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Trikes in the Paw paw tunnel
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Marianne Phillips from HILLSBORO on 2/14/2023 12:21:51 AM:
How wide is the trail through the Pawpaw Tunnel? Can a loaded recumbent trike, about 36 inches, get through?
 
Rivnuts from Homestead,PA on 2/14/2023 5:23:47 AM:
According to design documents from the Maryland Historical Trust, the towpath through the tunnel is 4 feet wide with its wood railing. From personal experience, walking a trike with racks and bags will make it through the tunnel. However, walking beside it while pushing it through could be a little awkward in spots. Riding rather than walking through isn’t a viable option. Further, you’ll likely need to wait until any oncoming travelers have exited before you enter.
 
John W. from Pittsburgh, PA on 2/14/2023 2:11:55 PM:
Agree, walk any bike. It’s dark, narrow, and the surface is uneven and bumpy.

If you have a light or a head lamp, that will be useful to help you see what you are walking on

If you encounter an oncoming cyclist walking their bikes, one of you will have to just stop and let the other pass through as it’s a bit tight in there. Small chance it could happen but be prepared.
 
Marianne Phillips from HILLSBORO on 2/14/2023 7:58:48 PM:
Thanks for the information.
 
KOW from Odenton MD on 2/23/2023 2:16:58 PM:
I vested the tunnel twice last year, Summer and Fall, it was under construction. Walked to the end but the other end was closed. Does anyone actually ride/walk through the tunnel in 2023?
Thank you.
 
Rivnuts from Homestead,PA on 2/23/2023 7:21:08 PM:
The National Park Service’s website that announced the Towpath closure at the downriver end of the Paw Paw Tunnel some time ago continues to state that construction will extend through winter of 2022/23. Thus, hopefully we’ll be able to pass through the tunnel and beyond after that time without having to take the detour up and over. We’ll see.
 
KOW from Odenton MD on 2/24/2023 8:27:18 AM:
Thank you.
The detour, up and over, is steep and narrow.
 
Ken B from Wakeman OH on 4/23/2023 8:40:10 PM:
Riding 2 trikes from Cumberland to DC after Memorial Day 2023. Instead of the steep detour up and over, impossible with a trike, I see paved roads west out of Paw Paw like Tunnel Hill road that seem to be a way to detour around the Paw Paw tunnel and appears to cross the C&O in a few miles past the detour. Has anyone done this route on the road?
 
Rivnuts from Homestead,PA on 4/23/2023 10:10:25 PM:
I’m not sure I understand the alternate route on Tunnel Hill Road that you are considering but the following is a related post from some time ago that discussed using Tunnel Hill Road.


Rick from Florida on 09/21/2021 07:15 AM:
I just rode the Paw Paw Bypass option (Sulphur Springs Rd, to Oldtown to Malcolm Rd to Tunnel Hill Rd) on Sunday the 19th. This connects with the Tunnel Hill Bypass Trail at the top of Tunnel Hill. You then have to take the Tunnel Hill Bypass Trail down to the C&O path. The option of going on these roads works well going from Cumberland to Little Orleans, however if you are going from Little Orleans to Cumberland you have no option to pushing your bike up the Tunnel Hill Bypass Trail. If you are going this direction you are probably better off staying on the Bypass trail to get back to the C&O. Just an FYI there are a couple if steeper sections on Sulpher Springs Rd and Tunnel Hill Road. They are ridable though. These are also public roads with no shoulder, so beware of traffic, especially on Oldtown Rd.
 
Rivnuts from Homestead,PA on 4/24/2023 2:49:01 AM:
I’m not sure I understand the alternate route on Tunnel Hill Road that you are considering but the following is a related post from some time ago that discussed using Tunnel Hill Road.


Rick from Florida on 09/21/2021 07:15 AM:
I just rode the Paw Paw Bypass option (Sulphur Springs Rd, to Oldtown to Malcolm Rd to Tunnel Hill Rd) on Sunday the 19th. This connects with the Tunnel Hill Bypass Trail at the top of Tunnel Hill. You then have to take the Tunnel Hill Bypass Trail down to the C&O path. The option of going on these roads works well going from Cumberland to Little Orleans, however if you are going from Little Orleans to Cumberland you have no option to pushing your bike up the Tunnel Hill Bypass Trail. If you are going this direction you are probably better off staying on the Bypass trail to get back to the C&O. Just an FYI there are a couple if steeper sections on Sulpher Springs Rd and Tunnel Hill Road. They are ridable though. These are also public roads with no shoulder, so beware of traffic, especially on Oldtown Rd.
 
KOW from Odenton MD on 4/28/2023 6:55:23 AM:
Does any knows that the tunnel is still closed? I am going to ride from Cumberland to DC starting on 7 May 2023.
 
Rivnuts from Homestead,PA on 4/28/2023 12:04:43 PM:
The NPS C&O website today still shows the exit trail from the tunnel is still closed.
 
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