C&O / GAP Forum

I am planning an overnight trip on the C&O this upcoming weekend. Is it advised to follow caution regarding bears when storing food on the C&O or are there little issues with them on the trail? Thanks!

It's more likely that mice, and other small mammals, will get into your food than a bear. There's so many more of the little animals than bears it's a statistical likely hood.

If you are truly worried about bears you could purchase a can of bear spray.It works on bad people too.I carry a can.

Follow standard Bear Safety practices when in Bear Country, like how you store your food at Camp sites. If you see a Bear it will most likely be from Little Orleans, MD to points North/West on the Trail.
Bear Spray is an effective deterrent for Bears and it works on bad guys too. It's a large can and shoots a spray like Wasp spray does. Regular Mace has been found to work as well.
I personally carry both Bear Spray and Mace when on trails in remote areas.
Be safe out there!

One more thing. You can purchase Bear Spray at places like Gander Mountain and Cabelas. Usually it's back in the Firearms section. You may need to ask for assistance in finding it in some stores.

I'm not saying it couldn't happen but the odds of seeing a bear along the c&O are really slim and I agree the best area would be slightly east and west of Little Orleans (most remote section.) Instead of worrying about bear spray I'd suggest a bear canister to carry/store your food. There are several sizes available although you might need to strap it to your rear rack instead of in your panniers. Garcia Machine is one company that carries them. Check Rock Creek, Campsaver, Travel Country, or just do a web search.
I've been hiking/biking the c&O for close to 30 years, I've seen bear tracks a couple of times, heard of a few encounters, but have yet to see a bear along the route. Just keep a clean camp, hang your food, and you shouldn't have any problems.

I've seen Bear Tracks which were "fresh" along the River just past Little Orleans in the Past. On another occasion I saw a large Black Bear on the trail about a mile or so before the Paw Paw Tunnel. I carry a whistle with me because sometimes they will scatter if they hear a loud noise. The Bear did move on and headed back up the hillside. There were berries on a plant near the trail where I saw it. I'm always cautious when I see a Bear that Cubs may be close by. Since those 2 encounters (they were different days and months) I always carry Bear Spray. I saw a Ranger on patrol on another occasion and when I inquired about Bears he did mention that he had also seen Bears on the Trail. So they're out there.

Randy is right about carrying a whistle. Makes a lot more sense (at least to me) than trying to fumble around pulling out bear spray. Like I said, I've seen tracks and heard of a few encounters but have yet to be lucky enough to see a bear along the Towpath. Keep a clean camp, hang your food, and practice proper trail/camping etiquette.

One of our group saw a bear right at the Mason-Dixon Line. He was ahead of me and stopped. I caught up to him within 20 seconds and saw a black bear's backside running into the woods.

I know, this should not be something that anyone worries about...but it when one is splattered with mud, it is good to know what is available. First, before you leave home, be sure to pick up some all-in-one laundry sheets. These are dryer sheets infused with detergent. Pack a few in a ziplock bag and they lie flat taking up little room in a pannier. But they aren't easy to find, not every grocery carries them and you need to look very high or very low on the shelf to spot them. (The ones I use are from Purex.) This will save $$ on the trail because not every laundry room even has a vending machine. In Williamsport, some folks had to buy (and then abandon) a whole bottle of detergent at a convenience store.

The nicest place we ever did laundry was at the Yough Plaza in Ohiopyle. It has FOUR of each machine, plus two nice folding tables, comfortable chairs to sit, and a nice selection of reading material while you wait. It was open from 9-9ish and anyone can use it, you don't have to be a hotel guest--it is on the side of the building facing the trail.

I didn't mind waiting to do laundry at the 1-offs that were available other places, because the people using the machines ahead of me were riding the trail the opposite direction and we could talk...but one night it did delay me getting to bed on time. So the Ohiopyle set-up was a pleasure.

Another thing we learned about laundry was that laundering can take the waterproofing out of garments. Our jackets said, "powdered detergents only," and that's all we used...but it still ruined the waterproofing of one of them. Instead, one should use a special "Techwash" product made just for waterproof clothing, available from a sporting goods shop. Also, there are products to restore the waterproofing, and we picked some up at the bike store in Cumberland.

I hiked the C+O in 2011 and did laundry in 3 places. First was a Laundromat in Hancock, up the hill in a shopping center. Second place was at the Red Roof Inn in Williamsport, they had coin operated machines. And the third was at the hotel in Cumberland, the one right by the trail. And I didn't carry any laundry soap, it was available in all 3 places.

Good to know about the laundramat in Hancock.

It was the Red Roof Inn in Williamsport in fall 2013 that did not have the soap dispenser and only had one each of washer and dryer. Had some great conversations waiting, but it definitely took all night.

My wife, son and I ride from Pittsburgh to DC every year. I usually bring 1 pair of casual shorts - I can wear them around town, biking in the evening, swimming, etc., and two sets of riding clothes i.e. jersey, shorts, socks. We do laundry every other night and have generally found detergent-dispensing vending machines in each Laundromat. There's a Laundromat in Hancock, Harper's Ferry, and we used the one in our Georgetown hotel (free! ya!).

Looks like this would be a cool place to stay, but it is 11 miles of road riding off the trail, back into PA. Not ideal if you're trying to ride the trail the whole way like we are, but it may be suited for a good day trip. Would love to read comments from people who have stayed here.

Nice place. The food is good... not exceptional, but definitely good and priced right. Just what my family expected. The soup was really good and the pie and deserts were great. What really set this place apart was our waitress. She was very attentive, knowledgeable about the area, made us laugh, and even gave us pointers about how to deal with mosquitos on the trail (tie fabric softner sheets to your bike somewhere). Would not hesitate to return.

This place is spectacular... at least it was when it was run by the old owners. They were super accommodating to our group and the food was outstanding. It was closed last year, but the report is that it reopened in Feb 2015 under new ownership. I looked online and the menu is different, but looks good, and I'm inclined to try it.

Hello, within the next two weeks my fiancé and I are heading from Charlotte to Georgetown. We plan to complete the c&o and the gap, allowing ourselves 12-13 days total. My question is, where can we park our car for those 12-13 days in the Georgetown area? Looking for something safe, some-what cost efficient and fairly decent proximity of the towpath.

My apologies if there is already a thread on this, I went back to July of Last year and didn't see any discussions.

Thanks in advance!!

Has anyone used a one wheel trailer on the c and o. I am thing about using one to get weight off my bike. Or would it be more trouble than worth?

Trailers add another element to bike-packing and have many benefits/detriments.

You'll be adding weight. Trailers weigh about as much as 1/2 bike, easily, and the only thing they are really good for is hauling your stuff. They require some sort of coupler to connect to the bike and can change handling by causing "fishtailing". They also require a prudent traveler to carry a spare tube in case you have an issue with the tire, the size of which doesn't match your bike. Also, if they break down, you have to figure out how to move the trailer and gear to a place you can be picked up or repaired. You also have to transport the trailer to your drop-off point from your house and they don't always fit well on bike racks.

Benefits include, easy to put on a bike with no rack bosses, allows the tow bike to use lighter rims and you can take way more stuff than you'll probably need. They are pretty durable and I've seldom had handling issues. I rode the Katy last September with my 9yr old on a tandem with (2 wheel) trailer. We were able to use the trailer as a food prep/dining surface and as a cover over some of our gear that we wanted to keep dry during the rain. This particular trailer was a converted Burley kid-hauler that connects to the left chainstay with a clamp. It worked well and we couldn't have hauled all of our gear on the bike alone.

If I was traveling alone, I'd keep my gear on the bike and use racks/panniers regardless of how long the trip was. Travelling with another rider who may not be as strong, I'd happily pull a trailer.
From what I've heard, the 1 wheelers (BoB or similar) are best for the C&O. You have to determine if what you're bringing warrants purchase and towing of another "1/2 bike".
For a solo rider, I'd say no.

Hello, a couple years back i came across a man using a B.O.B. trailer on the c&o. I recommend you to check out his youtube, search "threewheeljourney" It was very helpful for me, his c&o videos were a few years ago so you'll have to go back through a few videos but totally worth it.

Hi folks! I am taking my 10yo from Meyersdle to Georgetown next week and would really love any trail condition updates. In particular, if there are any issues with water suply, i.e. pumps not working or any sections of trail that might be closed. Any issues with the hiker bikers or safety concerns? Anything at all will be greatly appreciated! Thank you very much!
Dave

The C&O park service site is not listing any current closures or detours. Haven't seen anything on the GAP website or twitter feed. Haven't seen any issues reported while surfing the internet for trail news. Should be good. Have a great trip!

The only comment I have heard recently from guests (aside from "wow") was that the iodine taste in the hand pump water was very strong. I figure since they only put the handles on the pumps 2-3 weeks ago, they probably treated the water then so its still a bit strong. If you use the hand pumps, make sure you pump it enough to flush it. You don't know when the last time someone else pumped it, it might have been 24 hrs earlier and if you drink the water that was sitting in the pipe for 24 hrs it might taste a bit on the irony side. Enjoy your ride - right now the weather is lovely. Carol

Thanks Carol and John!

Ok guys I am planning on going from Cumberland to Georgetown. I will be doing it over July 3,4,5th. We are planning on camping the entire time and possibly the last night at a campground with shower. What are people using for securing the bikes while in towns eating, and overnight? I would assume a basic cable lock, but they aren't the best.

Has anyone had any issues leaving the bikes cable locked while in a restaurant along the trail or overnight at the camp? Do you remove your bags from the bikes while going into various establishments. I am new to the bike packing/touring thing. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I sometimes carry a light weight cable lock that came with my Yakima rack. Most times I don't use it but my bike/panniers are where I can see them while eating,etc. I seldom remove my panniers from my bike. They are waterproof Arkel's so they need less protection. I do remove my food bag and hang it or place in my tent depending on where I am. I do tend to keep a close eye on my stuff and generally act according to my surroundings. My bike is usually pretty close to my tent overnight. Hope this helps.

My wife and I do credit card camping, so I can't answer the overnight portion of your question....lol. We had the same concerns as you regarding eating, going into businesses, etc. In all of our riding, and not just the C&O/GAP, we have never had a problem. Our bikes are fully loaded on our trips. We will even leave our gloves and helmets on our bikes when we go inside. We do take our wallets & phones with us, however. Whenever possible we leave our bikes where we can see them or where they are out in the open. The way our paniers and bike bags are mounted to the racks would make it fairly hard to take them. I wish you the best on your ride. Let us know how it is goes.

I should have added this to my post above. When we stop for the night we do lock our bikes up with a cable lock. Many of the places we stay have a little barn or garage to keep the bikes. Even then, we run the cables through the wheels and frames and at least lock them together.

When I did venture into town (like Tony's Pizza Time Cafe in Williamsport, MD) and there was no bike rack, I just rested it against the outside of the restaurant. I always took my valuables inside with me and left the panniers on the bike. I sat right next to the window where the bike was resting to keep an eye on it. I usually tried to stop at places with bike racks or places I could securely lock up. At the hiker/biker sites I only locked at places where there was car parking. If it was a remote H/B site I did not lock at all.

I'll add one suggestion. When I put the panniers on my bike I always add two nylon ties to each one. The heaver ones that will need cut off. I also carry long ones for the wheels to frame. They are liter then carrying a lock for the entire trip and will stop a hit and run. If a pro wants your stuff, nothing is going to stop them. Just do what other people say, keep it close. The good news is, I have not heard or had any bad news regarding this issue. Take precautions then just don't worry it and enjoy your trip.

I agree, a lightweight cable plus a lock are what you need and always take your valuables off the bike when it will be out of sight. I simply stash my stuff in my handlebar bag. Beware of the drive in camping areas along the C & O. They are crowded on weekends but may be even less safe during the week when unoccupied.

Greg, just for your information there is a showerhead at the public restrooms in the Joseph Hancock City Park in Hancock, MD just off the WMRT. You can soak yourself good there but don’t recommend stripping down since there are no barriers or stalls, just wide open spaces. If you’re on the cheep you can get a shower at the C&O Bicycle shop right on the towpath and WMRT also in Hancock. I don’t recall how much it is but I am sure it can’t be more than say $5 per person. I believe you can also get a shower at the Harper’s Ferry Hostel in Knoxville, MD and do your laundry there also but best call ahead to find out for sure. Have a great adventure and enjoy the ride.

Lock it, lock it good, especially around Tourist Towns like Harpers Ferry.
Don't make things easy for a lowlife thief.

I stayed at Little Orleans campground for a night. The people where very nice and the showers were clean and the water hot. I walked down to Bill`s place for a hot dinner and a couple of beers. Since i was by myself they let me stay at the main campground and not where all the tents mainly are.
Also,,call ahead and make sure bike week isn`t going on. Hundreds of Harleys and people. Hope you have a great ride

If anyone is interested, I am riding solo from Pitt (mile 0) to DC in 5 days starting on Sunday, May 3rd at roughly 8AM. Day 1 to Ohiopyle (75mi), day 2 to Cumberland (75mi), day 3 to Hancock (60mi), day 4 to Harpers Ferry (60mi) and the last day to DC (60mi)... Would enjoy some company if anyone wants to join. Will be driving back from Reagan to PIT so would be willing to share the car space permitting.

Great intinerary! Those five stops were the exact locations of my first GAP/C&O trip. You should be in Hancock tonight. Hope you don't miss the Western Maryland Rail Trail (just before Hancock) which parallels the C&O for 22 gloriously paved miles. If not, you'll get the last half of it tomorrow morning from Hancock. Hope you're enjoying your trip!

Thanks, John. I'm happy to report it was a success. No flats, no issues...just great scenery and super nice people. Also happy to report that I didn't miss the WMRT either.

Great to hear Jerry! Happy to hear you caught the WMRT as well, it's such a nice diversion. I'm still trying to find a timeframe to do the trail this summer but hope to have it nailed down soon. Glad your trip was a success. John.

Newbie here to the GAP/C&O. I did not know anything about it until staying in Harpers Ferry @ the Tea Horse Hostel (Highly Recommend) during a section hike on the AT.

Looking for any itineraries out there that will be a good starting point for planning a thru ride. My wife and 2 teenagers will be riding along. Was thinking about keeping it around 7/8 days going eastbound.

Thank You in advance for any assistance.

Well, if you can ride 50 miles a day you can cover the whole GAP/C+O route in 8 days. I'd go from Pittsburgh to DC as the uphill is more gentle that way. If you want to camp at night it's no problem and resupply is easy. Get the trail guide book, it's got all the details you'll need, and more.

Me, I hiked the thing starting in DC.
I'm also an AT section hiker

This website has all of the information you need for planning itineraries. Just click on the towns show on the maps, and that will take you to another page with all of the services available. We rode from Pittsburgh to DC last June over a week, averaging about 60 miles/day. We stayed in inns/hotels at Pittsburgh, W. Newton, Confluence, Cumberland, Hancock and Harpers Ferry. Biggest problem for us were the long stretches on the C&O between Cumberland-Hancock and Brunswick-Georgetown with little or no services, water or places to eat.

hello good people...does anyone know if big slackwater is ok or is the detour in effect? i will be riding from rockwood to dc at the end of this month. just curious of the current conditions.
thank you much!

It's was reopened in 2013 but if high waters (spring thaw or big rain) were a problem, I imagine they would just detour you the same direction as it's traditionally been. I actually enjoyed the smooth asphalt for 6 miles but that's just me. Others may find it inconvenient. Enjoy your trip!

Big Slackwater has been completely restored. They did a beautiful job. You will not have any issues.
Great views of the river along the rout. Enjoy!

Thanks John W. I actually rode to to DC last May and Big Slackwater was closed off. The detour was a little discouraging being that I was able to experience Big Slackwater Oct 2013. It was a beautiful day in May so the scenic detour was actually not too bad. Thanks for your response.--HAPPY RIDING!
Thank you also Randy. Again, I was aware of the restoration and loved it. Just hoping my two children will be able to experience it next week when we begin our journey. If not, they will have to settle for my 2013 video footage.-- HAPPY RIDING!

Yaaaayyyy!!! Big Slackwater was open to riders 5/2/15 and it was beautiful...Weather was gorgeous and I was pleased to have experienced it with my children and group. ENJOY!!

Hey all, I was wondering how well this trail compares to the Katy (if you've done that one?) in areas like, camping availability, safety, services, trail surface, grades, etc... -You know, the kind of stuff that makes bike touring fun!

I rode the Katy last fall with my 9yr old on a tandem with trailer and have since upgraded my 2 wheel trailer to a single-wheel BoB unit. I'm doing another bike-camping ride with my (will be) 9yr old in 2016 and really looking forward to it.

Hi Awf, I rode the Katy last year and have done short stretches of the C&O a lot. You will definitely want your BOB trailer rather than a 2 wheel for the C&O especially from Cumberland to DC. The C&O is a Nat'l Park, so you will find free camp sites every 10 miles or so from Cumberland down. Most of them have water and porta Johns. There are plenty of towns for supplies but you will need to go further off trail than the Katy. Feel free to e-mail me direct.

It's not as smooth as the crushed limestone of the Katy.