would prefer not to. We are riding Pitt to DC starting June 21.

In the summer, rain usually is in the form of thunderstorms, usually in late afternoon. More like 5:00 or 6:00 than 3:00. You don't want to ride through them however because they will have lightening, which is dangerous. But we can also have weather patterns that bring in rain for a day or two. Those won't have lightening. Ten day forecasts specify the chances of rain and whether it will be in the form of a thunderstorm.

I lost my keys on the tow path...started out at lock 38 then went towards shepherdstown on the trail.....anybody know whp I can call or did anyone find any keys?

Hey there - I just completed a successful solo ride from DC to Pittsburgh and thought I'd let you know what I discovered. I completed the ride in 5 days with a gradual increase in mileage from day 1 to day 5. I didn't camp for several reasons. The first being - I would have needed more gear. The second being - rain = mud on the C&O canal. And the third - I like having hot showers to wash off all the mud. I packed my water and snacks, but you could probably buy snacks along the way. I liked having everything handy. If you stay in hotels, you could probably get away with one change of clothing for the evenings for the whole trip. Bring lots of socks because they are likely to get wet. And, bring a light raincoat. I saw people with full rain suits, but I didn't bother with that. I didn't mind my legs getting wet. If you have full proof way to protect your feet from rain, then go for it. I bought a $35 pannier off of amazon and then strapped a small duffel bag on my bike rack. Plus, I had two water bottles and a bike pump strapped to the bike. This worked out well for me, and luckily, my tires survived the whole trip. The canal was super muddy - so bring some chain lube to protect your chain. And yes, the Paw Paw tunnel was open when I went (5/24/17-5/28/17).
Day 1 - First stop - Harpers Ferry. Roughly 45 miles. I stayed at the Knights Inn. It was fine, but not the best in the world. They were very friendly, but the breakfast was limited.
Day 2 - Hancock, Maryland 64 miles- Nice little town with several options. I stayed at the Motel 8. Thought it was great. Clean rooms and nice breakfast.
Day 3 - Frostburg, Maryland 76 miles - This day was cool because there was lots to see, but it was definitely my hardest day. The climb from Cumberland into Frostburg is super challenging. The crushed limestone during the uphill climb felt like biking in a sandbox. I limped into the Trail Inn which I thought was a great place. Day 4 - Connellsville, PA - 72 miles. I stayed at the Connellsville Bed and Breakfast which I loved. Lucy is great and her place is comfortable. Do not eat at the Mexican restaurant in town. This day was mostly downhill and fun. The path is great. Ohiopyle State Park is beautiful. Day 5 - Into the point in Pittsburgh. 60ish miles. When you pass Boston, MD, the path becomes paved and a bit hilly. But, it's fun going over the bridges and seeing all the people. Hope this helps anyone thinking of going.

Thanks for the trip report. I hope to do this trip in September. If you don't mind, could you tell us your age, size(S,M,L?), bike type, and configuration.

I'm 46 and 6ft 2" tall. I was on a large transeo 4.0 hybrid bike with front shocks and disk brakes. I saw all sorts of bikes on the trail with super fat tires to the hybrid tires I had. A road bike would not survive. I trained for the trip around town which is super hilly. The longest training ride was 50 miles. I also bought a trainer so that I could ride indoors on the bike that I was going to use. Hope this helps.

I'm doing the same starting June 19th - I appreciate your post!

I too, just completed my solo ride from DC to Pittsburgh. Started on Monday and finished this morning in Pittsburgh. Overnight Stops: Harpers Ferry (Town Inn), Hancock (Super 8), Cumberland (Fairfield Inn), Confluence (Hanna House BnB, and W. Newton (Bright Morning BnB). C&O (M-W) was wet & very muddy. I strongly recommend getting off the C&O and riding the paved Western Maryland Rail Trail (22.5 miles long) into and out of Hancock. The climb out of Cumberland was long and slow on the GAP (in great shape and a pleasure to ride), but once over the E. Continental Divide it was literally all downhill from there. GAP is paved after Boston and into Pittsburgh, but stay vigilant regarding the GAP signage once you get into McKeesport and into Pittsburgh.
Vast majority of riders are going west to east and many were doing only the GAP (from some point west than to Cumberland then shuttling back to their starting point).
Best find the entire trip: The bakery right next to Gary's Chuckwagon restaurant in W. Newton on S. 2nd Street. This bakery is NOT listed or advertised on any signage on trail or in trail book. Great baked goods - this is a MUST stop for everyone!
What I missed most: Good coffee. Latte? Unheard of!

Be well and pedal on. Regards to my Canadian friend Michael!

I just finished the ride yesterday on 32 mm 250 gram Panaracer PT tires with 90 psi pressure. Absolutely no problem. I weight 175 and carried 40 lbs.

Seth, what was your average speed on the trail? And for perspective, how fast do you ride a casual 20-mile trip on the street? What was the difference in speed between the C&O and the Gap?

I would say that my average speed was between 10-12 miles on the whole trip. I did stop every 10 miles for a break. And, when I felt really tired, I'd stop every 5 miles. So, on my longest ride day (76 miles), I left at about 7:20am and limped into Frostburg at 6:10pm. That includes a 30 minute stop for lunch in cumberland and several 10-15 minute stops along the way. And, I completely support using the Western Maryland Rail Trail. I probably averaged 15 MPH on that because it's smooth and there were no people around. This was the first long trip I took on this bike. My one training ride was 20 miles and it took 40 minutes on some hilly roads in our area. I'm not sure I answered the pacing question. I thought the C&O canal was faster than I expected other than all the mud which I didn't plan on. I did have 4 pairs of dry socks which was great to have. If you have any specific questions, feel free to reach out to me directly sethlavitch at yahoo dot com

If you’re going PIT to DC you'll average 10 mph going gradually uphill until the continental divide of which you be going downhill to Cumberland and you can expect 15-18 mph (but it's only 24 miles). Cumberland to DC is flat except for the small plunges at the locks (which are fun to speed down). You'll likely be going around 10-11 the remainder of the way to DC. The dodging of rocks and tree roots and puddles on the C&O slows you down a bit. The GAP is an easier ride in terms of paying attention to the ground beneath you.

If you’re going DC to PIT, the C&O is the same expect for the little uphills at the locks. Cumberland to the Continental Divide is a slower grind, likely 8-10 mph. Continental Divide to PIT is slightly downhill but you won’t coast much Maybe 10-12 mph.

Does anyone have feedback about hotels or B&B's in Meyersdale?

We stayed at the Levi Deal Mansion in the carriage house and I cannot say enough good things about it! Immediately off the trail and a very large and comfortable space. Includes a washer and dryer inside the room, which was very much welcomed! Breakfast was delicious. Bikes were stored in a locked garage beside the carriage house.

Yoder's Guest House. Denise is great! Don't forget to eat breakfast at GI Dayroom on Main St near the bottom of the hill.

I highly recommend Morguen Toole Company. Indoor bike parking, neat building, lots of room options, a restaurant and bar and the owner and staff are very friendly. Go to the GI Day Room for breakfast they have the best pancakes!

Three of us on city commuter type bikes with 32 or 35 mm tires set off from Waterfront in Pittsburgh, carrying clothes, bike gear and credit cards. We did days of 56, 76, 60, 72, 60, 38 miles. Both GAP and C&O trails were no problem. but more work than city streets. No trees or other major obstacles. We averaged 10-12 mph the whole way. C&O was pretty muddy for the 20 miles past Cumberland and bumpy the whole way. PawPaw Tunnel was still open on June 1. The trail to bypass it looked very steep. Bike shops in Ohiopyle fixed a spoke and in Cumberland provided some minor repairs. both were very helpful. Accommodations (from Air B&B) all worked. Don't expect Bill's place in Little Orleans to be open past 7 or on Monday or Tuesday.-there's not much else there. Wildlife was amazingly abundant including deer, bear, fox, wildcat, and a ruffed grouse that chases bikes, Road to Leesburg was a little scary but nobody died. Last day we opted for the W&OD path to DC rather than C&O, trading bumpy dirt for Lycra-decorated asphalt. Variety. We still sought out (with difficulty) the C&O Mile 0 post in Georgetown for the triumphant picture. Only crowds we found were in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Final assessment is that keeping mileage <50 makes for a shorter day with more time to explore. Good trip. Do it.

You said that you averaged 10-12 mph. I am assuming that you averaged 12 mph on the GAP trail and 10 mph on the C&O trail. Is that true? Also, for perspective, how fast do you do a casual 20-mile ride on the street? My wife and I are starting on 6/21.

On flat roads I ride 10-12 but my companions are faster. We did about 11.5 mph from pittsburgh to connelsville (mostly paved); 10.0, connelsville to frostburg (uphill); 11.6, frostburg to little orleans (big downhill); 10.5, orleans to leesburg; 11.6 from leesburg to DC (all paved).

I have ridden Pgh.- DC many times, Always taking between 30 and 33 hours total ride time for the transit. Of course stops are not included. so I guess I'm doing a little over 10 mph, on a Gary Fisher Utopia with Nimbus 700 32 tires, 95 psi.

Lenny, Thanks for the information regarding speed on the trail. What is your speed for a casual 20-mile ride on the road? I am trying to put your 10 mph into perspective so that I know what I can anticipate what to expect. For instance, if you average 20 mph on a casual 20-mile ride on the road on a similar bike and then slow to 10 mph on the trail, that is much different than if you average 12 mph on the road and then slow to a 10 mph on the trail.

Just rode 18 miles last night. in 1:29. On much steeper grades than the Gap or tow path. Look like around 12mph. Bike had no gear on it though.

In the end , you got to be the judge.
it is ~ 5 miles from Brunswick to Harpers Ferry.
Round tip without sightseeing is 10 miles.
A casual walk is 2.5 miles per hour.
four hours of walking barely raises a sweat with me. The conditional line is that you claim you are not a hiker. Does that mean you hit the wall after 2 hours? If you have to ask the question, try a two hour hike around home and see if you are still into it.

Do any of you have information on how secure a bicycle would be at HI Washington DC Hostel
1009 11th Street, NW Washington, Washington DC, USA

How about other inexpensive lodgings in DC and securing a bicycle.

I rode the GAP and C&O trail in mid-July 2016. My itinerary originally included staying at the HI DC on 11th street. There's a lot of car traffic getting to the hostel from the end of the C&O on the Georgetown University campus. There also was road construction that made the ride even more hectic. When I arrived at the hostel I found it overrun by young Asian people. I have nothing against young Asians, but it was just too crowded and noisy that particular day. I really didn't feel that the hostel is in a safe area of town and a good place for a bike traveler to stay. Plus, after a 340 mile ride, I decided it would not be a good place to rest up before the long journey back home. A worker at the hostel told me there was a storage shelter on the premises in which one could store a bike. He said it was secure, but I had doubts. I recommend jumping on the Metro rail and staying at Budget Host motel in Alexandria, VA. The metro station is less than a mile away, easily accessible by bike. The motel is around $90 plus tax, which is cheap for a decent motel in the DC area. You can roll your bike right into your room so there are no worries. I don't know if the DC HI is that busy all of the time. I'm just relating my one experience. Hope this helps you with your plans!

The Paw Paw tunnel will close on June 19, 2017. This closure date is official and will require all thru-traffic to use the bi-pass trail (Tunnel Hill Trail) for the duration of the project. Currently the contractor is projecting that the project should be completed in approximately 100 days; that makes the new completion date around the end of September 2017.

They actually changed this to June 2. It is now closed

Is there a way to go from Point State Park to the trail without using Blvd. of the Allies, etc.? When going past the Blockhouse/museum, there was a large pile of dirt on the way to the Mon Warf.

Ride across the Fort Pitt Bridge on the walkway accessible behind the blockhouse. Turn right at the end of the bridge onto 2fast3of the sidewalk under the incline and turn right again into the road that leads to the incline parking. You can pick up the north side trail there

As a boy roaming the hills of West Virginia,I came across a few patches of Paw Paw's. Taste a little like bananas. Not very good.

Are there trees by the trail we could get fruit from? If so, are they ripe now? It would be fun to try.

Could you tell me the detour route for the closure of the Paw Paw Tunnel? We are planning a trip June 24, and we need to know how long the detour will be.
Thank you for your assistance and have a nice day
Robin

The PawPaw tunnel is currently open. The detour is about 1.5 miles up over the hill. I think you have to walk it, so it shouldn't add more than an hour or two to your ride.

Is the CSX trail a reasonable workaround? How well does it join to the C&O on both sides?

To provide thru-access for bicylists during the project, a bypass trail will be opened using an old logging road on the berm side of the Canal upstream of the south tunnel portal. A temporary “bridge” will be installed across the Canal prism that connects with an abandoned logging road that provides a gentler grade to the top of Tunnel Hill. This temporary by-pass then connects with the existing Tunnel Hill Trail. The existing Tunnel Hill Trail will remain open during the project, but for safety reasons, cyclists will be required to dismount and walk their bikes across the mountain using the bypass trail detour. The bypass will be clearly marked with signs.

You can read the whole article on the National Park Service website at: https://www.nps.gov/choh/learn/news/co-canal-towpath-closure-paw-paw-tunnel.htm

After some research, I find that the national park has this on its web page."To provide thru-access for bicylists during the project, a bypass trail will be opened using an old logging road on the berm side of the Canal upstream of the south tunnel portal. A temporary “bridge” will be installed across the Canal prism that connects with an abandoned logging road that provides a gentler grade to the top of Tunnel Hill. This temporary by-pass then connects with the existing Tunnel Hill Trail. The existing Tunnel Hill Trail will remain open during the project, but for safety reasons, cyclists will be required to dismount and walk their bikes across the mountain using the bypass trail detour. The bypass will be clearly marked with signs." My questions are 1: is there any better bypass if you leave the C&O on the west side of Paw Paw to the roads and return asap? 2 How strenuous and long is the trail around? I anxiously await a local person's opinion.

What would the blogosphere think about taking 51 at the campground to Malcolm Rd SE to Tunnel Hill Rd? A 2.3 miles ride. What are the surfaces of the roads like and the net elevation? To summarize this looks much less like a mountain bikers solution. Then the logging road and the footpath.

Looking at Google maps...
Cross 522 bridge at Hancock.
Just after bridge turn left on Airport Lane.
Shortly after that turn right on what is listed as CSX trail.
Follow CSX trail until Low Line Rd somewhere near Great Cacapon WVA.
Take Low Line Road until Paw Paw WVA.
Right on 51 until Paw Paw campground.
That would take you to the other side of the tunnel.

I ran this route through google maps for bike touring. The elevation changes weren't that steep.

The CSX trail from Hancock to Low Line road are along the side of the CSX line. Low Line Road runs close to the river on the WVA side of the Potomac.

Unless someone convinces me otherwise , this is the route I'm taking when I go Arlington to Pittsburgh near Labor Day.

I will have to miss Bills Place in Orleans this time.

Maybe if I turn around and go Pittsburgh to Arlington for a round trip excursion I will get to Bills and the Paw paw logging detour.

How hard is the trip from Williamsport to Harpers Ferry. The itinerary we got shows it we will probably travel half the speed as other areas along the trail. How long should it take and please indicate your average pace on the street so I can compare to my level? Thanks in advance.

Hi Tampa, My wife and I have ridden a tandem from Williams Port to Point of Rocks MD several times, we are pretty slow. You can figure about 4 hours to get to Harpers Ferry.

That part of the path is the same for me as the rest of the C&O. perhaps a little faster around Big Slackwater as it is paved. I average 10+ mph the entire ride.

I am planning the trip in the fall and I do not like to ride more than 40 miles a day. Other than the lock houses are there no camping overnight possibilities between Harpers Ferry and Georgetown. I know about the Lock houses. I am willing to stay in: Hostels, B&B's etc. I would prefer not riding off trail more than 10 miles.

Download the C & O Companion App. It was very helpful during our ride from Cumberland to D.C.

I know I'll encounter possums, raccoons, snakes, deer, and all other sorts of creatures, even maybe a skunk or two.

How bout bears? Are they an issue on the C&O canal?

I'm hiking from Cumberland to Harper's Ferry in June.

Thanks

I'm riding DC to Pittsburgh; left Monday morning from Georgetown. Lots of mud! Had to stop and clean my derailleurs at just about every camp ground because I couldn't shift anymore due to mud accumulation. Stopped at Harpers Ferry for first night at Town Inn. Yes, carrying a loaded bike up the stairs is hard work! Harpers Ferry is nice after every one leaves for the day - you have the place to yourself. Left this morning for Hancock. Ran into mud quickly - no surprise as it rained last night (again!). Deviated off C&O onto Western Maryland Rail Trail - 12 miles of paved trail from which you can actually see the C&O and right into Hancock. Staying at Super 8 tonight - cheap, clean and a free breakfast. As soon as I was in my room a terrific Thunder & Lightning storm passed through the area. I can imagine how muddy the C&O is again! Tomorrow will take the remainder of the Rail Trail (about 10 miles) to connect to the C&O. If super muddy may deviate off onto Rt 51 past Paw Paw tunnel.
BTW I talked to some folks eastbound on Monday at White's Ferry and they were getting off the trail, going to Leesburg and then picking up another trail into DC - they were fed up with the mud. I talked to another eastbound rider today in Hancock and he is thinking of bypassing the remaining C&O and going on W. Md Rail Trail to local highways til connecting with the Harpers Ferry Rd to get to Harper Ferry.
Perfectly doable though I suspect he will run into some hills away from the river. I'll post again asap.

We're planning on riding the GAP and C&O Towpath June 17 to 24th and are looking for parking somewhere between Washington and Bethesda. Ideally free parking. Does anyone one know if you can park for a week at the parking areas on the Clara Barton Parkway near Locks 6,7 or 10 or at the Carderock Recreational area? Thanks

How about contacting some of the WarmShowers hosts? Lots in the area and I'm sure someone wouldn't mind letting you park at their place for a week or so.

Give me a shout I can let you know about the FREE PARKING. athiker80@cox.netSPORT8

I am planning to go on Tour de France bike tours and looking for a tour organizer who can organize my whole tour under $500-$1000. Please give your suggestions.

I am looking for a seven day itinerary from Washington, DC to Pittsburg. All of the tour sites go the other direction. Which direction is better? Can someone point me to a tour with a DC to Pittsburg site.


Also, I am sure this question has been asked by others. Is there a way to search this forum? Thanks in advance.

This is just one mans opinion, others may feel differently. To me, Pitt to DC is a more enjoyable ride. The downhill from the Continental Divide to Cumberland is a joy to ride. From there you go down all of the downhills at the locks along the C&O Canal to DC. Not huge drops, they're small, but you don't have to climb them either going this way. The consensus is that the continental divide to Pittsburgh is "Downhill" and while technically true, it really isn't noticeable at all when you're riding. I hated the climb from Cumberland to the Divide (especially with camping gear) and when I got to the top I was expecting a slight downhill reward the rest of the way to Pittsburgh but it never seemed to arrive. It seemed pretty flat. That said, the other way isn't bad either. A week on the GAP/C&O is amazing either direction!

How are the conditions after all the rain?

We'll be riding a loaded tandem and wonder about the spiral staircase we see on the bridge to Harpers Ferry. Any tips? We'll be coming from Antietam that day.

It's doable...but a pain in the butt!. We had 5 people in my group all on 29er's or 700 hybrids. We got the bikes up by lifting and carrying them with a person on each end. In hindsight we should have removed the panniers. It wasn't THAT HARD but it wasn't that easy. The staircase isn't really a true spiral you have room to maneuver.

Thanks!

I am planning on riding the C&O / Allegheny trail. My plan is to drive to Washington, DC with my bicycle and ride to Pittsburg. Then I would like to take Amtrak from Pittsburg back to DC with my bicycle. Questions> How far is it from the trail to the Amtrak station? The cheapest fair starts at 5:30 am. Is the Amtrak Station safe at 5:30 am? Has anyone done this and if so, how did it work out? Where could I leave my car in Washington, DC? Obviously, I am looking for the cheapest way to do this. Another thought is to have my bike shipped from a bike shop in Pittsburg to my home in Tampa, FL and I would take a plane to DC and drive home. Does anyone know a local bike shop in Pittsburg that can take care of packing and ship it for me? About how much will that cost? Thanks in Advance!

Amtrak station is a couple of miles from Point State Park where the trail officially ends. Bike path or protected bike lanes are available. PGH is a very safe city but I would not leave a nice bike on the street without a good lock. Unfortunately the ONLY train to DC is at 5:30 am. Costs $10 to bring your bike but you need to reserve a place for your bike early otherwise you will need to box it up. REI in Pittsburgh will ship your bike to another REI store. Pittsburgh REI is on the trail about 3 miles from the Point. Contact them about details.

William Davis was my great grandfather who ran lock 13. If anyone else anymore information about him I would really love to know more.