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Trail and campsites open
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TODD M SCHLABACH from Dayton on 5/16/2020 6:45:38 AM:
Hi all! We're planning an overnight trip the end of May and I want to confirm the trail is available to ride as well as campsites along the way are open to the public, considering the COVID-19 restrictions currently.
 
Rivnuts from Homestead, PA on 5/16/2020 8:21:56 AM:
I know the Governor of Maryland has allowed some facilities and services to reopen with applicable COVID restrictions. However, as of this morning the NPS's C&O Towpath website has not been updated to indicate that that campsites are open/opening. Where is the reopening of the campsites being reported?
 
Matt from Charlotte on 5/18/2020 1:02:23 PM:
I'm going to assume that as long as DC remains locked down, so will the campsites along the C&O. I've postponed my May trip until July. hopefully DC will pull its head out of "its current location" by then.
 
telo from pgh on 5/18/2020 4:30:31 PM:
That's really high hopes for this bunch of legislators. The worst I've seen in my 70 years.
 
Richard from Washington DC on 5/18/2020 5:02:45 PM:
There is no connection between the lock-down in DC and the closing of the campsites. The National Park Service, not the DC government, runs the campsites along the canal. However, if you want to eat in a restaurant or sleep in a hotel in DC, then you'll have to pay attention to what the DC government is doing. Otherwise, you can use the campsites as soon as the Park Service decides to do that. You might also watch the infection rate in Maryland. It's still unacceptably high. Many public places, like theaters and libraries, have already announced they will be closed through Labor Day.
 
Matt from Charlotte on 5/19/2020 9:00:10 AM:
No disrespect Richard, but DC remains the only area of the country on "full lockdown." (all 50 states have begun to relax their policy) & Given that the national parks service bases it's park status on local community regulations, and most of the national parks have reopened, one can only draw the obvious conclusions.
 
Richard from Washington DC on 5/19/2020 2:29:40 PM:
Matt, I am sorry but your obvious conclusion isn't obvious. The infection and death rates in Maryland, Virginia, and DC continue to climb. But shoot, if you don't think you'll get coronavirus, there is no reason you can't pack your own provisions and ride the trail. It seems to me that you want the federal government not DC to order federal employees to risk getting the virus so you can have fun.
 
telo from pgh on 5/19/2020 2:45:15 PM:
It might not be obvious to you, but it is to most everyone else. Everything about, and apparently from, DC is a little out of touch with reality. It's time to move forward. Small, thoughtful steps maybe, but forward just the same.
 
Matt from Charlotte on 5/20/2020 10:14:15 AM:
Richard- Glad I have you to tell me what I want. Thanks for setting the record straight. ;)
 
Richard from Washington DC on 5/20/2020 1:12:45 PM:
Telo and Matt, Neither of you seems to agree with the president's decision to close the campsites on the C&O Canal, but until he changes his mind you're going to have to live with it. Things could be worse. As you may know, many people in DC want to sell off the canal to private developers, thus getting the government out of the business of running the campsites. Of course, that would also mean the end of the canal.
 
telo from pgh on 5/22/2020 9:21:20 PM:
I'm pretty certain the president has no idea what the C&O towpath is, and if he does, he would want to open it since he is in favor of opening most everything as soon as possible. I really can't second guess the NPS decision to keep the campsites closed because I realize they have a much better view of their particular situation than I do. That being said, I've decided to go ahead with a DC to Pgh solo trip the first week of June. The trip was mapped out over six months ago and I will be staying at hotels, which all have opened back up by now. I will be strictly adhering to social distancing, masks and gloves. As an added precaution I plan to quarantine myself for 2 weeks after I get back. Water and food may be more difficult so I plan to carry extra with me. You younger guys can easily say "I'll just do it next year". Old, crusty geezers like me don't have that luxury. With me it's now or never. I have it stuck in my head that I need to see that trail one more time so for good or bad I'm going for it.
 
Richard from Washington DC on 5/22/2020 10:38:50 PM:
Telo, You're hard core! You probably can do it that way. Good luck.
 
John from Pittsburgh on 5/24/2020 9:21:16 PM:
If anyone is looking to do some bikepacking/camping, the three campsites on the Montour Trail are open. This is the southwest suburbs of Pittsburgh for anyone who is not familiar with it. The three are near the Boggs trailhead (west of Imperial), along Cecil-Henderson Road (northwest of Hendersonville and Southpointe), and at Gill Hall Road (in Pleasant Hills). By “open“, I mean nowhere does it say you can’t camp on their website. I do not know if the Porta Johns and water faucets are on so you may want to check. In fact, they may be locked or shut. I went by the campsite at Cecil Henderson, and three of the six sites were occupied on Saturday. Anyways, just an FYI if anyone has that bicycle touring camping itch!

John
 
Rivnuts from Homestead,PA on 5/25/2020 4:15:55 PM:
If you plan to camp overnight at the Boggs Campsite, I would recommend you have some good ear plugs. When I last stayed there, there was a fleet of garbage trucks that went up and down the nearby road all night long.
 
Rivnuts from Homestead,PA on 5/25/2020 4:16:04 PM:
If you plan to camp overnight at the Boggs Campsite, I would recommend you have some good ear plugs. When I last stayed there, there was a fleet of garbage trucks that went up and down the nearby road all night long.
 
Rivnuts from Homestead. PA on 5/25/2020 5:10:12 PM:
If you plan to camp the night at the Boggs Campsite, I recommend you take a pair of ear plugs. The last time a stayed there, there was a constant stream garbage trucks traveling up and down the nearby road all night long.
 
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