Damn no.5 Potomac..

My wife and I had an amazing ride starting from Williamsport MD. heading up river on the towpath.. Saturday 4/11..Virginia Bluebells for miles on both sides. plus Dutchman's Breeches and Paw Paw blooms everywhere.. very few people.. I knew the Damn construction had a path diversion. My wife and I are in our mid to early 60s...most of the path by the Inlet Lock and lock house were packed woodchips with modest uphill and down hill.. butttt getting back to the pathway after walking our bikes through most of the chipped path we came upon a set of steps. roughly 15 to 20 steps..not much if your just carrying your bike.. we both had 20 pounds plus in pannier/handlebar bag weight. plus a bit of fatigue..LOL..Only our second time out..this year..her first time with front panniers. She did amazing..planned on a trip up to 4 locks area and set up a couple Amok hammocks and lounge, eat rest etc...decided to turn around head back... at last my question//
is it possible to stay on Damn no. 5 rd. and access the towpath around locks 45,46.. I know the road looks steep initially from diversion start.. does it level off. also was wondering if anyone had an aprox. timeframe on Damn 5 construction. Looks incredible what they have completed so far

Doug
It is possible. Continue on dam 5 road for almost a mile. On your left will be a gate, and a dirt path heading down to the Towpath between mile posts 107 and 108.
The uphill does level out. But then goes down and up and down and up. Note-dam 5 road becomes Ashton road beyond the access. You may find that it's easier to make a couple trips up and down those stairs. But, it's worth try.
About a month ago I asked one of the workers when they'd be finished. He said it'd be a few months yet. I'll ask again next time I'm thru there if I can speak to anyone with knowledge.

I fell taking my loaded bike down those stairs last fall and broke a bone in my wrist. Be careful on those stairs.

Thank you very much Dave from Hagerstown as well as Rivnuts.. I've thought about the multiple trips..not sure what's the best..Thanks for the construction update...Rivnuts sorry to hear about your fall.. As always this is a great place for first hand experience.. Thanks again.
I'm thinking the multiple trips might be the answer.. light loads and more trips..Hey Rivnuts how did you contact emergency service or get to the hospital..

I was still able to hold the handlebars and was able to complete the ride home to Pittsburgh. It was one of the small bones in the wrist. Once home the doc just reommended a brace while time did the healing

Wellll Rivnuts I guess that just sums up what kind of MAN you are...WOW..That's a ton of miles/nights with pain...Better Pain manager than I

Biked the dam 5 section today. Appears that a lot of work needs to be done yet. The NPS link on the home page will lead you to updates. Right now they're saying.... "early summer 2026".
Regarding the stairs. I believe that the road section would require more total effort. But, the stairs offer more risk. I've done both options in both directions. Each way will have its separate challenges. Pick your poison and exercise caution. Ride safely and enjoy.

Ok thanks Anonymous... Wow so the road would have some intense up hills then, as well as getting back to the tow path.. would be HARDER than multiple trips from the by-pass start to the steps and down to the path.. if headed to Cumberland...I will definitely be thinking long and hard about that one..leaning towards multiple light weight trips then..Thanks again...

Doug RR, I (Also the above anonymous entry, as I forgot to enter my info) decided to incorporate both options-in both directions as part of my ride today. This is a roughly 0.75 mile section that begins at the fenced off detour at dam 5, and continues upriver to where "dirt/gravel" dam 5 road connects back to the Towpath near lock 46. There is a lock house here.
First, I was able to ride the road section faster than taking the Towpath detour/towpath in both directions by 1-2 minutes. I did walk the bike thru the fenced in detour and up/down the steps.
The road section took less than 6 minutes. The hills are short, and going upriver, after the first climb, the future ones will be preceded by a nice downhill which gets you half way up the next hill. There is some effort, and even if you had to walk, it would be a short walk.
I should add the disclaimer that my gravel bike as I ride it, with bottles and gear is 20 lbs.
My thoughts... Most riders would be OK with either option. But, if I had a heavy bike, loaded down with addition weight, I'd definitely take the road.
Ex. As I was exiting the detour coming down river, I encountered a biker who was loaded down AND towing a trailer. He declined my offer to turn around to assist him. I think he was gonna struggle with the stairs and would've been better off on the road section.
So, Doug RR, next time you venture out that way, why don't you take the road section and let us know your thoughts.

OHHHHH Cr#$ just seeing this... Thanks Dave from Hagerstown... Definitely will check out road then.. nice to have options... especially loaded down and trailer.. curious if you see many with trailers.. I'm using my Burley Coho XC ...Love it so far but had a lot of concern about Damn 5 Thanks again