C&O / GAP Forum

Could someone tell me whether the final stretch of the GAP from Munhall to Pittsburgh is a dedicated trail or shares the road with car traffic. Is it well marked and easy to follow?

Other than the very end (Smithfield Street bridge to Point State Park), all of the trail is dedicated. Near Sandcastle there is some parts with the trail on the sidewalk (watch for cars coming out of Costco parking lot for example) and some bike lanes in the streets but you are clearly on a marked trail and not at all left to your own devices to mingle with traffic. 99.9 percent Of it is dedicated and the .1 percent is clearly marked and safe. You'll love it and feel very safe.

To add to what John W said, if as you approach Pittsburgh, you cross over on the Hot Metal Bridge, I believe it is a dedicated by lane separated fro traffic. Then you turn left on the Eliza Furnace Trail.

As others have said, the trails in that area have various names. My advice is to look at Google Maps bike option.

Allegheny Passage, 3 Rivers Heritage, Eliza Furnace, The first few miles of trail go by various names. There is a Passage Trail Marker at Point State Park but not another one till you hit Smithfield Bridge area. Once you get to Hot Metal you'll see Passage signs all the way to Cumberland. It's a bit confusing but plenty of bikers are on the route at any time. The trail is on shared roads, sidewalks, and trail all the way to Mckeesport. Once you leave Mckeesport you hit the woods and the fun begins. The whole route including roads/sidewalks is very user friendly.

As of Friday May 6 there was a detour in the Southside area of Pittsburgh that puts you on the road through an industrial area. Stay on the north side of the river (i.e., cross at Hot Metal Bridge)and you can dodge this. Concur with other comment on the markings.

I'll be leaving Point State Park Sunday May 15 mid-morning, heading east, My teenage son just got a job interview and bailed last minute. Anyone looking for company riding the GAP?

Has anyone ever done the C&O with a dog trailer in tow? Contemplating a trip later this summer/early fall on a hybrid. What are your thoughts? Curious about trail conditions and tire/tread recommendations too.

Bumping this post as I am interested in the same. Also, would love to hear how "dog friendly" towns and campgrounds are along the way.

I own a B&B off the towpath and can tell you from observation that we have a good many cyclists with dogs come thru here. Pretty universally they are carrying small dogs in carriers on the handlebars or frame and only large dogs have we seen in a trailer. I suspect its too bumpy for small dogs in trailers. Just an observation.

I don't have any experience with dogs on the trail, but I was contemplating the same thing while riding it last weekend. I was paying attention to the trail and how it would be for big dogs in a trailer. It seems like the GAP would be fine, but it would probably be a rough ride on C&O. As mentioned above, a small dog in a handlebar mounted basket would be OK. Also, towing a trailer would have made a real mess of things while navigating the crowds on the trail for the last 15 miles or so into DC (we did this part on a Sunday afternoon with nice weather, so it was like an amusement park out there).

Spent many a night at Little Orelans Lodge on Appel Road, about .5 miles up the road from Bill's Place in Little Orleans. Why is Steve Huebner's place not listed? Close to trail, great value, and a killer breakfast. Beats the hell out of the Hill Top Inn who charges six bucks (both ways) to shuttle your butt from Bill's.

I loved Top of the Hill Hotel; fantastic inn owners, totally worth the $6 shuttle each way.

We stayed at little Orleans Lodge last fall. We stayed in the main house and it was very dirty. The kitchen was a mess and we weren't very comfortable eating the breakfast. Steve is a nice man, but he needs to clean the place up. I would not recommend this lodging to anyone.

We are planning to leave Homestead PA (Pittsburgh) Hampton inn on June 20th. Anyone interested in sharing the cost of a shuttle to Cumberland that morning?

Hi everyone

I am planning my first bike packing trip and can't seem to find any routes/trails where I could start biking at/near DC and go through the C&O Canal and get back to where I started while trying to not go on the same trail twice (or as little as possible). This will be a 3 day trip so probably bike about 100-125 miles in total. Any suggestions to what trails I can go on to make this round trip would be great, please be as detailed as possible this is my first time planning a trip.

Thank you,

I'm still trying to figure out a hotel in Pittsburgh that will accomplish 2 things.

1. Be a reasonable distance/hopefully rideable distance to the Amtrak station so that we can get ourselves and our bikes to DC on the train.

AND

2. Be on or near the trail when we finish the ride several days later.

Would be a wonderful bonus if we could safely leave a car at the same hotel.

Surely, I'm not the first person who thought about this but I can't seem to find much information or figure it out.

Anyone with recommendations??

THANKS!

Holiday inn on 19th street southside is on the trail and is 1.4 miles from the amtrack station.

the holiday is on 10 street

We stayed at Springhill Suites, which is directly on the trail near Hot Metal bridge. It is about 3.5 miles from the Amtrak Station, which took us about 20 minutes to ride in the dark (with headlights on bikes). Very comfortable hotel with breakfast included and biker friendly.

Thanks for the input! This is very useful.

I'm taking a scout group and doing the same thing, ride to DC and Amtrak back. I was looking at staying at the Hampton Inn at 1247 Smallman St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 which is 0.2 miles from the Amtrak station and there is a Courtyard right there also.

Rich - how close is that hotel to the trail?? Thanks!

Thanks all. I went with the Holiday Inn Express South Pittsburgh. It seems to meet our criteria of close to the trail, close to PNC Park, close to Amtrak and with a parking garage to safely leave a car for a few days. Thanks again for all the responses.

Anyone have experience with the Fairfield Inn in Cumberland?

How close to the trail? Are they bike friendly?

Thanks.

It is on the C&O tow path . Bike friendly,get a first floor room. Has a good breakfast included. Was about $125. the times I stayed .

Perfect. Thanks so much for the response. Will book a room there tonight....for later in the year.

Definetely recommend this hotel. Bike friendly, literally on the C&O, decent price. Think I recall a bike wash area also.

We stayed at the Fairfield Inn last May when riding the GAP-G&O. Nice hotel and directly on the trail as well as close to restaurants and stores -- include a bike shop. The rate was surprisingly high when we stayed there, apparently due to a bluegrass music festival in Cumberland at the time.

Thanks all. Booked it this morning...along with all our other stops along the way. READY TO GO...later this summer. Can't wait. Never been on this trail before. DC to Pittsburgh...here we come. Thanks for the help and guidance from many of you on the board. It's a great resource. Thanks again.

Is there a hotel along the C & O bike path that we can use as our base over the weekend? I don't want to shuttle to cars.

Check this site under towns and services.

Fall is here! Trying to give you an idea when to expect the Fall Colors. Conditions could vary due to reduced rainfall during the Spring and Summer:
***
The GAP between Garrett and the Big Savage Vista will be the first to change, usually the last 2 weeks of Sept. Connellsville to Garrett next, usually the first 2 weeks in Oct. Then Connellsville to Pittsburgh, and Cumberland, mid to late October.

I've been looking for this information all morning! I know it's a couple years old but I'm planning on going the first week in October so I should be good with the fall colors. Thanks!

Hey guys , I'm trying to bike from Cumberland to DC and was exploring Amtrack but it looks like the website does not have a way to add a bike . What am I doing wrong . Has anyone taken a bike from DC to Cumberland?

Under the "30 Capitol Limited" Link there is a Link "Add Bike to Trip." Click that and you are all set.

Planning to take my bike in July!

Once the 8 bike slots are sold out, you will not see the option to add a bike.

So, I asked for and received input on camping areas to avoid... Thanks much!!

Now, my question is: Traveling the GAP and the C&O (west to east) there are undoubtedly some cool/odd things that are very close to the trail. What can't we miss seeing while we're there?

-In an aside, my older child and I rode the Katy Trail in '14 and HAD to stop and see the big Burr Oak near McBaine, MO. As quirky as it sounds, that is the type of thing my younger child and I don't want to miss! We also rode to Daniel Boone's farm site.

If you like white water rafting - there's Ohiopyle State Park. When you are in Pittsburgh, eating at Primanti Brothers is a must!

when riding the towpath check out the lock and weir design.Also civil war battle fields are close by and Fort Frederick State Park.

Harpers Ferry is a special place not to be missed. Just lock your bikes up, cross the bridge and check it out. Tons of history and good eats.

Shepherdstown, WV is worth the time to travel across the bridge. Historic small college town with great places to eat. Also, a nice bike shop with a hose out back to clean your bikes http://www.thepedalpaddle.com/
It is also worth the time to tour Ferry Hill Plantation if you like history.
The University also has some events planned through out the year. When my wife and I biked the towpath last summer we spent the night here and liked it so much we spent the night again a few nights later as we left DC traveling back home.

So many neat things to do. I really enjoyed touring the Fort Pitt Museum before departing Point State Park. The new Visitor Center at Ohiopyle is very nice. There is a Sansone formation that is constantly changing due to erosion (can't remember where but west of Ohiopyle.) Harper's Ferry, off the trail a bit but Maple Tree Greenhouse Campground is fun. Various Civil War Battlefields. The river views east of Harmon Tunnel, can't forget the great people you meet in the different towns, just so many neat things to see and do.

Ohiopyle State Park is definitely worth a stop, both for the town as well as the river, trails, etc. Frank Lloyd Wright's famous Falling Waters house is about 5 miles from the park but is a tough uphill ride on bikes. The trail junction in Cumberland is nice with a park visitor's center and shops. Fort Frederick east of Hancock is a must, very scenic as well as historical. Same is true for Harper's Ferry.

Some of my favorite things are:

--When going PGH to DC, ending at Mile 0 in Georgetown and then heading over to the Reflecting Pool for some celebratory pictures. It's always buzzing with people so it has a great vibe to wrap up your trip and reflect on your accomplishment.

--Along the Youghiogheny River and hearing the the white water rafters howling with delight. I also like the sounds the trains make blowing their horns far off in the distance (but I hate them when I camped in Rockwood...the campground is right across the river from where the trains cross at grade and they have to lay on their horns all night by law. Horrible!).

--All of the small towns that you can stop in to grab supplies or a bite to eat. Shepherdstown took me by surprise at how nice it was.

--The "Chicken Coop" bunks in the back of C&O Bicycle shop in Hancock, MD. Caged in, open air sleeping accommodations with bunks and showers right along the C&O and Western Maryland Rail Trail. I always lock my bike up inside and head into town knowing everything is safe.

--Sheetz Made to Order! If stopping in a town with one of these, I usually grab a sub sandwich and pack it in some grocery bags with some ice I gathered from the soda machine so I can woof it down at camp. Awesome.

--The ample free campgrounds along the C&O Canal every 5-10 miles. Just a great resource to have. Pump water, port-a-john, table. All Hiker/Biker sites are free.

--I usually always see a huge Blue Heron at some point along the C&O.

--I kind of like the all of the noise and buzz of the trail from Point State Park to about Homestead. Since the majority of the trail is pretty quiet, this is a stark contrast to the rest of the trail and makes for a nice change. Hot Metal Bridge is a beautiful bridge to cross.

--Western Maryland Rail Trail. 22 miles that parallel the C&O before and after Hancock, MD. Did I mention it's paved asphalt? :-) It's a nice break from the tree roots and rocks the C&O dishes out. It's nice to just pedal and daydream and not worry about hitting a big bump.

--Western Maryland Rail Trail. 22 miles that parallel the C&O before and after Hancock, MD. Did I mention it's paved asphalt? :-) It's a nice break from all of the tree roots and rocks that the C&O dishes out. It's nice to just pedal and daydream and not worry about dodging everything the canal can offer.

--Bring a light or headlamp for the tunnels! Some are just amazing.

--Great Falls at Mile 14 on the C&O. Love the raw noise the falls creates. Beautiful.

I always bring my fishing gear with me as I bike/camp the C&O. Many good places to drop a line in. I have bever biked the GAP but hope to do it this summer. Please respond with the trail towns or places with the easiest river access and good spots to fish. Include any helpful tips about bait and types of fish you catch. Thanks

Does, will the train let you unload your bike at the Connellsville station?

Only if you are using the roll off service. If your bike is checked baggage you can only get it off at Pittsburgh or DC.

Has anyone tried to the Amtrak Roll-on/Roll off service from DC to Pittsburgh or the other way? I am planning a spring break trip. Not sure if I will have time to ride the entire GAP/C&O. I might want to jump off at an intermediate stop, any suggestions?

Yes I have tried it; and it was a no-brainer (I posted details in a recent thread). The intermediate stops are Rockville, Harper Ferry, Martinsburg, Cumberland, and Connellsville. Be sure to book early since there are only 7 racks.

I am looking for information from people who have stayed in the DC Hostel. I am looking to ride from Cumberland to DC over three days in April and spend my last night in the Hostel and then ride the train back the next day.

I plan on camping on my way to DC and read of sleeping bags not being allowed in DC. Is there some way I would be allowed to store my sleeping bag at the Hostel. Also I will have my Ortlieb front and rear panniers and at least also a handlebar bag. Can these be safely stored in the Hostel and are the stored somewhere away from the room I would be staying in.

I wanted to add when riding the train from DC to Cumberland with my bike and gear. Do you somehow need to pack your bike and other than the panniers take anything off the bike for it to ride the train. Where is your luggage or in my case panniers stored on the train.

I can address the train questions. Amtrak recommends removing luggage, panniers, etc. before hanging the bike on the rack. You take your luggage with you. If you are in a sleeper, it should fit in the room, or if not then in the downstairs community luggage rack (in my hundreds of long distance trips, I've never heard of any theft). If you are in coach, it would go in the overhead rack (think wide open spaces, not tiny closed airline style bins) or in the downstairs community luggage rack.

However, and this is based on a trip fro Chicago to Pittsburgh and return from Cumberland to Chicago only a week or so after the service began in the Fall. My wife booked space for her "regular" bike and I went with a folder, which goes as carry on luggage. The conductor had me put my folder in the lounge area of what is known as the transition sleeper (or crew dorm) right behind the baggage car, from which I got to know the conductors (unlike on board service personnel, they change several times between DC and CHI). In addition to all of them being surprisingly cordial and upbeat about the new service, one even suggested that I could have left my panniers with the bikes. Not only that, but I would have access to them during the trip (unlike checked baggage) because to door from the lower level to the bake compartment was not locked.

The supposed drill is that you let a staff member on the platform know you have a bike, and they will open the door for you. You can recognize the bike car by the large metal door to the left or right of the center door where passengers enter. The original information said that the bike car would be the last car on the train. But both times for me it was the middle of three coaches (the Capitol Limited line up is 2 engines, baggage, 3 sleepers, diner, lounge, and 3 coaches). By the time I got back to Chicago, I knew enough to not bother the conductor, but simply headed back to the bike car and rolled it off through the normal