C&O / GAP Forum

I'm leaving Union Station in DC to start my trip from DC to Pgh. I've never been on the C&O trail. Worried about navigating those first few miles. Any words of wisdom about keeping on the trail in DC and first 10-15 miles and not getting lost?

The trail is very well marked, and it starts in Georgetown. Once you get to Georgetown, you should have no problem staying on the trail all the way to Cumberland.

Anyone camped at McMahon's Mill Campground? Would love to know what you think.

My family and I go here every year while camping at Little Orleans Camp Ground to celebrate my daughters birthday. We all think Bill is the greatest with his stories and jokes. Just a great place to visit.

Great place for bikers w/laundry facilities, secure bike storage, central a/c, wi fi, computer, DVD, great breakfast, close to bike shop, closest to C&O Canal and WMRT. All newly renovated in former whiskey warehouse.

We are heading to Pittsburgh next week to bike the GAP and C and O back to DC.... Any one know anything about how the trail looks following all these thunderstorms??

Allegheny Trail Alliance reports: The 136 bridge in West Newton has been closed due to structural safety concerns. GAP trail & all businesses still open -use W136 to access!

Bridge work is now compleat. Open both ways

Has anyone traveled the C&O since the March floods? Am planning the Pittsburgh to DC trip in early June and was wondering what the trail conditions are like currently.

I'm doing the ride May 19th through the 21st. I let you know.

I'm leaving tomorrow. I'll post some updates when I return.

Am riding E. to W. starting 5/25 in D.C. Anything of interest would be appreciated.

I have been on the canal since the flood between Dam 5, and Cumberland Valley Campsite. The trail is back in decent shape in this 10 mile stretch.

I finished the canal path from Cumberland to DC on Saturday the 22nd. Kind of muddy up near Cumberland but the path was totally passable.

Where did you stay from Harpers Ferry to Georgetown?

Our troop is biking from Harpers Ferry to Georgetown and wondered if anyone else camped along the way and had any suggestions. We have a sag wagon who has our gear and also wondered if there was a campground along the route that would be easier for him to get a vehicle in too. Thanks.

While biking between Whites Ferry and Georgetown, I found a digital camera. If you can ID it, I would really like to return it to you.

Quick question since you biked between Harpers Ferry and Georgetown, we have our BSA Troop biking and wondered where you camped along this part of the C&O?

Stayed here several years ago on our bike trip southbound from Cumberland. A little expensive for some folks, but we splurged for one night and really enjoyed it. We walked into town and did laundry and ate at one of the many restaurants. Nice place just across the river from the trail.

Are there picnic tables at the campsites?

We are 2 cycling buddies from the UK,after a few days in Washington seeing the sights we need
to get to Pittsburgh leaving DC on the 16/5/10 we then have two weeks to cycle back.Best way to get to Pittsburgh Bus or Train?any info would be a great help prices/ times/cost.
Thanks for any help Brian.

Try the train, they have have a baggage car. I don't know if a bus could handle all your bikes.
The train from DC will put you in Pittsburgh late evening.

With two weeks, why not just ride up and back? It only takes 5 or 6 days to get from one end to the other-

Sandcastle nearing bike trail agreement
Last link in Great Allegheny Passage
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
By Jon Schmitz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Allegheny County and Sandcastle Waterpark are expected to announce an
agreement within days that will allow completion of the last missing piece
of a biking and hiking trail linking Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.

"I really expect we'll have a formal announcement in the next couple days,"
said James Judy, vice president of operations for Palace Entertainment,
owner of the park.

"I believe that is probably going to be the case," agreed county spokesman
Kevin Evanto.

The deal would cap years of negotiations aimed at finding a way to
accommodate the trail on the park's narrow strip of land between a railroad
line and the Monongahela River.

The roughly one-mile stretch is the last link in the 150-mile Great
Allegheny Passage from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Md., where it connects to
the C&O Towpath to Washington.

When all is complete, it will be possible to bike about 335 continuous,
mostly flat miles from Pittsburgh to the nation's capital without
interference from motorized traffic.

The former owners of Sandcastle for years resisted efforts to build the
trail through the park, saying there wasn't enough room.

"The next time you visit Sandcastle take a close look at the tight access
road and try to visualize a 10-foot-wide trail running between the road and
the railroad tracks. I hope you will conclude that not having the available
land wide enough for a trail does not make us stubborn," said Peter McAneny,
then-president of Kennywood Entertainment, in a 2008 letter to the
Post-Gazette.

Mr. McAneny and county officials announced later that year that a deal was
close, but the talks got sidetracked when Kennywood Park and Sandcastle were
sold.

"We're thrilled to be on the trail," Mr. Judy said in a pho

"We're thrilled to be on the trail," Mr. Judy said in a phone interview from
California on Monday. "It's been a very high priority for me to get this
done." He said the park owners did not want to be the only missing link.

The site is accessible by a narrow two-lane road and has limited parking,
which fills to capacity several times a year, he said. "It's been an
extremely tricky piece of property to work with."

The county helped to design a plan that would minimize the impact on parking
by re-striping the lots. The trail will run parallel to the access road, Mr.
Judy said.

The trail developers cleared another major hurdle last week with placement
of two bridges over railroad lines in the Mon Valley. Crews hoisted
prefabricated bridges over active freight lines in Whitaker and Duquesne
along the Monongahela River.

That cleared the way for construction of a 21/2-mile section linking
Duquesne and The Waterfront retail complex. That piece is expected to be
completed in January.

No construction timetable has been announced for the Sandcastle section. An
agreement with the water park would keep the county on track to meet county
Executive Dan Onorato's goal of completing the entire trail by "11-11-11" --
Nov. 11, 2011.
Jon Schmitz: jschmitz@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1868. Visit "The
Roundabout," the Post-Gazette's transportation blog, at post-gazette.com.

Read more:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10194/1072356-455.stm#ixzz0tZ7MLp64

Feisty senior citizens, one with two new knees, wishes to cycle from Meyersdale PA to McKeesport PA based on elevations going downhill. Are there any long stretches requiring walking/or hard uphill cycyling?

If you are starting from the TRAIL HEAD in Meyersdale, the answer is NO. The only even short, slight uphill might be getting back on the trail at Confluence because the original RR bridge high above the river is not in use.

Starting from downtown Meyersdale is a different story.

Stayed here in 2008 during a rainy trip from Cumberland to Georgetown. This Super 8 is what you would expect from a chain; clean, modest accomodations, and inexpensive. The staff was very friendly and the best part was they had a hose to spray our muddy bikes. Close to restaurants and the trail. I would stay here again.

Talk about deja vu. I could have written these same words when I did Cumberland to DC back in 1995, especially that part about the hose.

Stayed here in 2008 while biking from Cumberland to Georgetown with a few buddies. Normally we would not have chosen to stay in Brunswick but we learned Whites Ferry was not operating. Unable to make it to our lodging across the river we found the Motel Sleepers aka Green Country Inn. This was an odd place; very dormitory like and kind of depressing (sort of like a nursing home). We learned it is/was a place for railroaders to stay while away from home. But it was clean and the people there were nice.

Based on a stay here in 2006, this is a fair description. Also, at least at that time there was a restaurant on the premises that kept late hours, if not 24.

I notice the restaurant is listed as the Green Country Inn. So if the list is accurate, it's still there.

The email address on the "Contact Us" page is now working. Sorry for the inconvenience.

trying to go canoeing this weekend 5/28 from paw paw to bonds with 12 year olds some with experience. what is the river like? thinking it might be too high and fast.

Stayed here in 2008 before our ride to Georgetown. Staff was very accomodating. They let us keep our bikes in a secure room right next to the reception desk. Close to restaurants. I would stay here again.

Where does one actually get onto the towpath? Can't see where I might park or actually get onto the trail. Assistance much appreciated.

Have ridden the C&O from Cumberland to D.C. In Cumberland, under a highway bridge (downtown; near train center), long term parking is available. Check in with folks at railroad museum, in historic train center.

Are you allowed to put boats in the river anywhere near here?

I saw there is a steep boat ramp at Nolands Ferry. See pic at this web site. http://www.capitolareafishing.com/november-11-nolands-ferrymdva/

You'll find an interactive map to the Nolands Ferry ramp on this page: http://www.bikecando.com/nolands-ferry.aspx

It's beautiful out there

You might be seeing these notices after Saturday morning, but if you want to help I would still suggest calling - these efferts might be going on for many days:



Lockhouse 6 Needs Your Help! -
Volunteers needed Saturday


In preparation for the flood, which is expected to crest near Lockhouse 6 on Sunday, the C&O Canal Trust will sandbag the lockhouse beginning at noon this Saturday, March 13th. Materials and equipment will be provided, though additional wheelbarrows would be welcomed. Assistance may also be required to move furnishings associated with the Trust's Canal Quarters program.


Please keep in mind, parking at this location is very limited.


If you have specific questions, please contact Matthew Logan at 301-512-7027 or logan@canaltrust.org.



Volunteers Needed at Great Falls -
Sandbagging to take place at Tavern


The Historic Tavern at Great Falls is also enlisting the help of volunteers tomorrow beginning at 9 a.m. All persons interested in helping should call the Visitor Center first thing tomorrow morning at 301-767-3714.



Cushwa Warehouse Needs Help -
Items to be moved to second floor


The Cushwa building, which houses the Visitor Center at Williamsport, will likely be inundated before the weekend is over. Volunteers are gathering tomorrow morning to disassemble exhibits and move items to the second floor. Work will begin by 8:30. To assist, contact Curt Gaul by calling 301-491-6265.

Superintendent Kevin Brandt has signed a Flood Emergency Declaration for the C&O Canal National Historical Park.



There is still a considerable snow pack in the mountains of the Potomac Watershed. The National Weather Service estimates that 5" to 9" of liquid moisture could still be in this snow. They also forecast additional rain totals could exceed 8". The melting snow combined with the forecasted rain is expected to produce a major flood along the length of the park.



To prepare for the impending flood, the park has already begun to close various facilities and access points. For more information on closures, please visit the park website.
http://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/closures.htm

From the Park service, via C&O Canal Assn:

Expected heavy rainfall during the weekend of March 12-14, 2010 may result in major flooding along sections of the C&O Canal. The Potomac River is expected to reach flood stage in all areas of the park between Saturday, March 13 and Tuesday, March 16, 2010. Park visitors are asked to use extreme caution during periods of high water. Hikers and bikers planning to use campgrounds along the canal are advised to seek alternate accommodations. Area closures are anticipated. For updates call the C&O Canal Flood Information Line at 1-888-445-0023.

great food. reasonable prices. good service even to wet, muddy bikers.

food was awesome. pleasant environment.

BTW I'd like to get onto the trail around Bethesda or Cabin John. Thanks

This boat was closed for a while for repairs, but is back in operation as of early June.

Thru the fall of 2007, the Great Falls Tavern Visitors Center is closed for renovation, but there is a temporary visitor center and restroom facilities by the refreshment stand. The lower parking lot is also closed.