C&O Home  GAP Home
The C&O Canal Towpath Trail and Great Allegheny Passage
Georgetown/Washington Bethesda MD Potomac MD Seneca MD Poolesville MD Leesburg VA White's Ferry MD Point of Rocks MD Dickerson MD Brunswick MD Harpers Ferry WV Shepherdstown WV Sharpsburg MD Williamsport MD Downsville MD Big Pool MD Hancock MD Little Orleans MD Paw Paw WV Oldtown MD Cumberland MD Great Allegheny Passage C&O Canal Towpath Merchandise C & O Canal Towpath Trail Map
switch to GAP map Cumberland MD Frostburg MD Meyersdale PA Garrett PA Rockwood PA Markleton PA Ohiopyle PA Connellsville PA Perryopolis PA West Newton PA Buena Vista PA Confluence PA Harnedsville PA Dawson PA Smithton PA C&O Canal Towpath Sutersville PA Boston PA McKeesport PA Homestead PA Pittsburgh PA Great Allegheny Passage Merchandise Great Allegheny Passage Map
switch to C&O map

What type of bike is best
Go to Forum
Jeanne from Eagle, CO on 4/20/2021 6:51:11 PM:
Any tips on the best type of bike for the C&O and Great Allegheny ride? We are planning to ride Pittsburgh to DC and camp along the way.
We have done trips of similar length with our road bikes outfitted with paniers but I am hearing they will work on the GAP but not the C&O portion. Can they work? Any tips would be appreciated.
 
John W. from Pittsburgh, PA on 4/20/2021 7:10:59 PM:
If you’ve done other rides of similar length, you’ll be fine on the C&O. Some of it is crushed limestone but most of it is old dirt mule paths (like tire tracks). The only time those mule paths get sketchy is after it rains a lot.

You can also connect to the Western Maryland Rail Trail for 27 miles before and after Hancock, MD as it’s paved asphalt. It runs parallel to the C&O and everyone hops on.

I ride a Trek Hybrid but a wide array of bikes are used on the C&O.
 
Rivnuts from Homestead, PA on 4/20/2021 7:31:33 PM:
If you want to take the time, there are numerous past forum postings discussing bike types, tire sizes, trail conditions and weather related to your question but John W's responses is a reasonable summary thereof.
 
Bill in Houston from Houston on 4/21/2021 2:06:08 PM:
C&O can get really really muddy. As rivnuts says, this has been discussed many times. Search the forums for "hybrid" and you'll find plenty of old discussions.
 
FEEDBACK! - Please let us know if you have suggestions, corrections, complaints, or ideas. Your input is valued and appreciated - thanks in advance!
More info: C&O Home C&O Map Trip Planner Travel Timeline Forum Towns & Services Mileage Chart Events Trail Merchandise Search Advertise Contact Us
 
By using this website, you agree to the Terms and Conditions.
how this website uses cookies
This information may not be copied or reproduced in any way.
© Copyright 2024 BikeCandO. All rights reserved.
BikeCandO and BikeCandO.com are registered trademarks.