Campsites to avoid?

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Paul A on 3/6/2011 8:38:05 PM:

I'll be starting a hike of the C+O Canal path and the GAP later this month and I'm wondering if there are any campsites I should plan to avoid due to vandalism or the locals using it as a party spot. Anybody know anything like that?

Dianne on 3/7/2011 12:57:42 PM:

I don't know anything about vandalism or party spots, but the area around Brunswick is very noisy. We stayed at the Brunswick Family CG without realizing there is heavy train traffic and most annoying of all the trains add cars here, so it it extremely noisy even throughout the entire night. I would try to avoid having to camp in this area. Have an awesome trip!

Paul A on 3/8/2011 6:37:14 PM:

Thanks Dianne, I'll make note of that. Anybody else?

Steve from Gaithersburg on 3/15/2011 3:58:01 PM:

I don't have personal experience, but I've been told the NPS campground at Little Orleans can get a little rowdy on the weekends.

Paul A on 3/15/2011 9:07:59 PM:

Thanks for the tip. I'll make another note to myself.

wayne from Williamsburg, VA on 3/18/2011 8:44:25 AM:

I had a problem with some real rowdies at Spring Gap a few years ago. In general, my experience is the farther away from a road your campsite is, the better things are (that doesn't apply to train noise however!).

Paul A on 3/19/2011 9:47:35 PM:

Thanks Wayne.

Rick Hancock from Grafton, Va on 3/27/2011 6:04:09 AM:

I've biked/hiked the area for years with little or no problem. Campsites that are close to major towns I tend to avoid (I'm talking about a mile or less from a road crossing)as young people sometimes use them as party spots. At times I've run into groups that have the "I own this campsite" mentality, If it's late and I've had a long day I just setup camp off to the side. Several sites east of Cumberland are noisy all night with train activity once you get past Old Town it's not too bad. The bike shop at Hancock has bunks and outdoor hot showers and don't forget Weaver's Restaurant. Have a good trip.

Randy on 4/11/2011 1:11:59 PM:

Just wanted to add a comment to the Little Orleans post. This area can get a little noisy at night. There is a Biker's Bar called Bill's Place just up the road. The drinking and 'merry making" tends to drift into the NPS campsite. In fact they tend to use the campground for overlow parking. The "merry-making" went on until 2:00 to 3:00 in the morning, then you heard the roar of the Harleys. Nothing happened but I felt very unsafe. Didn't sleep well at all. In general, don't camp near road junctures.

Z from Oxford, Ohio on 4/18/2011 6:09:26 AM:

Avoid the first site out of Cumberland. The trains hitching and slamming sound like bombs going off, and it goes all night long.

Paul A on 4/29/2011 12:43:25 AM:

"Avoid the first site out of Cumberland. The trains hitching and slamming sound like bombs going off, and it goes all night long."

I did wind up making camp there and I didn't get hardly any sleep due to the noise.

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