C&O / GAP Forum

I only have a mountain bike, and am considering doing the DC - Harper's Ferry ride with my pre teen son, who also has a mountain bike. Assuming we stayed in a lockhouse/motel 1-2 nights, is it realistic to do 30 miles/day with additional panniers on mountain bikes? We easily do 25 mile rides now on them, so it would be a little bit to work up to, but I'm thinking the mountain bikes could be useful on the trail. We would pack light and only be bringing minimal clothing/layers and snacks. Ideally we'd do it in the fall, but would be it be crazy to do this in late October/early November? Many thanks in advance

You and your kid will be fine.
Don't overthink it.
A mountain bike might be even preferable on the C&O if you are riding after a rain.
A lot of through riders are doing 60 miles a day, so 30 miles should be well within your skillset.

Willy’s response was spot on.

Be advised: After rain, the DC side of the Paw Paw Tunnel detour can have SERIOUS mud. We were there Sat, May 6. No shuttle down because there was no work that day. Must have rained the previous day or 2. Real, sloppy mud on DC side. Not "muddy". Thick, sloppy mud. No thought of riding at all for much of that slope.

Today, a rider approaching Pittsburgh from DC told me that the contractor's shuttle on the downriver side of the Tunnel Bypass has been discontinued. They said the contractor's work at the top of the Tunnel Bypass is complete and thus he no longer operates the shuttle even though the trail itself is still closed.

They used Dan, the owner of the hostel in Paw Paw, to shuttle them around the closed section of the trail.

Any lodging suggestions near whites ferry, MD off the C&O

Nothing near Whites Ferry. Leesburg, VA used to be an easy ferry/bike ride over but the ferry is closed due to a land dispute and now there is no easy way over. You could call the hotels and ask if they will shuttle/come get you at US Rt. 15 (likely a fee). If you’re brave and have the legs for it, you could cross on your bike at US Rt. 15 but that’s like 12-13 miles to get to Leesburg. I’ve never ridden it but I understand it’s not the safest bridge or route (others in this forum might chime in with their experiences).

Otherwise try Brunswick, MD.

Good luck,
John

I have ridden portions of US Route 15 both north and south of State Rt 665. The latter was in route to hotels in Leesburg or to the WOD Trail before the ferry shutdown operations. While rideable, those sections are not for the faint of heart given the amount and speed of traffic.

I did briefly research Airbnb to see if there were any options, say, in Poolsville but none jumped out at me.

Visited on Monday, May 29, 2023. The store is a fire hazard, you can barely walk through it. I think the prices are too high. The owner was very disrespectful. He had a grabber tool that he reached out to my breast. He was very flirtatious and crude. Upon leaving the store, he told my best friend..."thanks for letting me enjoy looking at your warm body".

My buddy and I are going to ride from Pittsburgh to DC in 3 days.
But wanted to check in to see if others had done it in 3 days or what the normal timeframe is to complete the ride

Picturing Pitt to frostburg
Frostburg to Hancock
Hancock to dc.

But it sounds like Cumberland area will be a bit slower than the rest of the ride.

Thanks for the feedback.

Three days! Three consecutive centuries +. Quite ambitious for us mere mortals who typically take 5 to 7 days. Good luck. Let us know how you fared.

Wow, I’m always amazed humans can go so far, so fast! Me? That would take me 5-6 days.

The only thing that might slow you down is the surface. It’s great for riding of course but other than the first 18 or so miles out of Pittsburgh, it’s a crushed limestone surface on the GAP and mostly dirt paths on the C&O. They don’t roll as fast as asphalt. And if the C&O gets wet or it rained two days prior, you will encounter lots of puddles and mud.

Let us know how you got on and good luck!

I have a friend who does this regularly because he can't or doesn't want to take time off, so he does it during 3-day weekends. He's not a speedster or anything, but he rides into the night. He once had a flat, but had an issue with his pump that took him over an hour to repair. His bike lights ran out of juice, and it was so dark that he had to use his cell phone flashlight. The problem with that was it kept turning off when he went over bumps because to turn off the flashlight on his cell phone, you shake it. LOL He ended up riding until 2AM. He's been trying to get me to do it, but it doesn't sound enjoyable.

Thanks for the feedback. In my head I’m starting to think more like 4 days and hope the weather is nice and the gear works great so we can try to make it in 3. Super excited to finally do this ride after years of talking about doing it.

We biked the C&O May 5-9, to complete our 2022 PGH to DC tour that was cut short by 2 funerals.
Some comments on lodging:
PawPaw, WV: Bikepath B&B is the place for hospitality. Dan is a great host. Full of information and ready to help anyone. He is available for shuttles at a reasonable price, which is important as long as the Paw Paw tunnel is closed.
Williamsport: Bay Farm B&B: Up an easy hill. A little confusing finding the garage, etc, but a very nice place with very nice rooms. Large and varied supply of food for breakfast, but nothing hot except the coffee. No person on site. Pricy (we paid $180 + tax).
Harpers Ferry: Towns Inn. Nice rooms. Not fancy. VERY helpful and accommodating. Let us keep our property there while touring the town after checkout time. But you have to carry loaded bike up those stairs on the MD side.
Brunswick: Travelodge is the only place I can find. Up a significant hill no matter how you do it. We used 9th Ave (via 10 Ave) - a long hill that someone in better shape might peddle, but was a push up most of it for us. Road back to town on 2nd Ave. One hill was so steep it was scary to go down. Wanted to use Gum Spring Rd, but missed the turn. Travelodge itself looks new and was very nice to stay. Adele's TexMex Restaurant is right next door and is THE place for dinner.

Good info regarding lodging. Thanks.

I forgot to ask. Did Dan in Paw Paw have any insight as to when the trail at the tunnel exit might reopen?

I believe he understood September to be the current prediction, but he was going by the Natl Park Svc forecast, which he is familiar with as a NPS volunteer.

The six mile loop that follows the GAP from Boston to The 15th St Bridge in Liberty Borough, then along the other side of Yough back to Boston is a favorite local ride for us. A 1.5 mile stretch along the McKeesport side has been paved with new asphalt in the last week or so. Very nice job and less bone rattling. Check out Puzzlers bar and grill for lunch or dinner right off the trail with bike parking.

That’s great news. I’ve been avoiding that side until it was repaired.

I rode the McKeesport Loop today and the newly repaved section is quite nice. The paving work was well done and quite smooth until it reaches the unaffected part of the loop which is the original pavement and a little rough in spots.

FYI Lodging in Hancock, MD

Super 8 Motel just up the street from the Pizza Hut. North End Liquor store is just north on Limestone Road.

Hancock Motel across US 522 from the Potomac River Gill.

1828 Trail Inn B&B on Main Street very close to Buddy Lou's Restaurant.

C&O Bicycle Bunkhouse in back of shop on Berm/Canal Street.

Thanks John. It was good to get a local, accurate update of the services in Hancock and Little Orleans as the new biking season begins. Personally I'll miss Weavers. It went downhill fast after the original owners got out of the business.

Is Dave's daughter now operating the Town Hill Inn? I enjoyed my stay there whea few years ago when Dave still owned and ran the Inn.

I have no idea, but I'll swing by Town Hill and ask when I'm out near Bellegrove.

I left voice and email messages for 1828 Trail Inn B&B but they never returned them. However, I continued to call and finally spoke to someone. Therefore, I can confirm that their number (301-678-7227) is active. They must be very busy or not very responsive. I just also received an email from them about an hour after talking to them, so their email (info@1828-trail-inn.com) also works.

This hotel is clean and the staff is extremely friendly and accommodating. Be advised, this is not in Brunswick and is somewhat isolated. There is a 24/7 dinner as part of the hotel.
Also, 0.7 miles is up extremely steep hills. If your exhausted, this is not pleasant. At the end of the day, it's perfect to relax once there

Is there a shuttle service which would allow me to get from Cumberland to Pittsburgh? Planning on a late October trip, driving to Cumberland and shuttling to Pittsburgh then ride back to Cumberland. I've thought about Amtrak but I don't feel good about their bike service and no warm fuzzy feelings about getting into downtown Pittsburgh at midnight. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance!

See the Gaptrail.org website for some shuttle operator service options to Pittsburgh.

Aside from simply getting a bike reservation itself, I have found the Amtrak bike services satisfactory but arriving downtown at midnight isn’t ideal depending on your plans upon arriving.

We took a rental car one way from PGH to Cumberland. At the time it was cheaper than a shuttle would have been. Worth checking on in your direction as well.

The information below is taken from the NPS C&O website.


Well Water Conditions

Starting in spring 2023, the well water in hiker-biker campsites will be signed non-potable. Water from wells at paid campgrounds will remain potable and safe for drinking, cooking, or washing.

The park works to ensure that there is a more reliable water source year-round for visitors in the park and that the drinking water that is provided is as safe as it can possibly be, especially considering that our wells are in a flood zone. The park will maintain potable water in a targeted number of wells in fee campgrounds. However, as a general precaution for wells located in a flood zone, you are advised to boil or treat the water before use for your own protection. Well handles will be removed from fee campgrounds in mid-November to protect against freeze as per normal operating procedures.
For hiker-biker campgrounds, the wells will be signed as non-potable and we ask that visitors bring their own water supply or water sanitizing equipment to treat well water before use. The wells will remain in operation in hiker-biker campgrounds year-round. As long as visitors bring their own sanitization equipment, there will be a more reliable water source as handles will not be removed from these wells.

Drive-In Campgrounds: Well water within the drive-in campgrounds is potable and treated with iodine - do NOT drink if you have any iodine allergies or if you are on medication for an overactive thyroid. In general, well water is clean and able to be used without additional treatment. However, as a general precaution for wells located in a flood zone, you are advised to boil or treat the water before use for your own protection.

Hiker-Biker Campsites: Non-potable water is available in hiker-biker campsites. Please plan to filter, chemically treat, or boil the water before use for your own protection. The wells will remain in the hiker-biker campsites and, as long as visitors bring their own sanitization equipment, there will be a more reliable water source as handles will not be removed from these wells.

Visitor Centers, park buildings, and comfort stations are provided water by the nearby municipality and do not require drinking water sampling by the park. Please note that the Swains Lock campsite draws on the same municipal water as the Swains Lockhouse and will remain potable. 

Water availability is subject to change. Always bring plenty of water with you as a backup option. Please plan your trip accordingly.

Wow, big changes for 2023 on the C&O! I loved having the wells as an extra safety precaution in case I ran low on the water I was carrying. Won’t lie, on hot days, or where I pushed too hard, the water from these wells saved my bacon on a few occasions. They also provided water to stick your head under and cool down. Not sure if I’ll do that with non-potable but who knows.

I will be extra vigilant on future trips to bring extra water with me even if it means more weight. Can’t take chances in some of the more remote parts especially. Of course I could bring my Jet Boil which has been a great piece of equipment to have.

John

The bridge deck replacement project for the Pinkerton Harnedsville bridges has now been completed and the trail reopened across them.

The bridge deck replacement project for the Pinkerton Harnedsville bridges has now been completed and the trail reopened across them.

How wide is the trail through the Pawpaw Tunnel? Can a loaded recumbent trike, about 36 inches, get through?

According to design documents from the Maryland Historical Trust, the towpath through the tunnel is 4 feet wide with its wood railing. From personal experience, walking a trike with racks and bags will make it through the tunnel. However, walking beside it while pushing it through could be a little awkward in spots. Riding rather than walking through isn’t a viable option. Further, you’ll likely need to wait until any oncoming travelers have exited before you enter.

Agree, walk any bike. It’s dark, narrow, and the surface is uneven and bumpy.

If you have a light or a head lamp, that will be useful to help you see what you are walking on

If you encounter an oncoming cyclist walking their bikes, one of you will have to just stop and let the other pass through as it’s a bit tight in there. Small chance it could happen but be prepared.

Thanks for the information.

I vested the tunnel twice last year, Summer and Fall, it was under construction. Walked to the end but the other end was closed. Does anyone actually ride/walk through the tunnel in 2023?
Thank you.

The National Park Service’s website that announced the Towpath closure at the downriver end of the Paw Paw Tunnel some time ago continues to state that construction will extend through winter of 2022/23. Thus, hopefully we’ll be able to pass through the tunnel and beyond after that time without having to take the detour up and over. We’ll see.

Thank you.
The detour, up and over, is steep and narrow.

Riding 2 trikes from Cumberland to DC after Memorial Day 2023. Instead of the steep detour up and over, impossible with a trike, I see paved roads west out of Paw Paw like Tunnel Hill road that seem to be a way to detour around the Paw Paw tunnel and appears to cross the C&O in a few miles past the detour. Has anyone done this route on the road?

I’m not sure I understand the alternate route on Tunnel Hill Road that you are considering but the following is a related post from some time ago that discussed using Tunnel Hill Road.


Rick from Florida on 09/21/2021 07:15 AM:
I just rode the Paw Paw Bypass option (Sulphur Springs Rd, to Oldtown to Malcolm Rd to Tunnel Hill Rd) on Sunday the 19th. This connects with the Tunnel Hill Bypass Trail at the top of Tunnel Hill. You then have to take the Tunnel Hill Bypass Trail down to the C&O path. The option of going on these roads works well going from Cumberland to Little Orleans, however if you are going from Little Orleans to Cumberland you have no option to pushing your bike up the Tunnel Hill Bypass Trail. If you are going this direction you are probably better off staying on the Bypass trail to get back to the C&O. Just an FYI there are a couple if steeper sections on Sulpher Springs Rd and Tunnel Hill Road. They are ridable though. These are also public roads with no shoulder, so beware of traffic, especially on Oldtown Rd.

I’m not sure I understand the alternate route on Tunnel Hill Road that you are considering but the following is a related post from some time ago that discussed using Tunnel Hill Road.


Rick from Florida on 09/21/2021 07:15 AM:
I just rode the Paw Paw Bypass option (Sulphur Springs Rd, to Oldtown to Malcolm Rd to Tunnel Hill Rd) on Sunday the 19th. This connects with the Tunnel Hill Bypass Trail at the top of Tunnel Hill. You then have to take the Tunnel Hill Bypass Trail down to the C&O path. The option of going on these roads works well going from Cumberland to Little Orleans, however if you are going from Little Orleans to Cumberland you have no option to pushing your bike up the Tunnel Hill Bypass Trail. If you are going this direction you are probably better off staying on the Bypass trail to get back to the C&O. Just an FYI there are a couple if steeper sections on Sulpher Springs Rd and Tunnel Hill Road. They are ridable though. These are also public roads with no shoulder, so beware of traffic, especially on Oldtown Rd.

Does any knows that the tunnel is still closed? I am going to ride from Cumberland to DC starting on 7 May 2023.

The NPS C&O website today still shows the exit trail from the tunnel is still closed.

Cyclist take WARNING! There appears to be a serious homeless problem around Mile Zero. My Niece just finished cycling the towpath last Monday. She was accosted by a homeless person who threatened her. Fortunately, she was able to get away uninjured. There was no visible National Park or Metro DC Police presence in the area. If any other cyclist encounters the same around Mile Zero, please add your comments to this thread. It's sad that things have deteriorated to this level. There was once a time when you could hike/cycle the towpath in relative safety without fear of bodily harm, especially in Georgetown of all places!

The NPS C&O website shows all H/B site well pumps beyond MM 25 as being “on”.

The NPS C&O website shows all H/B site well pumps beyond MM 25 as being “on”.

The GAP trail website has announced another imminent closure of a portion of the GAP Trail as described below

“Somerset County will deploy contractors to completely redeck the Pinkerton Low and High Bridges and the Harnedsville Bridge as soon as all required permits are submitted, beginning as early as November 1, 2022. This $2.4 million project will require closing the Great Allegheny Passage to all travelers between the parking areas at Markleton (mile marker 50) and Harnedsville (mile marker 59) for approximately two months, depending on the severity of winter weather.

This major rehabilitation project will include removing the entire wooden decking systems of all three bridges, including the aging railroad ties once installed by the Western Maryland Railway, since the decking and ties are nearing the end of their useful lives. Contractors will install new concrete slabs which will last generations. Currently, Somerset County is waiting for final permit approvals, which could arrive at any time, and then contractors will get started. We are hopeful that the project can be completed over the winter so that this nine-mile section can reopen as soon as possible in the spring of 2023.

Please note that this section of the GAP will be completely closed to all travelers. The project area will be extremely dangerous; there will be no deck system on these bridges, each of which traverse the Casselman River, and they will be completely impassable. Additionally, there will be a steady stream of construction vehicles and heavy equipment running on this section of the trail. There will be no posted detour; please enjoy other sections of the GAP.”

Note that the Mt. Savage Tunnel will be closing around early December as well although an exact date has not been announced to my knowledge.

The GAP website now reports that the Mt. Savage tunnel will close for the winter on December 1.

Ooooo, that's bad news regarding the Pinkerton bridges. Any kind of ridearound looks...intense.

Pinkerton, Harnedsville Bridges to be Redecked; Nine-Mile Closure

An update on this closure has been posted today on the GAP website. It appears that the update is now a projected contractor's completion of this work for the end of March.

If you are planning an early season trip through this section, you should monitor the GAP website for further updates since there is no detour around this work.

A reminder of this closure was posted today on the GAP website. Riders beware.

The GAP website posted an update to the subject alert today. The salient portion of the update would appear to be the following sentences therein.

“Crews are currently awaiting a final delivery of materials and must resurface sections of the GAP that have been rutted with vehicular traffic. They are now aiming for early or mid-April depending on weather.”

This update provides a new estimate for completion of the work and reopening of the trail. Note that often such resurfacing of the trail results in a softer surface early on especially after rains until the trail is more compacted by use. Time will tell.

I have a group ride scheduled to go through this area of the GAP on Friday, May 5th. Any updates on if it is open yet? Has anyone ridden on rt 281 from Confluence to Markleton as a detour?

As of this moment, the GAP website still indicates it is closed. I have not ridden the detour you are considering.