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kwog from SE Iowa on 11/4/2014 2:46:51 PM:
I am thinking about doing this as an alternative to our regular Katy Trail and Ragbrai excursion and I am curious as the what the veterans think is the best time to do this trail during the year? I want to minimize soft trail/muddy trail conditions and extreme temperatures.

Thanks
 
Anonymous on 11/5/2014 11:38:25 AM:
You will probably get different answers on this but basically any time of the year it rains the C&O will be muddy and can get aggravating but doable. Last year in May I ran into a flooded section that was almost 3 ft onto the trail and we had to go around via roads. Later in the summer may be better if you have to travel far to get here. Attidue is everything. Just have fun with it no matter what the weather.
 
Tom on 11/6/2014 2:32:16 PM:
Early Spring you could encounter Flooding and soggy conditions on the Trail. April and even May are volatile months on the Trail as far as the Weather. In any region of the Country April is typically the Severe Weather period and the C&O Region is no different (Thunderstorms, possible Tornadoes, etc.) Later in the Summer it tends to get drier in this region.
 
Greg K from Chicago on 11/10/2014 4:51:24 PM:
Summers are humid and miserable, but it's really not any worse than RAGBRAI in the summer and you'll be under trees most of the way without the hills. I prefer late fall for the lower temperatures without all the rain you can expect in Spring.

The GAP is pretty hard-packed and easy riding while the C&O is a bit more 'rooty' and will slow you down a bit compared to the Katy Trail.

If you're self-supported and can get to Chicago you can save a bundle on transport taking the train overnight to Pittsburgh and then overnight back from Washington.
 
Jeff from DC on 11/16/2014 11:18:24 AM:
Anytime of year can be good if you get 7 days of dry weather. Anytime of year can be bad if you get 3 or more days of rain.

If I had to make a forecast it would be the first 3 weeks of September.
 
Marc from Cincinnati on 11/19/2014 2:46:25 PM:
August and September will generally be the driest months. I've ridden the C&O in damp conditions. No problems.
 
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