C&O / GAP Forum

I’m taking my 9yr old on a tandem and we are bike/camping the full length. Any places along the GAP or C&O that you would AVOID camping? Why is that?

The only hiker/biker site I didn't like was the first one out of Cumberland on the C&O as though you are headed towards DC. Its next to a train yard so you will hear clanging and banging all night long.

while up in the cumberland area you should ride your bike through big savage mountain tunnel built in 1911. i believe that is now part of a new rail trail that goes to pittsburg pennsylvania. this would be good if you had someone give you a ride in this area. i camp at savage river state forrest in western maryland, you can camp at big run state park, this whole area is absolutely beautiful, next to big run state park is savage viver reservoir where there is canoeing and kayaking, new germany state park, lake with lifeguard for swimming, camping, mountain bike trails, all of this is in one area, i can send you some pictures if you like. there are black bears in this area however they never bothered me before. dave

Cumberland is the eastern terminus or the start of the GAP. Big savage is 24 miles west of Cumberland. there are 2 shorter tunnels before Big Savage. They are the Borden and the Brush Tunnels.

I would avoid Kentuck campground at Ohiopyle, because of difficulty getting to it from trail. Very steep hill you will have to push bike up, takes less effort to ride to next campground for me.

Hi all, I have not been on the trail (runner) since 1/22 due to the weather. Can anyone give me a trail report from Nolands up to Brunswick? Not too keen on running in the slop...lol

Hiking from DC to Harpers Ferry on north/east side of canal along towpath. Camping sites look widespread and several on the opposite side. How do I get over to them (e.g. Swains Lock)? Are the other campsites reasonably close to the trail? What about stealth camping at other spots?

First, please remember that parts of the C&O border private property. I have stealth camped in the past also but if an area is clearly marked you should abide by the rules. Most established Park Service sites are 7-10 miles apart. If a site is opposite a lock for instance there's usually a footbridge or some other means of getting across. All/most campsites are right off the trail and some sit maybe 100' off the trail. Don't mean to sound "preachy" just hate to see someone busted for no reason. Or possibly mess up a good thing ie...free camping.

Thinking about riding the Trail/Passage next summer. Would plan to leave a car in Pittsburgh - take the train to DC - and ride back.

Any suggestions for a hotel and a safe place to leave my car on the far western end of the Passage??

Thanks!

I left mine at a parking garage just a few blocks from the station for about $11/night.

Thanks so much for the reply. Very useful.

We didn't actually stay in Pittsburgh, we just pulled into the garage a little after 4:00 am and biked to the station. The train was about an hour late, but it still worked out great. 6 days later, biked to the garage and headed home. You will love it!

I left my pickup parked at the Courtyard in Homestead, PA (about 9 miles from Pitt.). Stayed there Saturday night, hit the trail Sunday and returned for it the following Thursday. No charge and felt safe.

Thanks Tim! VERY helpful.

Going to ride GAP/C&O trail May 2016. Can someone recommend best bike to ride (street, hybrid, MTB)?

Your tires will be the most important part so a hybrid/mtb with the wider tires would be your best choice. You will be on hard packed gravel,going across ruts,roots and some rocks.The wider tires just make for a more comfortable ride. I would use atleast a 1.5 My bike has a 1.95 right now and that was plenty wide.

You don't need wide, knobby mountain bike tires, nor really thin racing tires. Something in between will do nicely. I have a Trek 7.3 fx hybrid that suits me well.

Rode the GAP last October on my Cannondale Hybred with 700/38 Schwalbe Marathon tires, no problems. Next ride will be on my new Surly Trucker Disk touring rig. Just ordered a pair of Schwalbe Marathon Plus 700/45 tires for it. I don't like breakdowns or flats. Do your research and you'll be fine.

We are planning a ride on the GAP in May. We will be flying to Maryland from Oregon and will need to rent bikes. We would like to rent bikes in Cumberland and then hire a shuttle to take us to Pittsburgh to start our ride from there the next day. I was wondering if someone has experience renting in Cumberland and/or used a shuttle from there and could give a review. We are both experienced riders, but have not done multi-day rides. We will bring our seats, but want to be sure we have good bikes.

Where are you flying into in Maryland? If near D.C. it might be easier just to take the Amtrak to Pittsburgh and rent a bike there.

From your post it seems you are only riding the Gap and not C&O, correct? If so you could use the Cumberland Connection Bike Shop right there in Cumberland and their shuttle service. They quoted me $260 for 2 riders/bikes/gear and $25 each additional rider from Cumberland to Pittsburg.
Another option would be Amtrak. 2 passengers/2 bikes appx. $98 reserved coach. Only problem is one train per day and you leave Cumberland at 7:30pm and arrive in Pittsburg close to 12am. I live in Va. so I've never had to rent a bike but most shops do rent and the bikes are usually good quality. If and when you rent be sure that they understand your riding 3-4 days and want a bike that will provide comfort and be dependable for the intended use. There are several bike shops in Pittsburg also but I'm not sure how far away from the Gap they are located. My wife had to use a rental bike once. It was an okay bike. It fit her and had a rear rack for her panniers but...it wasn't her bike and although she had fun she just didn't enjoy using another bike/brand. Her's is a Trek Mamba 29'er with disc brakes,and 2" tires. The one she used was a 26" with 1.5" tires. Just not the same bike. Hope this helps. If you need more info please feel free to contact me 757 619-5522 athiker80@cox.net.

One additional comment. If you did use the Amtrak Roll On Bike Service you'd want to make a reservation early. They only have room for 6-8 bikes in the storage area. The Cumberland Station is on Harrison St. Maybe 5-6 blocks from the trail head.

Another option would be a one-way car rental. This worked best for us back in October 2015, Pittsburgh to Cumberland. Rented from Enterprise, they will meet you. Actually got two bikes and gear in the back of a VW Beetle!

Thank you everyone.

I just received the following email from C&O Canal Association. Not sure whether volunteers get to bring their bikes along on the train. :-)

Volunteer and help Amtrak passengers enjoy the scenic Potomac River valley. The C&O Canal National Historical Park is seeking additional volunteers to join its Trails & Rails program.

Since May 2012, Trails & Rails volunteers have been providing interpretive programs onboard Amtrak’s Capitol Limited between Cumberland and Washington. They tell passengers about the history of the C&O Canal, the railroad, the Civil War, nearby towns, and natural features along the route.

Volunteers work in teams of two, boarding an inbound train in Cumberland at 9 a.m. and returning on an outbound train at 7:30 p.m. Teams ride the train Fridays and Saturdays during the summer. The park service will provide interpretive and safety training March 12 from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. at 10 Howard Street, Cumberland, Md.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. If you are interested, please contact Park Ranger Rita Knox at the Cumberland Visitor Center by calling 301-722-8226, or via e-mail at rita_knox@nps.gov. You can also visit the government volunteer website: https://www.volunteer.gov to fill out an application.

Does anyone know if the canal was being skated on outside of Georgetown over this weekend (02-12-16 thru 02-14-16)? Eye witness accounts of people on the ice playing hockey is a good enough indicator for me. Thanks.

The road to Little Orleans Campground is very steep with no sides at all. Blind curves and big hills might be too much for some cyclists. Campground is decent, but getting there was pretty scary for us. Wished I had known about the trip up there before planning to stay there.

The other important thing to know about Little Orleans is when "Bike week" is taking place. That small area is overrun with Bikers (motorcycles). They are loud and obnoxious. They use Bill's Place and the Campgrounds. I believe Bike Week is in the 1st weekend of August.

So...anybody have any thoughts on what the weather/trail condition may be like during that weekend? It's my 47th birthday and I've decided that a 300+ mile bike ride would be fun! Just a little concerned about the weather/trail! Any information would be appreciated!

The biggest concern is the Big Savage tunnel located just north of the mason Dixon line is closed until the first week or so in April. There is no easy detour around the tunnel.

I've never done this, but here's one possibility...http://linkup.shaw-weil.com/detoursavage.htm

I'd also be concerned about cold weather and snow and ice still being on the ground along the trail as early March is still the tail end of winter. Especially on the C&O (which is dirt paths) this could be really rough as it needs some warmer weather to dry out a bit. While the GAP drains better as its a crushed limestone gravel rail trail, the section near the continental divide could see cooler weather up there. You might enjoy an early April trip a lot more than an early March trip maybe? No matter what time you pick, you'll have a great time!

All good advice. Big Savage will be closed for sure as well as some overnight stay options (indoor stays.) Most/all campsites will be open. March can be a tricky month weather wise 1 day like spring the next frigid ice and snow. There's been plenty of rain and snow along the C&O corridor so you might find the trail in pretty rough shape. The Passage would be easier to bike due to the surface (apart from Big Savage Tunnel) but at higher elevations you could have some rough windchills. If you go and complete the route it will defiantly be a birthday to remember!

My husband and I are planning a trip the week of Memorial Day. We would like to take advantage of free camping where available, but it seems that you cannot reserve sites. Does anyone know if we will have problems getting a spot this time of year? We only plan to do about 45mi/day, so we would likely arrive to camp by mid-afternoon most days. Thanks!

I did the trail last year over memorial last year as I will be this year. the campgrounds had campers but were not packed you will be fine plus I found that camping with like minded people lead to good times

No worries Kristen. All of the primitive campsites should be pretty open to you all summer. You can't reserve the sites because there is no one there to reserve them to you. They're just designated spots along the C&O. They are first come first serve so if you arrive mid afternoon you'll get the best pick of the tent sites. Most campsites have very few people staying at them. The only one I saw lots of people was Swains Lock and that's because it is the first free site near DC, and has a parking lot for locals that adds to the numbers. Most of the others can only be accessed by the trail. I've had sites where I was the only person (Horseshoe Bend). Just random luck. The only thing you might want to keep an eye out for is local flooding. People post here on these forums with updates. One time I traveled a couple weeks after some flooding and at some campsites I rode by, you would not want to put down a tent on some of those grounds!

Kristen, I assume you're talking about the C&O trail. The trail is dotted with free camping spots, most of which include a potable water cistern/pump and a portajohn. There are also some pay campgrounds (one example is along the trail near Brunswick, it has hot showers). If you're talking about the GAP trail, that is different. There are no campsites on the trail, but there are a few pay campgrounds, but they're few and far between.

Along the Passage there are starting to be more nice primitive sites and usually no problem with crowds. There are 3-4 very nice Adarondack 3 sided shelters just west of Connellsville.
As far as the C&O all trail side sites are free. Some are very nice and some not so much. Park Service has rules for the number that can stay in any given site but it's not enforced and it's fun meeting other's who share your interest in biking. There are a reward sites along the C&O that are very near train switch yards and can be very loud other's are in low areas and seem to always be damp. Enjoy your ride, we've done 2 Memorial Weekend rides.

I am trying to learn which Hostel would be the best place to stay in DC and store bikes and gear after riding the C & O from Cumberland and then taking Amtrak back the next day.

I know one is much closer to the train station but I heard the bike storage would be out back.

The Ohiopyle campground may as well not exist for bikepackers. The campground is only accessible via a long, rough, winding, STEEP trail from the trail up a large hill to the campground. It is seriously LESS effort to continue onward to Connelsville (southbound) or Confluence (Northbound).

The town of Ohiopyle is a gem, though, and worth a stop for a meal or ice cream, or to check out the scenery of the falls. You can view the main falls (obvious), or the off-the-main-drag Cucumber falls (which are smaller but higher than the main), or the very unique swimming hole area of the natural water slides. Great place to cool off!

I did that clime last year, avoided it this year. You can ride down it...somewhat. I can say this for the state park, nice hot showers and they will not turn away a bikepacker if the park is full.

Hi,
I just completed the Pgh to DC route, and took some time to video the trail up to Kentuck campground within Ohiopyle. See youtube link below. Judge for yourself, the video is about halfway up the trail...however if coming from Pgh, IMO to reach Kentuck campground in one day is a long haul...

https://youtu.be/5pg_404XBSQ

I have done this trip to Kentuck campground and would never, never, never, do it again, pushing a loaded touring bike up this hill is only for the young, which I am not. I watched the video and like most pictures of hills it doesn't portray the steepness very well. I agree it would be less effort to ride to next campground.:D
Allen

Any recommendations on Tour Companies to use or avoid?

Wilderness Voyagers is one of the best.

You might want to take a look at Get Out & Go tours, they are in Ashburn, Va. and do numerous tours of the GAP/C&O 571-571-2453,, www.getoutandgo.biz.. Info@getoutandgo.biz

My husband and I are planning to bike the GAP and C & O in 2016. Is the GAP well marked in Pittsburgh? We've been on Google earth trying to map the Trail. It seems confusing.

The trail is difficult because it goes by other trail names. I stayed at the Marriott in homestead and biked into Pittsburgh. The key is the Hot Metal Bridge to cross the river.

I agree Tom. I find it strange that both ends of the two trails are so poorly marked. Georgetown Mile 0 on the C&O is still a mystery to many and its lacks any good signage to tell riders which direction to go, especially though the rowing club area. The same with the end of the GAP at Point State Park. Which path out of The Point do you take if you've never seen it before? It's not marked. And since the GAP trail doubles as the Three Rivers Heritage Trail coming out of downtown Pittsburgh, which branch of it do you take? Do you cross the Mon River at Smithfield Bridge or Hot Metal Bridge? I've done it three times and know it good so it works for me but always wondered about first time visitors and how many wrong turns and trackbacks they have done trying to figure it out. The Allegheny Trail Alliance has done an incredible job in ROW acquisitions over the years. I'm hopeful the next enhancements will be addressing the poor signage, especially Pittsburgh to just past McKeesport.

Thank you for your responses. It helps.

Very helpful. Planning to ride DC to Pittsburgh in late July.

If you'd give me a call or email I can give you some very specific directions. 757 619-5522/athiker80@cox.net It can be very confusing but once you've done the route once you'll always remember it.

What about Uber at that time of night?

Have read that a project has been funded to build a bike access ramp from towpath into Harpers Ferry...having a hard time finding status for this online..anyone know the latest on this ? Planning my 2016 ride, and would be great if the ramp was available this year !
thanks in advance,
Ryan

I can't find any follow up to this Sept. 2014 article stating what you mentioned. I have to say, this will be a very welcome addition for cyclists. I recall the first time I got to Harpers Ferry, pretty sapped from a long day on the trail, trying to figure out how I'm going to haul my bike and all of the filled gear bags up the spiral stairs. Ended up taking the bags off the bike, hauling them up to the top, then coming back down to retrieve the bike. :-)

http://wvpress.org/news/alternative-bike-route-harpers-ferry-works/

Hi All im thinking of riding from Paw paw WV to pittsburgh next week. Are there any detours besides Big Savage tunnel I should be aware of?
I figure this is a good time to make a winter ride as there aint no snow. If I cant ski i'll ride. Any info is helpful and appreciated.

the Hillside Hotel has been closed down for awhile but it is now (as of Summer 2015) under the Knights Inn brand, part of the Wyndham Hotel chain. Ahbi is the manager. Very nice. Very clean rooms. Good location for hikers on the Appalachian Trail, the C&O Canal or just local hiking visiting the Harper's Ferry NHP area.

This restaurant is CLOSED!

The restaurant is now called, "Lowry's Family Restaurant at Cindy - Dee's" . Hours are 0600 to 2100 hours, seven days a week. Prices are moderate. Most of the reviews have been positive.

Hey there, I be ridden GAP several times and C and O once ranging from sprin to fall but never in December. Does anyone have experience riding in in mid- late December. This would be a 2 day trip.thanks much, Matt

Sorry for the typos- no glasses. Matt