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The C&O Canal Towpath Trail and Great Allegheny Passage

Thinking of making the ride


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Dan from Wolfeboro, NH on 3/3/2015 6:21:11 AM:
A friend has suggested we do the Pittsburg to DC route this summer. Does this ride go through towns, or just close to them? Is the scenery canal and trees, or something more varied? Thanks for your help

 
Anonymous on 3/4/2015 10:35:32 AM:
There are quite a few youtube videos that showcase the GAP and C&O which will give you a good idea of what the trails are like.

 
JJB from Fairmont, WV on 3/4/2015 4:38:48 PM:
On the C&O portion, you have the canal on one side and the Potomac river on the other. There are plenty of great sights along this section. The GAP has a whole different look to it. You will ride through some towns, or at least part of town and you will ride close to others. You will not have a day of riding where you don't have a chance to stop at a town.

 
Paul A on 3/7/2015 10:02:56 PM:
As you travel the trail you'll get a nice mix of town and country. You'll go past the edge of plenty of towns and right through a few of them. There will also be times that you won't have to bother with the rush and crush of a town.

 
Jim Simm from Hagerstown, MD on 3/22/2015 6:31:10 AM:
As for the GAP section, the trail passes through the towns of Connellsville, Confluence, Ohiopyle, Meyersdale and Frostburg. There are places to eat and lodging in each and a bike shop in Connellsville. As for the C&O it passes through Cumberland, Hancock (a serious bike shop here), Williamsport (Hagerstown is about 6 miles north on US 11) Brunswick and Point-of-Rocks. The towpath skirts Oldtown (there is a diner about .5 miles off the towpath next to the Post Office), Paw Paw, WV (about .6 miles on Maryland 51 then cross the Potomac River), Little Orleans (you have to pay attention to the signage but best just to get off at Fifteen-Mile Creek Campground, Bill’s Place is 100 yards north), Sharpsburg (about .5 miles north on Snyder’s Landing road into town) or Shepardstown, WV (cross the highway bridge at lock 38 then about .5 miles into town) Harpers Ferry, WV (.3 miles across the bridge over the Potomac River) and Dickerson (get off at the Monocacy aqueduct, take Monocacy Rd the right on Maryland 28 into town). Enjoy