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Mile 0: Why Such Poor Signage?
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John W. from Pittsburgh, PA on 7/25/2016 10:02:49 PM:
Why does the last 3/10ths of a mile, coming off of the gravel towpath in Georgetown heading towards Mile 0, have no signs or markings directing you?
It seems odd that the beginning/terminus is such a mystery. I find it odd that we need Trail Book maps, YouTube videos, and message boards just to find it behind the Thompson Boathouse. Shouldn't it be obvious? It's also shares the last bit to Mile 0 with Rock Creek Park trail which is part of the NPS also.

Is the NPS prevented for putting up signage in DC? Does Thompson Boathouse object to having the last bit of trail on their property (assuming it's private, I don't know if it is)?

Also, the GAP from Smithfield St. to Point State Park just as poorly marked.

Any reasons the two ends are marked so poorly? The other 99.8% of the trail is amazing!
 
Anonymous on 7/28/2016 4:45:41 PM:
This is a very good question John and I so agree with you. Thumbs up for posting.
 
David from Wilmington NC on 7/31/2016 3:49:31 AM:
There aren't any signs on the boathouse property either and the people there are rude and not helpful at all. It wasn't until we went somewhere on the property that we weren't supposed to be that someone showed us where the marker was. We waited for almost an hour to get a picture at the mile 0 marker because boathouse teams were doing warmup exercises around the marker. They didn't care that we had just biked 335 miles. I doubt that the boathouse is going to make it any easier to find the marker. Watch a youtube video and you will be fine. As you would expect, the friendliness of people you meet on the trail is proportionate to your distance from DC.
 
Rick Hancock from Grafton on 7/31/2016 9:01:04 AM:
John W. I had to laugh at your post The first time my wife and I did a thru ride on the Passage we were dropped off at Point State Park and found the small Trail Marker on the sidewalk. We rode around the fountain and back to the marker....and didn't know where to go! I knew where we were and where we NEEDED to go but not how to get there. After several false starts one which ended at a 30' concrete wall and another that suggested we cross the Mon River and turn left I stood on the corner of Commonwealth Place and Blvd of the Allies which I knew was the route...but couldn't see a single route sign cussing until 2 riders asked if they could help. The short ride up Blvd. of the Allies was pretty easy and bike friendly all he way to Grant St. where we finally saw a trail sign. There is a small inset map in the trail guide but I had overlooked it. After 5 thru rides we're old hands at it now. WE will be doing a thru ride from Pittsburg to Dc this fall parking at Great Falls and biking the last 15 or so miles to Union Station so we can train to Pittsburg. Don't think we'll have too much trouble.
 
John W from Pittsburgh, PA on 8/2/2016 7:29:23 PM:
Great story Rick! That made me laugh.

What's not clear to riders is when your standing at the medallion at the beginning/end of the GAP, there is no signage anywhere telling you which way to go. Do you hug the Mon. River or cut back into Point State Park and exit through Downtown? It's all a big guess and results in frustration for guests.

I mean **I** know where it goes because I live here and have ridden it numerous times. What if you're here for the first time, excited to tackle the GAP to DC, and you immediately find yourself lost just minutes into your ride? This happens to many people. It seems such big oversight with such an easy solution.

I know they are working on getting a switchback bridge built down to the Mon. Wharf and once this is connected, riders will not have to go off trail into downtown to get to the end like they do now. I would guess from the medallion (going to DC) you would just hug the Mon River the whole way, no more riding the streets (I hope!).
 
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