Lots of notes, Just finished GAP and C & O

My husband and I just finished GAP and C & O. We have been following comments here so I figured I'd include our experience, ideas, info, for anyone to use as they wish. Sorry it’s long, but…it’s a long ride!

We wrestled with the thought of how to get bikes, get to trail, rent, drive, etc. We ended up flying from Tampa to Pitts., renting bikes, riding all the way to DC, returning bikes there, spending a few days in DC, then flew home.

Tom from GET OUT AND GO gave us an awesome rental package. We highly recommend him! He picked us up at Pitts. airport, drove us to starting point, set up our bikes and paneers and even took a small suitcase for us to get once we were in DC. Once in DC, he came to our B&B and picked up bikes and gave us our suitcase of fresh clothes. Nice guy, good bikes, helmets, locks, perfect option.

We usually ride 10-12 mph on flat,paved trails, so on these surfaces and with some hills every ride took longer and was harder. We did longer mileage on GAP (57, 60) shorter on C&O (30-40).

First day was just 1/2 day since we flew in that day, we went to West Newton, stayed at Bright Morning (right on trail, perfect! )We stayed in Confluence, Cumberland (Inn on Decatur was great, roomy, nice laundry), Little Orleans (Little Orleans Lodge, guy took us for drive to beautiful view but I wouldn’t eat there), only 1 restaurant in town, no cell service or internet. Maybe stay somewhere else (Hancock?) Then Red Roof Inn in Williamsport (up a big hill but cheap), Shepherdstown (Airbnb, also up hills but beautiful, secluded house, and the host drove us to town about 2 miles away), then took White’s Ferry and stayed at Comfort Suites Leesburg (free shuttle), then on to DC. We found mile marker 0 after a little searching, then took Rock Creek trail to B & B for 4 nights, then flew back to Tampa.

Memorable stops we enjoyed: Ohiopyle (swam above rapids and cooled off), Harper’s Ferry (cute town to tour or walk through), viaduct on way to Continental Divide, Mason-Dixon Line and view, small town fair in Oldtown with music, food on a Sat. afternoon.

We did not climb the mountain with our bikes around PawPaw tunnel closure (not my idea of fun!) We got a ride from folks at Wrenwood Inn in PawPaw (Carol 304-947-5983, arrange in advance)

We loved WMRT (Western Maryland Rail Trail), about 23 miles of nice, paved trail parallel to C & O, around Hancock, MD. No signs. Look for Lock house 56, then go back about 100 ft, take gravel road on left to trail. Mile marker 136.3

From Leesburg we took W and OD (Wash and Old Dominion) paved trail since we were sick of the gravelly, uneven towpath, but it had a lot of hills which I had a hard time with (Florida is flat). Nice trail though, takes you over Key Bridge and into Georgetown.

My husband downloaded an app called C & O Companion by James Menzies ($2.99) and it listed everything on trail by mile marker, cell service, etc. Good thing to have.

All in all, great adventure, feeling of accomplishment, and check it off my husband’s bucket list. We were blessed with no rain, except for a bit of sprinkles on our long ride day, but C&O from Cumb. to PawPaw was a muddy mess! We hosed off at PawPaw before loading bikes for detour ride.

Any questions or more info, just email back, happy to answer if I can.

Great info from both of your posts.
I rode a couple of short sections of the trail last year and am returning to dome some more this year.
Last year,on one section near Connelsville, the gravel was so loose it was like trying to ride through quicksand for about a mile ..anything like that now?
The section of the C&O I rode was pretty much a double tracked trail with some grass in the middle..Is most of the trail that way? I ride a recumbent trike, the section I rode wasn't too much of an issue but I was wondering if any of the trail is single track?
As a side note I used to work across the street from the University of Tampa and commuted from the Ballast Point area every day..back in the 1970's.

I think it would be difficult riding a three wheel recumbent bicycle on the trail. There are some places with only a small single track. And as you pointed out, there are lots of places with two single tracks with grass between them.


If I were you, I would do a video google search on the C&O bike trail. Lots of people have posted videos of their trips and you can see what the surface looks like. I have to admit, I don't know a lot about how recumbent bikes ride over that type of surface. It may be ok, but the videos will give you your answer I believe.

We were there after a big storm at night and spent a day riding in mud and had to lift the bikes over trees that fell in the path.

BTW, neighbor, we live in Carrollwood Village in North Tampa. My wife goes to Paase Grille beach often. It is one of her favorite beaches. Years ago, I lived on Sunset Beach just south of Treasure Island.