C&O Home  GAP Home
The C&O Canal Towpath Trail and Great Allegheny Passage
Georgetown/Washington Bethesda MD Potomac MD Seneca MD Poolesville MD Leesburg VA White's Ferry MD Point of Rocks MD Dickerson MD Brunswick MD Harpers Ferry WV Shepherdstown WV Sharpsburg MD Williamsport MD Downsville MD Big Pool MD Hancock MD Little Orleans MD Paw Paw WV Oldtown MD Cumberland MD Great Allegheny Passage C&O Canal Towpath Merchandise C & O Canal Towpath Trail Map
switch to GAP map Cumberland MD Frostburg MD Meyersdale PA Garrett PA Rockwood PA Markleton PA Ohiopyle PA Connellsville PA Perryopolis PA West Newton PA Buena Vista PA Confluence PA Harnedsville PA Dawson PA Smithton PA C&O Canal Towpath Sutersville PA Boston PA McKeesport PA Homestead PA Pittsburgh PA Great Allegheny Passage Merchandise Great Allegheny Passage Map
switch to C&O map

Planning a Boy Scout Trip
Go to Forum
Shawn Ambrose from Fort Wayne, IN on 10/22/2014 9:21:56 PM:
Next summer, my scout troop is considering a 3-day ride on the trail from Williamsport to Ohiopyle (150 miles). Is this a reasonable distance> My thoughts are 50 miles in 6 - 7 hours of riding a day. Thanks!
 
Ray on 10/26/2014 7:56:01 AM:
50 miles/day sounds aggressive to me - I'd think about 30/day might be more reasonable for kids, especially if they have not been routinely training by biking a few times a week for at least a few months. On long rides, you cross a line where it stops being fun and becomes a grind; most kids would probably cross that line well before 50 miles. Also, consider having other parents/leaders meeting you at trailheads along the way, as "sag wagons" for the kids who run out of steam. Regardless of what you decide, I hope you and the boys have fun.
 
JJB from Fairmont, WV on 10/26/2014 4:22:24 PM:
Hi Shawn. Ray has some good words of wisdom. What are the ages of the kids doing the ride? What is their bike riding experience levels? What type of bikes? How many people in total are doing the ride? Are you setting up and breaking down camp?

All of these things will come into play. I am assuming that you will ride as a group, therefore you will only ride as fast as your slowest rider. And one thing that I always think of is this; are you doing this to have fun? Do you want to have time to sight-see? Take all of these questions into consideration when you plan this ride.

As Ray said, I hope it all works out for you and your troop. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
 
Greg K from Chicago on 10/27/2014 11:05:00 AM:
Depending on age, bikes and support fifty miles a day may or may not be too much.

I'm more intersted in your choice of of start and stop points. How did you come by them? I'd think heading east from Ohiopyle would be a bit more dramatic since you start with Pinkerton leading to the Salisbury Viaduct, the Continental Divide, then Big Savage Tunnel followed by the dramatic drop into Cumberland.
 
Anonymous on 10/29/2014 8:50:11 PM:
Do all a favor and teach trail manners to the scouts before the ride: consistently enforce them during the ride.
 
JJB from Fairmont, WV on 10/30/2014 10:08:04 PM:
Anon. made a good point. Trail etiquette is lacking. You can tell experienced riders from what I call "day trippers".
 
Anonymous on 11/8/2014 11:40:15 PM:
I would consider doing 2 things. Either shorten the daily mileage, or do a lot of riding with them between now and then. My bet is that none of them know what it is to ride 50 miles for 1 day, let alone consecutive days. And I assume they'll be carrying supplies too. Do a lot of pre-trip rides to assure that the trip is a success and they come home with a lot of good memories.
 
FEEDBACK! - Please let us know if you have suggestions, corrections, complaints, or ideas. Your input is valued and appreciated - thanks in advance!
More info: C&O Home C&O Map Trip Planner Travel Timeline Forum Towns & Services Mileage Chart Events Trail Merchandise Search Advertise Contact Us
 
By using this website, you agree to the Terms and Conditions.
how this website uses cookies
This information may not be copied or reproduced in any way.
© Copyright 2025 BikeCandO. All rights reserved.
BikeCandO and BikeCandO.com are registered trademarks.