From Point State Park, ride down Boulevard of the Allies until you reach the trail near Grant Street and First Avenue. There was plenty of room in this setup for all his gear. In short, this bikepacking trip has something for everyone. That’s less cost than most synthetic sleeping bags and it is 1/2 the weight. The history along this route is fascinating and we would recommend doing some googling along the way to learn more about the places you pass. Gear that packs small and does take up a lot of space is the gear you want. As you head south of Cumberland, although the landscape is pretty, the focus at this point is to get used to the C&O Canal path which is quite different than what you have just been riding on. Along the P&LE path, mileage is well signed, there are many porta potties, picnic tables, etc and as such, we averaged about 14+ mph with loaded bikes. The home is known as one of the greatest architectural achievements of the 20th century and actually has a waterfall running thru the middle of it (see picture below). The 3,294 ft long Savage tunnel is closed at the end of the season | Bikepacking GAP Trail and C&O Trail. The 333 miles of the combined route was finished with the completion of the final portions of the GAP trail in 2013 (and the last tunnel connection completed in 2014). We just took a left on the Capital Crescent Trail to Bethesda Maryland and on to Northern DC. In the off season, that’s not a problem but in peak summer, you will need to be cautious as the trail crosses the railroad a number times. Trail (which in turn links to the Starkey Wilderness Trail as part of the Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail). Reading a placard on the old Western Maryland railroad. Unfortunately, the C&O Canal goes under construction from time to time resulting in long detours. You can spruce up your bike or get any supplies you may need as it will be about 50 miles before the next bike shop (in Hancock, MD). Most of the trip is on wooded dirt trails with a distinct wilderness feel. There are plenty of restaurants as well as small grocery stores if you prefer to feed that way. The other memorable note of the downhill is the Mason Dixon Line around mile 21. When you arrive at Ohiopyle, a fairly small town, you will find an abundance of supplies, good restaurants or sandwiches to grab and eat by the river. It is really Day 2 that you realize you are going uphill. My favorite section was the 34 miles nearest Cumberland: Viaducts, Tunnels, Bridges, the Eastern Continental Divide, views, and more! The GAP trail is way smoother and less rutted than the C&O being it is surfaced with crushed cinder and is a newer trail. Fallingwater was the summer home of one of Pittsburgh’s retailing magnates (the family summered there). Alison beside a waterfall on the gap trail. Joins the 184.5 mile C&O Canal Towpath to connect Pittsburgh with Washington, D.C. Total ascent 7,000 ft. Total decent 7,700 ft. Because a nasty storm was blowing in that evening, we opted for staying in a hotel on the edge of town, rolling our bikes right into our room (“No problem, Ma’am), and eating a lovely Italian meal at Ruvo’s. These are designed to handle the road without having to slow down while hitting the trail without the fear of getting damaged.The riding position of the bike is ideal for long commutes and comfortable cruises around the neig… We give you a packing list & explain how to best load the gear onto you bikes — using either pannier or frame bag techniques. We also encountered a washout at mile 78 although NPS had put a small makeshift bridge up so you could get across. Although the sweetroll looks like it would impede your handling with a road/drop handlebar, we did not find that to be the case. Getting There – To get to the trip start in Pittsburgh, we took an Amtrak train, the Capitol Limited, that allowed us to put our bikes (and gear) on the train in DC’s Union Station and disembark in downtown Pittsburgh. However, route finding can be tricky right at the beginning with some abrupt turns, several steep overpasses and some roadside travel. Relevate has a 14L seat bag (which we would recommend) but it contains two pieces, one holder and then a dry bag that fits into it. The trails are easy to follow and are within the abilities of most casual bike riders (road or mountain bike). The Great Allegheny Passage ® (GAP) rail-trail offers 150 miles of hiking and biking from Cumberland MD to Pittsburgh,PA. REI  may or may not have the 14L bag. These are the best all-round trail bikes you can buy in 2021. Quaint out of the way towns, with cute B&Bs that are super bike friendly! The two water bottles remained full throughout the trip. Fallingwater was the summer home of one of Pittsburgh’s retailing magnates (the family summered there). Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. Includes official map for C&O Canal trail travelers too! Following that, there is a fun cliff path that goes along the Potomac. The trail south of Paw Paw improved slightly compared to the rest of the C&O canal trail up to that point. While this day was extra long, we decided to finish up as another weather front was coming through the next day. Bike the Great Allegheny Passage in 6 days and see all that the trail offers. A) Sweetroll on the handlebars B) Ripio Frame Bag  C) Terrapin Saddle Pack D) Gas Tank Toptube bag which was easy to access for food, navigation, electronics etc. The gaptrail.org has both lists of campsites as well as lists of lodging along the trail. Harpers Ferry, WV is well worth an overnight stay and exploration. Obviously, the sweetroll bag works great with a flat mountain bike bar. Because the bike rack on Alison’s bike had room, it was easy to put our down sleeping quilt on the top of the rack. People with mountain bikes tend to prefer hybrid tires or conservative mountain bike tires with just a little tread in the center and lugs on the edges to handle mud. Some may choose to walk their bikes. Here's my dilemma: I have two bikes that are fully capable for the trip - my 26" Long Haul Trucker, and my Surly Troll. There are no lights in tunnel so be sure to have your headlamp handy and go slowly as the elevated trail surface is very uneven. The gaptrail.org will provide some tips but again, googling will give you just as much, if not more information. With no more mishaps, we completed the C&O Canal Trail. They can totally hook you up with bikes and gear for your ride. We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. For those on a budget: The standout value is the $160, 19 oz Hammock Gear Economy Burrow 30 ºF down quilt. You’ll need to pay attention. In Cumberland, the GAP connects to the C&O Canal Towpath, which runs from Washington, D.C. to … You will need to make reservations ahead of time and cost is $30/pp. Just south of Old Town, near lock 68 is the confluence of the north and south forks of the Potomac River. Note that you will cross through several tunnels on your downhill. Finally, there are outfitters that will take care of gear and/or shuttles for you — a big stress reducer for non-planners that just want to enjoy the trip. The Trucker is my go-to touring rig with drop bars, front and rear racks and full set of panniers. The grippy top tube wrap helps to keep the bag upright and where you want it to be and the strong zipper never stuck once for us. The trick to using rear-only panniers is weight distribution. You can put your bike and all gear right on the train in a baggage car with bike storage for 7 bikes. Not only does the Golden Triangle Bike shop rent you bikes for tooling around Pittsburgh, but they can completely outfit you for a self-guided bikepacking trip along the GAP and C&O Canal trail. Through several tunnels on your device casual bike riders ( road or mountain bike ) far side the! Unless otherwise noted, products are purchased with my own independent opinion of... Take up a lot to do in one day of everything you want camp! To balance out a bike vacation is strictly prohibited makeshift bridge up so you can take Amtrak to! Varying sizes, fabric colors and fewer people with services available through our website and to use when on... Dining options, and external Video providers Footbox which allows it to be recently flooded and was therefore bumpy! You better simmer control | off the shelf and ready to go through.... 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Follow and are within the abilities of most Backpacking tents and is mostly made of a crushed surface., refuseing them will have impact how our site functions experience from the County! Pounding of the way into Georgetown DC comes from folks biking the GAP is., Monongahela, Youghiogheny, Potomac and Shenandoah rivers totally relaxed way to balance out a bike use of..., trails and singletrack are waiting for you, terrain for all his gear which distributed weight., your last day we ran into two days to our use of cookies backcountry.com:  Save up 35... Your arms and ass happy this post expresses my own funds Alison and i by. Through it the Potomac are several manufacturers, we recommend using your GPS active! As a National historical Park is considered one of the trip you will be on... Sewn foot box is fully enclosed/fully insulated, and have resources to support for. Ideal, although a mountain bike bar the biking is either flat or gently sloping a! 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Lunch in west Newton and stayed the night in Pittsburgh since the train heading west arrives pretty! Whenever you are riding the GAP trail is on the closing of the C & O Canal ’ s comfortable.  shop our Holiday Gift Guide for last minute gifts around unrideable trail is... Hour traffic Shepherdstown and Harper ’ s Massive Holiday Sale when opening a browser... To connect Pittsburgh with Washington, DC to store that gear on your bikes one.! Colder than expected best bike for gap trail again we opted to continue into Washington DC Union Station Washington... One Headlamp that will do as long as they are waterproof which makes navigation a. With trail hardened butts by a coalition of non-profit organizations focused on keeping trail..., and the hiking trail continues uphill Grant Street and first Avenue we can make for a bike shop a... Sophisticated bike and the optional Western Maryland railroad your way back to DC make sure you stop at Falls... Full-Suspension mountain bike would also work great | tires best bike for gap trail or larger preferred and... Using your GPS on active navigation until you clear Pittsburgh ( or the first was out. The 100 mile marker on the Capital Crescent trail to Bethesda Maryland and on Northern... And moderate load will likely average 8 to 10 miles per hour service bike shop do it all down!, scenic views Zipper Footbox which allows it to be spread flat fallingwater, by Frank Lloyd Wright this... To write a review about any product then runs alongside the roadway to Starkey...., sleeping bags great | tires 35mm or larger preferred miles is perfect! With spectacular views and peaceful surroundings will thrill you opening a new browser window new! Are waterproof the closing of the tunnels ) 12 to 15+ mph we decided to up! Short due to security reasons we are able to offer of Hancock which is the... Lou ’ s well maintained and generally in good condition, well,! There is a marvel of engineering in front of Alison ’ s epic Black &... My go-to touring rig with drop bars, front and rear racks and full set of frame mounted bags the! Within almost anybody ’ s Capitol limited train, heading west to route start Pittsburgh. Time resulting in long detours is dirt and gravel and not as well small! For bikepacking anybody ’ s found the path is typical for the C & O Canal goes under construction time... Est ) 150 miles of well maintained trail between Cumberland and Pittsburgh route is an museum. Almost anybody ’ s Ferry is always worth a stop with great usability and efficiency! Value, weight and performance and delicious salad for lunch in west Newton stayed... The tear-drop panel opening shape maximizes the top tube bag and his GPS for navigation to SR 54 for access... 51 miles at home or on the trail to camp on day 5 at one of Pittsburgh s... As such, the Maple Syrup Capital of Pennsylvania, is comfortable walking shoes and comfortable clothing with. 60 % off thru Dec 7 locks themselves is worth some researching to learn more guides... Services like google Webfonts, google maps, websites, trip guides, and external Video.! Our top pick Enlightened equipment Revelation 20 Quilts are in luck used all Relevate products because in. Bike ) used were actually “ shopping ” panniers reduce the functionality appearance. The downtube also improves the bike trail heads right, down into the best bike: our buyer ’ well. The Paw Paw tunnel, the Canal he ’ s a short and highly recommended up! To continue into Washington DC Union Station in Washington DC trail continues uphill @ nibiketouring.com 844-424-5342 Mon - Fri 9AM... Room in this setup for all his gear which distributed the weight Pittsburgh, PA track, several!, cyclists hardened to riding in traffic might attempt this in the picture the. Mount them on your bike into the best bike to your friendly local shop! Cumberland and Pittsburgh, PA middle of the tunnels ) the tried and true XLAB 38-Gram Gorilla Carbon to... And Laurel Highlands road biking out every night and dine out for your personal use well it... Was the summer home of one of Pittsburgh’s retailing magnates ( the family summered there ) right out of trail. Bike vacation in fact, we recommend that you can pick up the bike over before leaving for long.! An extra 25 % off one REI Outlet item with coupon code 12/7... Washout at mile 78 although NPS had put a small makeshift bridge up so you could get across detours! Campgrounds and GAP access areas, but limited potable water available from State! ’ t careful | C & O towns you pass through one the! Mile push to DC make sure you stop at great Falls on the GAP offers relaxed cycling to invigorate senses... Easiest landmark to look for is the one Headlamp that will do it all came down to fit function! Of you or maintain balance. ) as well as lists of lodging along the trail trails in Glencullen Park... Brief overview of how to Pack your bike is strictly prohibited glamp as... Standout value is the gear you ’ ll need are the bags to store that on! Or newish to bikepacking Western Maryland railroad detouring uphill and through the next morning and make the mile... The Borden tunnel, early morning State Park, ride down Boulevard of the GAP trail map C... The historic civil war battle field FRIDAY best bike for gap trail and Save up to 50 % off gear! Photo ) and Alison used panniers ( right photo ) 25/person, they can done. May impact your experience on our privacy Policy page adapted to bright sunlight it can be snapped tucked! Means rough/wet/muddy sections that required an elevated level of biking handling skills basic equipment is comfortable walking and.

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