C&O / GAP Forum

This is a really good site.

Planning Pittsburgh to DC in first week of October: 5 days, planning overnights at Connellsville (River's Edge KOA), Cumberland (prob. chain hotel--big mileage day), then hiker/biker camps at Hancock and Harper's Ferry. 60+ miles/day except for 2nd day at 88. Planning to rent a van one way for bike and gear & drop at Pittsburgh rental office near the Point.

Any tips, particularly campgrounds to avoid in Hancock/Harper's Ferry area would be appreciated !

Good itinerary. I would recommend the C&O Bicycle Bunkhouse in Hancock. $10 I think, just layout your sleeping bag on their wood bunks. Screened in, shower, can leave your bike locked up there safely behind the gates to walk into town. All of the Hiker/Sites should be safe. Huckleberry Hill near Harper's Ferry seems the closest. Don't forget to catch the Western Maryland Rail Trail which parallels the C&O for 22 gloriously paved miles before and after Hancock. It's a nice break from the C&O as you don't have to constantly keep your eye out for tree ruts and rocks.

Thanks for the advice!

If your going to stay at Connellsville you can stay in the trailside shelters for free.

The Tea Horse Hostel in Harpers Ferry is a great place to stay!

Just finished GAP/CO last week. KOA outside Connellsville was decent. Nothing for food though unless you want pizza. 3 miles to Connellsville for food options. Fairfield Inn in Cumberland allows bikes in rooms,plenty of places to eat and a bike shop about a 100yds from the motel. The trail is just outside the back door. Very nice. Had reservations to camp in Hancock but opted out for another motel night. KOA in Harpers Ferry is about a mile or so outside of town and uphill. Wasn't happy about climbing steep grades to get to campsite but we did it anyway. Overall a most wonderful trip. Next time in the fall with all the colors. Enjoy!

thanks again all, great advice, esp. the recent tip about the Fairfield Inn...I was wondering how the hotels took to bringing in the bikes.

I was thinking of pulling a bike trailer with gear & stuff, but the more I read I'm thinking it might be more practical to wear a backpack or use panniers. Any thoughts on that ? I'm figuring to camp at least one night, so will need to pack a tent.

Related, how much bike repair stuff should I be carrying...a couple tubes is obvious, but is it really practical to pack anything more ?

Towns are pretty close together...every pound is a little less enjoyment of what you're out there to do.

I saw some trailers being pulled and I think it would be fine as long as it was dry. The C&O was muddy from Cumberland to DC. I don't know if I'd want to pull a bob or yak thru the mud. It wasn't deep mud but the outer edges were slick and there's not much room for error as far as keeping your bike in a straight line. We went totally self supported with racks,panniers and all. Had no trouble, no issues. No flats and only 1 broken spoke and that was with only 6 miles left on our journey of 368 miles each. I'd go as minimal as you can stand. All of my gear weighed less than 30 lbs. That's significant. Trailers are a lot like suitcases or SUVs, the more room you have to carry stuff, the more stuff you carry. But, to each their own. Regardless, enjoy the adventure.

I just completed the GAP/C&O yesterday. We stopped at the KOA in Connellsville. It was mostly camping trailers. I'd recommend staying in Ohiopyle, if you prefer a better nightlife. Be aware the state camping site is up a steep hill, so be sure to factor that in after a long day. At any campsite, I'd ask specifically, whether there are any things, like trains, that come through at night and also how close the campsite is to town. Our first night's sleep in West Newton was ruined by trains every 2 hours. Once you have that info, run the accommodations and info provided by the local bike shops over the phone. The bike shop in Confluence gave us great tips when we visited them. Such as the fact that the first 2 hiker/biker sites east of Cumberland are adjacent to the freight yards, so they're noisy all night. Definitely stay in Cumberland in the hotel. It's convenient and your bikes will be safe. We stayed in Frostburg this year and were disappointed b/c getting into town meant climbing 2 large hills and the night food and drink options were limited. Continuing on to Cumberland would have been easy. 14 miles downhill. Also, be sure and check if the places you're planning to eat will be open. We stopped at the Schoolhouse in Oldtown on a Monday to find out they were closed. Bill's in Little Orleans closes between 4-5, so don't plan to have dinner there!
Other tips: wear padded gloves. I didn't and i have some numbness in my ring finger and pinkie,
Pack lighter than you think you need. I brought 2) batteries to charge my phone and only used one. If I had it to do over again, I'd only have brought one. If you don't bring it and you really need it, you can almost certainly get it on the trail.
Hit up the bike shop in Cumberland. They're a great resource and are very friendly to cyclists.
Bring or buy chainlube. I didn't and had to listen to 30 miles on my chain squeaking on the last day after washing off my bike with a hose.
Repair stuff: i brought 3 spo

Congrats on your ride, and thanks for the advice. I decided to stay in Ohiopyle at the campground. I'll just have to deal with the climb up there. I'm planning to camp along the c&o, and for better or worse I'm going to pull my bike trailer. Mainly because I already have the tent & trailer, & would rather err on the side of self-sustaining. I've pulled my kids in that trailer over many miles thinking I can do this too!

Planning to the GAP and C&O over 9 days (starting and ending in DC) starting later this week! Seems a bit much for the few days I have -- anyone done it before? Any recomendations? Will be camping along the way so carrying own gear (panniers only). Thanks in advance!

Andrea, unless you're limiting your mileage each day to 40 or so miles (the 9 days you're predicting) you can probably finish in 5-6 days doing 60-65 miles a day instead if . For five days I would recommend camping near Harpers Ferry, Hancock, Cumberland, Ohiopyle or Connellsville, and ending in Pittsburgh. There's a bunch of free hiker/biker campsites on the C&O. There's adirondack free shelters around mile 88 of the GAP near Connellsville. But if you want a slower pace, maybe 7 nights? It all depends in your desire to grind out miles or sightsee.

Andrea - You didn't mention your return arrangements, but I highly recommend the Amtrak rail service. It costs about $50-60 one-way, plus $20 extra for bike handling service and box. Well worth the cost, but you do have remove stuff from your bike (eg, no panniers). Train only runs once a day.

We took the train from DC to Pittsburgh and rode back on the trails. Train leaves DC about 4 pm daily and arrives in Pitt close to midnight, so you have to ride to your hotel in the dark and need lights (which are a good idea for tunnels anyway).

Actually, I meant I was riding back and forth to Washington (so approximately 700 miles return)- 9 days total is what I have -- somewhat thinking of about 80 miles/day. Perhaps a bit too much? I do a lot of cycling and done some long routes previously overseas -- am I being a little too unrealistic? Train is a good idea -- any chance to catch it along the way, or just from Pittsburg? Never been to Pittsburg so perhaps I can stay and enjoy it a bit and then train it back to DC?

John and Tom - forgot to say thanks! I appreciate the advice! Trying to do the trails a little faster -- perhaps the route isn't as easy as I am imagining it to be...the last few years I have really only been road biking, so 80-100 miles is not too tough (without any gear) -- but I am trying to stay light with only 2x12L panniers, plus tent (hopefully no more than 20 lbs of gear). Will stop for food along the trails, so no cooking gear. Feel free to tell me it is a bit unrealistic to do both trails twice in 9 days...I just have to be back in DC by the 26th (leaving on the 17th)!

Hi Andrea. Wow, round trip! Good on you. I would do Harpers Ferry, Hancock, Cumberland, Ohiopyle, Pittsburgh. If you can stretch the trip one more day, you could do the reverse in 5 days also. If you can get it in time for the trip, I highly recommend purchasing the GAP Trail Book. Tons of detail, restaurant listings in town, suggested itineraries, camp site listings, and most importantly, an indestructible water proof map. Bring ear plugs for the camping near railroads (some come through every couple hours), make sure you have lights for your bike if you get caught out on the trail after dark (the C&O is very dark especially plus you'll need it for some of the tunnels), and bring a lock for your bike when eating in town (just to be safe).

We averaged about 60 miles/day at a 12 mph pace, carrying panniers. This was a comfortable pace allowing time for a leisurely start (9 am or so), breaks for lunch and coffee, plenty of stops for photos and finishing by 4-5 pm most days. We rode about 80 miles on a couple days, but I wouldn't want to ride that far every day. You can't maintain the same average speeds you would on a road tour due to the unpaved surfaces, mud, and stops for scenery -- so we ended up with the same amount of saddle time as a road tour averaging 80+ miles a day. You might want to consider a more leisurely pace with some stay-overs at some of the cool places along the way, such as Harpers Ferry, Pittsburgh and Georgetown/DC.

Tom/John -- thanks so much for the advice!! I found out about a shuttle service, so if I cant do it as planned, I can call on them to pick me up and take me back to DC! Hoping to do the first part (DC-Pittsburg as quick as possible), then take a bit more time to come back -- but will see how trails are the first day or so. I definitely plan on spending a night or two in Pittsburg, so if either of you know the city well, let me know any great places to check out. I know DC well, and staying there for a month at the end of my bike trip. Thanks again -- really appreciate it!

Hello,

I am planning my first ride of the C&O for this August. It will be a two day trip, about 60-70 miles a day. My plan is to drive from Philly to some point along the way, ride 60-70 miles to another town, stay at a hotel/BB, and ride back to the car the next day. I have tentatively planned to drive to Hancock as my starting point and ride to Harper's Ferry, about 60 miles, but that is based on nothing other than eyeballing the map. Really, anywhere from Hancock to DC is roughly the same distance from Philadelphia so I could start anywhere, but I thought the further I got from DC the better. I guess my questions are:

-Is this a decent stretch of the path to travel for a first time visitor? Any recommendations for a better start/stop point?
- Anyone know if there is a place to leave my car in Hancock for a couple of days? My plan is to ride Sunday/Monday if that makes a difference.

Thanks for your help!

James

I would go a little further on 68 and start in Cumberland and go to Ohiopyle, this will push you a little it is probally 70+ miles but this is the most beautiful section of the trail. Tunnels, Viaduct, Railroad museum, continental divide, mason Dixon line and the falls at ohiopyle.

Greg,

Thank you for your recommendation, that's exactly the the kind of insight I was looking for.

We stayed here on the 4th night of a 6 day bike trip. We and our bikes were covered in mud, as was the case most of our previous stops. Much to our amazement and gratitude, Andrew met us in the driveway to take our bikes and clean them up for us before putting them in the basement for the night. That never happened ANYWEHRE else. This delightful experience continued as we entered the mud room of the house where Selena gave us a pile of towels, some cold local beer, and told us we could use their beautifully tiles dog wash shower to get the mud off of ourselves and everything else. She also left a laundry basket and told us to fill it with all or our dirty clothes, which she washed for us and had waiting outside our room in the morning. We were in love with the place before we ever stepped foot into the main part of the house!

The house is an exquisite historic farmhouse, which Andrew and Selena have been restoring and updating for the past two years. Much is original and beautifully preserved, but they have also added beautiful modern elements, like walk-in showers and an amazing gourmet kitchen.

We all showered and got into our beautiful fluffy robes (provided by Selena) and then sat on our private balcony, where Selena brought us wine, cheese, meets, and crackers to snack on before dinner. They prepared a delicious meal with wonderful fresh, local ingredients, and joined us for dinner where we heard the amazing story of Selena's life and their story of how they got to this point. They are a delightful and charming couple whose hard work and impeccable taste results in a truly magical experience for their guests. I can not recommend them highly enough!

Has anyone here camped at the Y in Cumberland? Thinking about it and read about their fenced in camping area. Any issues with theft? Want to take a walk into town for dinner but can't lug everything with me while leaving my bike behind me locked up. Is access to the campground only during business hours (10 pm)? Or can you come and go as you please? Does it fill up with fellow campers? Thanks!

I've stayed at the Y a few years back. I was solo and had no problems. There are lockers available in the Y, for members with "away" privileges, during the Y's operating hours: your gear can be locked-up overnight then retrieved at opening...very early opening, around 5 AM. There were a few other campers, and yes there is a fence around campground with port a pot, but with many access points: so no real "fenced" effect. I was solo and had no problems.

I stayed there last year. A morning shower was nice at the Y. You may want earplugs because you are right next to the tracks and definitely lock your stuff up. A thief would have no problem getting to your things.

Thanks to both of you for responding. Looking forward to staying at the Y and locking my bike up overnight (no worrying about it!). A shower in the morning sounds good also. Good point about the earplugs. Thanks again...John

I stayed a couple times and always was pleased and never had trouble with theft. You can place some stuff in a locker at the Y and lock it . the staff was always pleasant. I also walked to town for dinner,( Crabby pig), Ice cream ( the Creamery,) and a few of Nathans hotdogs. Enjoy

direction

Let me suggest you go from start to finish.
There is no right direction but if I were going to ride the GAP and C+O I'd start in Pittsburg to DC. The up-hill is much more gentle that way.

While the uphill is more gentle that way, it is real, and noticeable to those of us from Flatlands.

We purposely rode from DC to Pittsburgh, taking the train from Cumberland to Frostburg (the steepest climb).

But as many have said, there is no "right" direction.

I'm also trying to figure out the best direction. Planning on doing 4 day GAP thru trip in September. I think I want to head from Cumberland to Pittsburg because I prefer one day of climb and 3 days of downhill! But almost everyone goes the other way, if just doing the GAP, and I read somewhere the tailwinds coming from west to east are significant enough to enter into the "direction decision". Has anybody experienced the tailwinds?

I agree with Cumberland to Pittsburgh! Yeah, it's 24 miles going uphill to the Continental Divide right out of the gates at Cumberland but then you get the reward of 126 miles of going slightly downhill all the way to Pittsburgh. You're not going to coast of course but you won't be fighting gravity either even if it's just a subtle grade. It's a nice leisurely cruise without all of the effort if you went the opposite direction. When I did Pittsburgh to Cumberland I couldn't believe how fast those 24 downhill miles went! Mind you none of these grades are steep in any real sense but still...there's nothing like a gentle downhill to make for an enjoyable ride.

i am going to do Cumberland to Pitt, then to DC in June, and that 24 mile uphill start is starting to get me nervous ...

There is a train you can take from Cumberland to Frostburg from what I understand.

Please check back in after your trip and let us know how the slope really is!

Last July we rode cumberland to Pittsburgh. Two riders were novice - 1 just bought 1st bike the day before trip (30 yr old and fit). It was hot and The climb was tough but we all made it to Husky Haven campground. We anticipated easy riding the rest of the way down to Pittsburgh. It was easier than first day, but we did have a bit of a head wind most of the way.

I've heard the head wind is the reason many people choose to go the other direction, from PB to Cumberland. After having experienced it, do you think it is an important consideration?

We have done this ride a number of times, through-rides and shorter trips. On the through-rides we go DC to Pitt. Here is how we look at the Cumberland portion. From DC to Cumberland, it is basically flat. This makes that portion of the ride null. No real advantage in either direction. We make a short day and ride Cumberland to Meyersdale. Yes, a bit of a climb but then you have the rest of the trip going downhill. Another big factor for us is getting the worst part of the trail, (condition wise), done first. The GAP is a joy to ride on after slogging through the muddy C&O. To be honest, our hometown location also comes into play. When we have finished, it is around a two hour drive back home.

I honestly don't remember the wind ever being a problem for us. Rain and storms have always been our nemesis.

I did Connellsville to Cumberland (south) in 2012 and never had any issues with hills or wind .. yes there was some of each but not enough to matter... the downhill stretch from Frostburg to Cumberland went fast... which was nice... this year I'm going north from Cumberland to Pittsburgh so we'll see if the wind and early climb are an issue ... my thinking was that on my last day I'll likely want to take more stops and there are more towns closer together on the northern end of the GAP...

Purple Paul - Looking forward to hearing how the Cumberland to PB direction works for you. When is your trip? I'm planning on mid September so any pointers you can share will be appreciated.

Would like to drive to Pittsburgh and leave car there for the week.
1) Parking
Taking train back from DC to Pittsburgh.
2) What is the best place to park for this return type.

If it's the Amtrak station, there are ample parking spots near the theatre district which is not far from the station. I'm not sure what weekly rates are at the parking spots in the downtown area but shouldn't be too crazy. You could also ride over the first bridge near Point State Park and park at the big parking ramp near PNC park or Rivers Casino. Can't imagine rates are much of a difference there though. Shouldn't be hard to find available parking though. Might look also into the Sheraton at Station Square which is a short ride from the station.

Mark - have you done your trip yet? We're looking to get a rider to Pittsburgh (from DC) July 2nd.

We roll on Monday July 6 from Pittsburgh. Sorry for the late reply.

Can anyone verify if Barron's Store is still open on weekends? Also, Kings Pizza was closed when I went there last Saturday; don't know if they went out of business for good.

My wife and I did the C&O last week. We spent Tuesday night at the Comfort Inn in Shepherdstown, and got dinner at King's Pizza.

Just to clarify, Kings Pizza in Brunswick was not open last Saturday.

We're looking to get a rider from DC to Pittsburgh July 2nd (or late July 1st). Bike transport not necessarily needed. Meeting a group for a July 3rd ride back to DC and can't squeeze our last rider into our vehicle.

Amtrak runs daily, leaving Union Station in DC about 4 pm and arrive in Pitt about midnight. Cost about $60 plus extra if carrying a bike on train.

FYI, the NPS offers FREE Ranger-led Boat Tours in Williamsport(mi. 100) on Sat-Sun. They last an hour, start from 10:30-3:00. Space is limited to 12/tour. If interested, call 301-582-0813. It's a great Park, all we have to do is keep using it, so they don't shut it down again. Thanks.

Hey everyone, so I'm finalizing a hiking trip starting June 14 along the C&O and the Allegheny Passage and I'm having trouble finding camping sites on the Allegheny Passage. If anyone could give some suggestions that would be greatly appreciated

I've hiked the GAP and C+O.
Along the C+O the hiker/biker campsites are about every 5 or 6 miles. Along the GAP you'll need to do some longer days, but it's not hard as the walking is flat and easy. Here's where I stayed along the GAP....
Dravo's Landing Primitive Campground (Free)
Mile post 124
Cedar Creek Park Campgrounds (Free)
Mile post 110
Roundbottom Primitive Campground (Free)
Mile Post 99
Stewart's Crossing Campground (Free)
Mile Post 88 & 89
Four Adirondack shelters that sleep 6 - 8 people each at Mile Post 88
Ohiopyle State Park - (Commercial)
Half mile (very steep) uphill from mile post 73
Youghiogheny River Dam Outflow Area Corps of Engineers Campground - (Commercial)
Mile post 62
Husky Haven Campground, Rockwood - (Commercial)
Mile Post 43
Trail Inn Campground, Frostburg, at The Depot - (Commercial)
At Mile Post 15
I did stealth camp 1 night between Husky Haven and Frostburg. Resupply is easy enough as the trails both go right past towns.

i am planning a trip from Pittsburgh to DC first week of June ... how are the conditions of the trail, and is there any detours i should be aware of ??

The trail from Pitt-DC is free and clear of any detours or closures. Conditions should be normal as it's been warm and dry the last two days. C&O is usually muddy in spots even days after it rains as much of it is under tree canopy and it does not dry out as fast as the GAP.

I just finished riding the GAP-C&O from Pittsburgh to DC on Saturday, 5/23/15. Both trails were in great shape, better than when I rode them in June 2014, with no detours. However, it hadn't rained much over the past week or so. If there is heavy rain during your ride or shortly before leaving, the C&O will be muddy in spots.

Please contact me if you find a journal near mile post 26. It is precious to me and my 10 year old boy. We are wrapping up an amazing g trip and we know for sure we lost it right after we left Horse pen Branch and before the next viaduct 3 miles later going toward DC.it most lovely fell off right at Horse pen Branch. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU FIND IT. DAVE.W.SCHUETZ@GMAIL.COM Thank you!

Also, we lost it on the morning of saturday, may 23.

Looking for the best way ftom the C&O canal in Bethesda to Wilson lane ..rte 188...or from thr 7 locks area

Coming from Great Falls it will be the foot bridge about a mile, if that, after Lock 8. Take the foot bridge across the canal and the trail will lead you to MacArthur Rd and Wilson Lane. Wilson Lane will be just to the right as you come out of the trail.

Been there the past three years as we ride the C&O. Honestly, the food can be good, but it is hit or miss. The cream of crab soup is heavy on cream and light on the crab. Lots of fried things on the menu, but it states that they can be broiled instead. Beer variety is minimal, but they have a few good local selections. They are very accommodating for us, which makes it an ideal location for our group to meet up after a day on the trail.

The Crabby Pig was OK the one time I ate there but there is (summer of 2014) a better place to eat right there by the trail. I don't remember the name but it was in that group of stores right there, on the other side of the bicycle shop and closer to the hotel.

This is the only restaurant in the entire area where you can buy a mixed drink! Great martini.

Very good place to eat. Prices were reasonable for this type of dining. Service was outstanding as well. I look forward to eating there every year, though last year we went somewhere different for a change.

On Saturday, February 9, 2013, a group of long distance hikers will
walk 50 miles to commemorate one of the most impressive feats accomplished by an
active U.S. politician. Exactly 50 years prior, on February 9, 1963, Robert F. Kennedy
(RFK) walked 50 miles from Potomac, Maryland’s Great Falls area to Harper’s Ferry, West
Virginia, along the C&O Canal towpath. Just why and how RFK did, what some may say
was a crazy stunt, remains a mystery.

In 1963, U.S. President, John F. Kennedy (JFK), who emphasized physical fitness’
importance, challenged the U.S. military to a 50 mile march. JFK was emulating President
Theodore Roosevelt, who issued a similar directive in 1908.

JFK made it known that his White House staff should lead this challenge by example.
So, his brother, Attorney General, Robert F. Kennedy, no better prepared than the
thousands who would later “follow in his footsteps,” was the first to complete the 50 mile
challenge. He walked for nearly 18 hours in a pair of dress shoes in 20 degree weather,
perhaps under some of the worst conditions to attempt such a feat. Such personal heroics
spawned a 50-mile walk fad, an eye-opening example of what was humanly possible
if more of us used our imagination and pushed ourselves to the limit. This same New
Frontier, can-do era would lead to several other impressive innovations like space travel.

Ray Smith of Great Falls, Virginia, who leads walks in the Washington D.C. area and
Paul Kiczek, of Morris Township, New Jersey, founder of FreeWalkers.org, have issued a
challenge to the public to walk on February 9th. Many other long distance walkers have
promised to join them in Maryland and follow RFK’s 50-mile route of 50 years ago: A few
have committed to walk a portion of the distance with Kiczek and Smith. Some will walk
in other locations.

According to Smith, "The Kennedy brothers embodied the ‘can-do’ spirit of the times in
their cr

That's really an accomplishment. I've run in some smaller races and always have hoped to compete in a marathon someday. But running for three hours or so over 26 miles vs. walking for 18 hours??? For now, I'll stick to running. :)

We were wondering about pulling over and hiking to the Overlook Cliff from the C & O trail. Map is here
http://www.nps.gov/hafe/planyourvisit/upload/Md-Hts2011-2.pdf
but has anyone actually done this? It doesn't look far on the map, but I note all those elevation lines. Wonder how long it typically takes? And whether it can be done in the lighter gym shoes we use for cycling (not bringing heavy hiking boots on this trip).

My wife and I did this. I should note that this was done on a seperate vacation trip to Harper's Ferry, we were not biking. This was done a number of years ago so the memory is a little fuzzy. I do believe you should be o.k. with your shoes. I do remember it was a fairly steep trail but "steepness" is somewhat relative. I do remember working up a sweat...lol. My wife and I do not agree with how long it took. Again, we were on vacation and not in any hurry. We spent a good deal of time at the top.

One question for you. What are you going to do with your bikes while you are hiking? The trail is pretty busy along there. We do not remember seeing anywhere specifically to park your bikes. Just something to consider. Hope this helps

Um, there is a car parking lot at the bottom of the trail, and we thought there would be someplace to park the bikes there, locked to a tree if not an official bike rack?

There is a rack where you can lock your bikes near the Pedestrian Bridge on the C&O Side. And be sure to LOCK your bikes!

You will hiking up Maryland Heights. It is fairly steep, but sneakers should be okay. Take plenty of water. As you hike up the trail it eventually splits off to a left and right trail. The left trail takes you to the remains of the old Union Fort at the top of Maryland Heights. This trail is very rocky. Saw a rattlesnake on the trail.
Be sure to take the rightmost trail when you come to the Split. The entire hike may take a couple hours but when you reach the Vista it is worth it. Incredible views of Harpers Ferry and the Shenadoah and Potomac Rivers. It's beautiful!

This thread is awesome and absolutely deserves a bump! I have been to/stayed at Harpers Ferry at least five or six times previously, and never knew about the existence of this trail! I would always say to people, "Man, it would be cool to see the view from the top over there!" No one ever mentioned to me that a trail exists, and I guess that it's easy to miss the trailhead after a day of biking, when you're focused on getting across the bridge to the actual town. Awesome post, thanks!