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Paw Paw Tunnel closure
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Robin Neville from Saxton PA on 6/1/2017 11:04:19 AM:
Could you tell me the detour route for the closure of the Paw Paw Tunnel? We are planning a trip June 24, and we need to know how long the detour will be.
Thank you for your assistance and have a nice day
Robin
 
Seth from Rockville on 6/1/2017 11:11:09 AM:
The PawPaw tunnel is currently open. The detour is about 1.5 miles up over the hill. I think you have to walk it, so it shouldn't add more than an hour or two to your ride.
 
Steven Gaub from Lakewood on 6/1/2017 1:01:45 PM:
Is the CSX trail a reasonable workaround? How well does it join to the C&O on both sides?
 
Tampabiker from Tampa on 6/1/2017 1:21:41 PM:

To provide thru-access for bicylists during the project, a bypass trail will be opened using an old logging road on the berm side of the Canal upstream of the south tunnel portal. A temporary “bridge” will be installed across the Canal prism that connects with an abandoned logging road that provides a gentler grade to the top of Tunnel Hill. This temporary by-pass then connects with the existing Tunnel Hill Trail. The existing Tunnel Hill Trail will remain open during the project, but for safety reasons, cyclists will be required to dismount and walk their bikes across the mountain using the bypass trail detour. The bypass will be clearly marked with signs.

You can read the whole article on the National Park Service website at: https://www.nps.gov/choh/learn/news/co-canal-towpath-closure-paw-paw-tunnel.htm
 
Steven Gaub from Lakewood on 6/1/2017 1:25:19 PM:
After some research, I find that the national park has this on its web page."To provide thru-access for bicylists during the project, a bypass trail will be opened using an old logging road on the berm side of the Canal upstream of the south tunnel portal. A temporary “bridge” will be installed across the Canal prism that connects with an abandoned logging road that provides a gentler grade to the top of Tunnel Hill. This temporary by-pass then connects with the existing Tunnel Hill Trail. The existing Tunnel Hill Trail will remain open during the project, but for safety reasons, cyclists will be required to dismount and walk their bikes across the mountain using the bypass trail detour. The bypass will be clearly marked with signs." My questions are 1: is there any better bypass if you leave the C&O on the west side of Paw Paw to the roads and return asap? 2 How strenuous and long is the trail around? I anxiously await a local person's opinion.
 
Anonymous on 6/1/2017 1:47:10 PM:
What would the blogosphere think about taking 51 at the campground to Malcolm Rd SE to Tunnel Hill Rd? A 2.3 miles ride. What are the surfaces of the roads like and the net elevation? To summarize this looks much less like a mountain bikers solution. Then the logging road and the footpath.
 
Anonymous on 6/1/2017 9:01:14 PM:
Looking at Google maps...
Cross 522 bridge at Hancock.
Just after bridge turn left on Airport Lane.
Shortly after that turn right on what is listed as CSX trail.
Follow CSX trail until Low Line Rd somewhere near Great Cacapon WVA.
Take Low Line Road until Paw Paw WVA.
Right on 51 until Paw Paw campground.
That would take you to the other side of the tunnel.

I ran this route through google maps for bike touring. The elevation changes weren't that steep.

The CSX trail from Hancock to Low Line road are along the side of the CSX line. Low Line Road runs close to the river on the WVA side of the Potomac.

Unless someone convinces me otherwise , this is the route I'm taking when I go Arlington to Pittsburgh near Labor Day.

I will have to miss Bills Place in Orleans this time.

Maybe if I turn around and go Pittsburgh to Arlington for a round trip excursion I will get to Bills and the Paw paw logging detour.
 
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