... Cumberland, DC and anywhere in between! One can walk as far as one wishes and there are many places to exit too. 301-759-9707. It is one of the nicest places I have ever jogged. The trail is nearly level with the average grade of less than 1% View detailed trail descriptions, trail maps, reviews, photos, trail itineraries, directions and more on TrailLink. After about 8 miles we hit the eastern continental divide, which was at 2390 feet elevation. from W. Fort St. and N. Earl St. (Shippensburg) to Green Hill Road (Newville) to Allen Road just south of Cooper Cir. The C&O Canal Towpath trail runs 185 miles from Washington DC to Cumberland Maryland. Easy grades and great views make this a fairly easy bike ride. After coming off the Great Allegany, this was a disappointment. Now complete to Pittsburgh, the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage connects with the 184.5-mile C&0 Canal Towpath at Cumberland, MD to create a 334.5-mile route between Pittsburgh and Washington, DC, free from traffic and motorized vehicles. Hiking/backpacking trail follows a line of ridges and gorges near the eastern escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau. We now have 150 miles of hiking and biking between Cumberland, MD, and Pittsburgh, PA. Bike the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) for your next adventure vacation. Capital Crescent Trail: 13 Miles - Paved/Crushed Stone This is my favorite bike trail in the area. It makes the riding slow and uncomfortable. For more detail, please refer to the full policy Tree lined, you run along the canal for as long as you like. The trail is a great, cheap, 3 day weekend (or less, depending how fast, and how far you want to go) getaway that runs the length of the C&O Canal, which would have extended to Ohio if it weren't for the railroads. Better known as the C&O Canal Towpath, this pathway parallels the Capital Crescent Trail coming out of D.C. Beginning a stone’s throw from the National Mall and the White House, the 184.5-mile trail that runs along the Potomac River to Cumberland, Maryland, brims with rich history (read about more historical connections along the Great American Rail-Trail here). This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. With more than 17 Cumberland trails covering 4203 miles, you’re bound to find a perfect trail like the Winchester Green Circle or Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. It is primarily flat, with a slight upgrade to Cumberland from DC. It gives you a great perspective on the interstate system of its day (canals) for moving goods from one region to another--really neat to experience up close. 17 Howard St, Cumberland. Trail Maps. The Great Allegheny Passage is a non-motorized trail. Lodging, Luggage Transfers, Bike Rentals and Transportation. 150 miles of well maintained trail between Cumberland and Pittsburgh. The DC drop off is about 1.5 miles from the mile 0 of the towpath. No need to camp out unless you want to. We've walked it casually (this last time was in Nov 2014) and hiked a distance up the river and even did some biking up it. Important: Share your own trip with everyone. Pennsylvania Pine Creek Trail & Ghost Town Trail; Pittsburgh to DC: GAP and C&O Bike Tour; Great Allegheny Passage Bike Tour; GAP Easy Rider Bike Tour; SD Mickelson Trail & The Badlands Bike Tour; Wisconsin Wanderlust Rail Trail Bike Tour; Road Bike Tours (NEW) Hub & Spoke Santa Fe NM Bike Tour (New) New Mexico Santa Fe & Taos Bike Tour (New) New York Velo Opera Bike Tour (New) TX Big … The steepest eastbound grade - 0.8% - is from Harnedsville to Markleton and Garrett to Deal. I took a brief look and moved on. 301-777-8724. The park service has hiking / biking stopover site periodically along the trail with water, latrines, fire rings (makes it convenient). The trail today is 184.5 miles of dirt path following the north bank of the Potomac River from Cumberland, Maryland to downtown Washington, DC. Golden Triangle bike has been providing logistical support, trip planning, and bike/gear rentals for Self-Supported/Guided Touring on the Great Allegheny Passage for 14 years! But I came to see the city and this truly historical part of it could not be avoided. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Contact us at (301) 722-4887 in Cumberland, MD, to enjoy an invigorating trail riding glamping vacation with our bicycle touring company and bike the GAP. C&O Canal National Historical Park: Rode bike from Cumberland to DC. Like myself, many local cyclists have considered trying to bike the entire 184 miles between Georgetown and Cumberland, MD. You don't need a car to attend as Amtrak has room for eight bikes on trains between Union Station and Cumberland. The C&O Canal is a great place to get your feet wet and see if bike touring (or bike packing/camping/etc) is your jam. If you are done biking, you can take Amtrak back to Washington, DC. Meander over the the mountains and through the woods on mostly flat rails-to-trails and towpath cycling bliss. The Cumberland trail experience is made possible by the United Riders of Cumberland mountain bike club and trail stewardship organization. View Trail Rules. Stop at stop signs. After lunch we arrive at mile 0.0 of the GAP trail, where we stay at the Cumberland Fairfield Inn and Suites. Good for those why like nature and byke trips. Evitts Creek Aqueduct . It is primarily flat, with a slight upgrade to Cumberland from DC. Pittsburgh to DC: Bike the Great Allegheny Passage. Pittsburgh to DC on Traffic-Free Rail Trail Bliss! Sub Regions. The Great Allegheny Passage trail is open daily, dawn to dusk. We love the scenic view and it really is a gorgeous trail. ... National Geographic calls this trail “An American Classic” and named it one of the “Best Fall Trips of 2012”! This car-free trail is a popular biking route not just for experienced cyclists but also for beginners because it is an easy way for the uninitiated to gain exposure to very convenient bike camping on easy-to-ride terrain. . The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal trail is an excellent way to gain an appreciation of the history of Washington D.C. Easy to walk and it's fairly obvious where to go. Menu ≡ ╳ Home Lodging/Trip Packages Bike and Gear Rentals Planning, Info and Other Services Fully Supported Tours FAQs Trail Guide for GAP-C&O Custom Trip Packages Trip Consulting Shuttle Service Luggage Transfer GAP Resources Sales & Service Used Bike … Cyclist Tours. Cumberland Trail Connection provides bike rentals, sales, and service to individuals traveling along the C&O Canal. I was there in April as spring was setting in and it was stunning so I can only imagine how beautiful Fall must be. Hikers and bikers enjoying the trail can expect to see deer, blue herons, and turtles in epic numbers many times of the year. The Great Allegheny Passage ® (GAP) rail-trail offers 150 miles of hiking and biking from Cumberland MD to Pittsburgh,PA. Description The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Trail follows the Potomac River from Cumberland, MD to Washington DC. The Trail is paved for the first 7 ½ miles from Georgetown to Bethesda and is a limestone crushed stone surface from Bethesda to Rosemary Hills, in Silver Spring. Links. It became a National Historical Park in 1971 and has long been a favorite place for hikers and bird watchers. The trail system is universally accessible between dawn & dusk. If it has rained in the past few days, the potholes are full of water and mud. The trail is about 183 miles long (one way), and past Great Falls (great scenic point), there are water wells at intermittent trailside campsites, as well as port-a-johns. View the Elevation Table. I walked there in the morning from my hotel in New Hampshire road. You are now a "vehicle" and should proceed single file, with traffic. Click on the trail name to download a printable map of the GAP Trail or the C&O Canal Towpath. The Great Allegheny Passage, is a 150-mile rail trail from Cumberland, MD to Pittsburgh, PA. 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This trail is hard packed dirt, clay, and crushed stone. BikeOvernights.org serves the bike travel community by sharing your short overnight bicycle adventures of one to two nights. The 184-mile trail runs along the northern bank of the Potomac River from Cumberland, MD through Harper’s Ferry, WV and into downtown Washington, DC. Visitors to the trail: Once you leave the trail and enter into the towns, please respect and regard local traffic. The trail is a rail-trail, built on the abandoned railbed of the Georgetown Branch of the B&O Railroad. Winter snow allows cross-country skiing and snow shoeing. The Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) trail is now complete!! Washington DC – $99 per Bike (Tandem-$175) Cumberland, MD – $75 per Bike (Tandem-$125) Our bike drop off locations are super-conveniently located at L’Enfant Plaza in DC and in Canal Place in Cumberland. Don't ride on sidewalks. My favorite trail in the area, it runs from Washington DC all the way to Cumberland, MD. A 335 mile Heritage Trail Bike Ride from Pittsburgh to Washington DC It Comprises of two trails - GAP - Great Allegheny Passage Trail (155 miles) C&O - Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Trail … From Cumberland to Washington, DC, you drop 625 feet to sea level on the C&O Canal towpath. One way car rentals also not crushingly expensive (about $125 for a minivan) if a few people one to go in on one. Cumberland. The Montour trail will, when completed, connect McKeesport to the Pittsburgh International Airport and Coraopolis. The trail today is 184.5 miles of dirt path following the north bank of the Potomac River from Cumberland, Maryland to downtown Washington, DC. It … With our Bike tour packages and Womens bike tour, you can pedal from Washington, DC to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and all points in between—over 334.5 miles of trail.Our excursions are tailored to your needs, from a weekend getaway to a full week of cycling and sightseeing. Most of Cumberland’s vast trail network is in a privately owned working forest, and UROC holds agreements with the land owners that allow for public access and the maintenance and development of trails. Here's how to get started: Read the latest posts. It is easy to access this canal from M street in Georgetown too. Cyclists pass through the Cumberland Narrows, cross the Mason-Dixon Line, top the Eastern Continental Divide at 2,392’, weave through the breathtaking Laurel Highlands, wind their way through 20,633-acre Ohiopyle State Park, journey through the region’s coke, coal, mining, and steel-making corridor, and end at Pittsburgh’s majestic Point State Park. My favorite section was the 34 miles nearest Cumberland: Viaducts, Tunnels, Bridges, the Eastern Continental Divide, views, and more! Plenty of good photo opportunities along the way. You will not believe the tranquility and the beauty of this park; located in the middle of the suburban east coast. 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