Mile 88 on the C&O

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Jim from Gettysburg, Pa on 7/8/2022 6:00:55 PM:

A small group of us are planning a quick trip from Sheperdstown to Williamsport. I have just learned of the nearly one mile closure at mile 88. There is a detour to get around it but it looks like it will add a lot of time, much of which we will be pushing our bikes. Has anyone done this? Is it a big deal, and how much time will it add. Thanks for any advice.

Rivnuts from Homestead, PA on 7/8/2022 6:16:44 PM:

Jim:

The closure of the C&O around MP88 is about a 3 mile detour on country roads with a few short hills. I would expect that the only part you'll have to push are the 30 to 50 feet to get up to the detour or down to the C&O itself from the detour. Those paths are steep and were covered with shredded bark for traction in late May but not ideal for riding especially if you are carrying or towing a load on your bike. It shouldn't take that long to traverse that detour, perhaps 30 minutes tops.

Others may have had a different experience than I had.

Jim from Gettysburg, Pa on 7/9/2022 12:14:43 PM:

Thanks so much for the info. I neglected to mention that we are doing an out-and-back, so we would be doing the detour twice. Nothing you have said, however, makes it sound like much of a hardship. Our alternative plan would be to start in Hancock and head east to Williamsport, then return to Hancock the next day. Any thoughts on which route would be more scenic, have better trail conditions, etc. Your help is much appreciated.

John W. from Pittsburgh, PA on 7/9/2022 3:22:13 PM:

Rivnuts may have more details to share than I of what’s more scenic but if you do the Hancock turnaround, you will be able to utilize the paved Western Maryland Rail Trail (WMRT) which parallels the C&O. You’ll only be on it for 9-10 miles each way but it makes a big difference to your overall enjoyment.

Please note….if you reach Mile 0 on the WMRT, you’ve gone too far. The interchange is at approx mile 0.75, Ernstville Rd. so you’d need to go back 3/4ths of a mile. On the C&O the interchange to the WMRT is around mile 114.

John

Rivnuts from Homestead, PA on 7/9/2022 8:58:20 PM:

Well John W has put me on the spot about the scenery of each of your out-and-back options:

Williamsport to Shepherdstown or
Hancock to Williamsport

I don't feel strongly about one of the options being necessarily more scenic than the other. The latter includes Fort Frederick which is rather unique as well as Little Pool and Big Pool.

The former includes the causeway along Big Slackwater as well as Shepherdstown itself. Further you could leave the trail and go over to the Antietam National Battlefield if you have an interest in Civil War history.

I, myself, like the ride from Williamsport to Shepherdstown a little better. This is mainly because of Shepherdstown itself. I like that historic small town with the university buildings. That said you have to ride up or push up the switchback from the trail up to the bridge to cross the river to get there.

Others may have different opinions and reasons.

Jim from Gettysburg, Pa on 7/10/2022 2:21:20 PM:

Rivnuts and John, thanks so much for the Intel. We are still deciding which route to take. There are pros and a few cons for either direction, but either way, we expect to have a great ride.

Rivnuts from Homestead,PA on 7/10/2022 4:38:24 PM:

You’ll have to let us know which one you chose and what you liked or disliked about your trip.

Jim from Gettysburg, Pa on 7/12/2022 10:12:55 PM:

We are sticking with the original plan, starting in Shepherdstown and biking to Williamsport. Your input, combined with info from the C&O people via phone yesterday, convinced us that the detour shouldn't be a big deal. By the way, I agree that Shepherdstown is a wonderful little town. My wife and I have put our kayaks in there a number of times. It will be my first time setting out from there on a bike.

Rivnuts from Homestead,PA on 7/13/2022 1:11:31 PM:

Jim:

If you plan on riding up into the town of Williamsport and have not done so previously, make note of how best to get across the canal from the trail. The best way to get bikes across are along the walkway across Lock 44 before you get to Cushwa Basin. Otherwise you would have to carry your bikes up the steps and over the pedestrian bridge closer to Cushwa.

You can see this in the satellite view of the trail map of that area.

Andrew from Pittsburgh on 7/16/2022 5:14:08 PM:

Another option for crossing the canal at Williamsport is to ride across Salisbury St. It is steep coming from the canal side into town, but an easy option when return to the canal.

Andrew from Pittsburgh on 7/16/2022 5:20:40 PM:

For the detour at MP88, you could also leave the trail at Dam 4 (between MP85 and MP85) and take the high-water detour for when Big Slackwater is flooded. I really didn't like the wood mulch portion of the current detour when we rode PGH-DC last month, but I really like Big Slackwater, so for me it's a toss up about which detour might be preferable.

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