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The C&O Canal Towpath Trail and Great Allegheny Passage

GPS must needed?


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Gaby from Bowie, MD on 10/1/2020 3:48:41 PM:
Good afternoon everyone! I’ll be doing the Towpath soon from Cumberland to DC. I have done a lot of planning however, a friend of mine has indicated that I most have a GPS in order to do the canal. I don’t have a GPS therefore, is this a must have? If so, any recommendations of a budget friendly GPS? Thank you!

 
GSK from Springfield Virginia on 10/1/2020 3:57:20 PM:
I’m not sure what your friend is talking about, but you do not need a GPS. A canal map would be helpful for planning your days but that’s about all you would need.

 
Gaby from Bowie,MD on 10/1/2020 4:04:48 PM:
That’s what I thought but wanted to hear from someone else. I’ve done tons of planning and that makes me confident. Thank you for taking your time in replying to my message.

 
John W. from Pittsburgh,PA on 10/1/2020 4:16:34 PM:
Here’s a map:
https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/upload/CHOHmap-full-140922-v7-accessible.pdf

 
The Fool on the Bike from Pittsburgh on 10/1/2020 8:23:45 PM:
I just rode solo from Pittsburgh to DC, and was happy to have printed the complete list of towns and mile markers off this site (along with the updated list of open pumps on https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/conditions.htm).

Having the pages really kept me going during the long stretches on the C&O without signage, or the expected towns. (Little Orleans, I know you're there, up the hill, somewhere.) The only time I checked my phone to see where I was when when I expected Harper's Ferry at Mile 69.5, as posted here -- when it's actually at Mile 61. When it doubt, keep pedaling.

I saw more rat snakes on the C&0 than people. It was a fantastic ride over 3.5 days (sleeping in Meyersdale, Hancock and Brunswick). The improved surface from Mile 77 to 30 is nirvana, as is the Western Maryland Rail Trail. (If you're coming from Little Orleans, you can hop on it before Sideling Hill -- take the second ramp on your left. The first ramp puts you on the trail for a teasingly short stretch, before dumping you back on the C&0 for two miles.)

 
Gaby from Bowie,MD on 10/1/2020 10:11:14 PM:
Thank you very much for the map! BTW, starting October 5th no more Amtrak from DC to Cumberland to take the bikes with just service from DC to BWI then a van from there to Cumberland. So disappointing. I guess I’ll be driving to get there.