We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. Joins the 184.5 mile C&O Canal Towpath to connect Pittsburgh with Washington, D.C. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Some may choose to walk their bikes. Fork mounted water bottles are an elegant and space saving way to balance out a bike with rear panniers. We want to help you find the model that best suits your riding style, terrain, and budget, but with so many options on the market, we know it can be a challenge to find the right one. We tried several different sizes and brands before settling on the Relevate Ripio. We opted to continue into Washington DC which meant hitting yet another major detour, this one dangerous. What makes all this worse is the blotchy sunlight on the trail such that navigating trail debris, pot holes, tree roots, and large branches in the trail problematic enough to slow ones progress considerably. If you want to continue onto the C&O Canal, the trail goes right through Cumberland with many options for food, lodging and services. If you need a break from the pounding of the C&O Canal’s tough terrain, you are in luck! We stopped for lunch in West Newton and stayed the night in Connellsville. We camped at the Opequon Junction Campsite that night. The C&O Canal Trail is dirt and gravel and not as well maintained. 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. Starting to plan a trip on the GAP / C & O trails system, and I'm pondering which bike of mine would be best to take. These are the best all-round trail bikes you can buy in 2021. Gaia GPS Navigation App: Save 20%. The Black Diamond Spot Headlamp is the light I take when guiding. There’s great views and excellent camping riverside. The C&O Canal, on the other hand, is owned by the National Park Service (NPS) who seems to have less resources for maintaining the trail and facilities (and recent flooding along the Potomac has been a significant problem). ZPACKS.COM: 12 Days of Christmas Sale! We are happy for you to use them! From the NPS website: What makes this detour unsafe is that the “re-route” (which is included in our GPX track for the trip) goes along some busy roads with high speed traffic, in particular Point of Rocks Road. Similarly, it is just as easy to camp out every night if you prefer roughing it. 90 miles is a lot to do in one day. Alan getting on Amtrak’s Capitol Limited train, heading west to route start in Pittsburgh. Finally, if you are not a camper, you can sleep in a bed every night and dine out for your meals. On the plus side the C&O Canal Trail is a bit more remote than the GAP trail, and for the most part, runs between the canal and the Potomac River making it quite scenic and a beautiful second half of the trip. We used two different methods of packing: Alan used frame bags (left photo) and Alison used panniers (right photo). And a caffeinated client is a happy client. Because it is a gentle grade, the uphill is not very noticeable but in reality, you are climbing to the Eastern Continental Divide to a height of 2392 feet. Total ascent 7,000 ft. Total decent 7,700 ft. We are super stoked to see REI offer a quilt version of the award winning Magma series bags! The award-winning MLD’s Duomid XL will keep you warm, dry, and protected in any environment you choose to camp. It is no surprise that large portions of this trail fall under the category of rails-to-trails conversions. Most of this downhill trail does not have views and is in the shade of trees. In fact, we did this trip front door to front door without ever using a car. We can make tons of coffee for clients in no time. It’s well maintained and generally in good condition. Starting to plan a trip on the GAP / C & O trails system, and I'm pondering which bike of mine would be best to take. It is a very long (3,118 feet) CANAL tunnel (meaning water running in it, see picture below) with a very narrow elevated trail on the side, above the water. The first was right out of camp in Opequon Junction. Packs, poles, shelters & accessories. Some people (especially those with very loaded/heavy bikes) lock their bikes on the canal side and walk over although we would strongly recommend taking your bags and valuables into town with you. In it’s 8 lumen “camp mode” it will last you a season of hiking on a single set of batteries. NPS recently constructed this bridge to cross a washed out section of trail. High summer can be hot and muggy. Harper’s Ferry is always worth a stop with great shops, lots of history, and beautiful scenery. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. We understand this tunnel also closes during the winter months. Alternatively, just google the town you are going thru, and see what google (or your favorite lodging finder website) recommends. The trail becomes loose and rocky, and becomes fall line into a wide open rock garden with no real line. Although a bit more finicky, it is worth the extra space to use the 14L bag. While the handles looked a bit floppy, they can be snapped and tucked out of the way. They actually like you! Remember, you are counting down from mile marker 150. What we used and Staff Favorite, is the $250 Hammock Gear Premium Burrow Quilt at 1/2 the cost of top end sleeping bag and weighs less. (Trip Advisor seemed to do well.). The Levi Deal Mansion B&B (pictured) is  a few blocks from the Great Allegheny Passage hiking and biking trail in Meyersdale PA. Take advantage of towns along the way for water resupply. We never had a problem with them snagging or getting in the way. Finally, we give packing instruction and tips for those new to bikepacking. We continued on until Meyersdale, at 2,106′ which also had a few options for stores and restaurants. Finally, bikepacking the GAP Trail and C&O Canal Trail has super easy logistics.  This trail is easily accessed by car or train from much of the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Midwest (there is a no-car needed option). Listening to the hail and sleet hit our hotel window that night was nothing short of sublime. Virtually all of the trail is away from traffic on flat, wide, non-technical dirt trails that do not require great riding skills. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. The trick to using rear-only panniers is weight distribution. info@nibiketouring.com 844-424-5342 Mon - Fri, 9AM - 5PM (EST) Please take a look below at the varying difficulty levels of the trails in Glencullen Adventure Park. What that looks like in practice is hotels allowing you to wheel your bike into their lobby (and up to your room), B&B’s with converted bike repair areas (i.e. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. One option is to bike a short Day 5 to Harper’s Ferry (which has many advantages, including spending an afternoon and night exploring the town and getting a good meal). Spectacular 150-mile rail-trail, bike tour. Great Falls on the Potomac, the “Niagara Falls” of the mid-Atlantic. Better there than at home or on the trail! Alan used The Swiss Cross Disc which although made for cross racing did well on the gravel trail. Once properly positioned you can brake and shift just fine. Alison used a Renegate Expat bike that she got at close-out for $900. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. Just south of Little Orleans, at lock 56 (eventually, the path is supposed to extend to Little Orleans), you can hop the Western Maryland Rail Trail, a paved path which parallels the C&O for about 40ish miles. (It’s accessed by a series of bridges and boardwalks leading out to Olmsted Island.). Recommended Bikes – A Gravel Bike is ideal, although a Mountain Bike would also work great | Tires 35mm or larger preferred. We highly recommend the side trip when Bikepacking GAP Trail and C&O Canal Trails. Food – Food is plentiful along the trail in the towns you pass through. As we said earlier in this guide, if you are a backpacker you’ll likely have much of the gear you need to bikepack. Bikepacking the GAP Trail and C&O Trail from Pittsburgh to Washington DC is a superb mix of natural beauty, wooded trails, quaint towns, & American history. REI.COM: Save up to 50% Off at REI during Cyber Week! You can rough it or glamp it — your choice. with a crossing at the stop light onto the Starkey Blvd. It then runs alongside the roadway to Starkey Blvd. Download GPX Track GAP C+O Trail © Alan Dixon & AdventureAlan.com 2018 | All Rights Reserved. We prefer the Tiger Wall UL3 Tent for it’s huge interior volume and livability for two people vs. the smaller Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Tent. For a lower cost tent checkout the REI Quarter Dome 2 Tent a good value in a lightweight freestanding backpacking tent with lots of vertical room or some of our Budget Backpacking Tents & Shelters. The Ibis Ripmo V2 Deore is a full carbon trail bike with an aggressive frame geometry that combines longer reach with a steep, 76-degree seat tube angle. There are chemical toilets at the campgrounds and GAP access areas, but limited potable water available. And honestly, if your bike already has a rear rack they are cheaper, hold more and are easier to pack than Alan’s frame-bag setup. Note the condition of the path is typical for the C&O Canal Trail. 90% or more of the gear we brought (e.g. There was plenty of room in this setup for all his gear. We now have 150 miles of hiking and biking between Cumberland, MD, and Pittsburgh, PA. This bikepacking specific gear is obviously not on our 9 Pound Full Comfort Lightweight Backpacking Gear List. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. Note that you will cross through several tunnels on your downhill. If you’re planning to ride the Great Allegheny Passage, self supported, from end to end, you’ll want to pack smart and light. Thanks! You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. There are some very long and very dark tunnels on this trip. The Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) trail is now complete!! Super simple! After that, you are on crushed limestone and you can just use the mileage on your bike GPS as the route becomes quite straight forward. 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). In the. Pair this with the “Women’s” version of the XLite, (yes it fits men fine — all the men we know use it) and you will be toasty warm at night. The canal operated from 1831 until 1924 transporting coal to Washington, DC but was closed in 1924 due to the constant flooding that washed away the route. We are a small, family-owned and operated business that strives to spend as much time as possible with each of our customers in order to provide the maximum amount of fun, adventure, and awesomeness. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. 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. For the first 19 miles of the trip you will be biking on a nicely paved path. Most trails are heavily wooded with a distinct wilderness feel — many follow along scenic rivers like the Potomac, Monongahela, and Youghiogheny. https://uncoveringpa.com/tips-for-riding-the-great-allegheny-passage Both are right on the paved path on the far side of the canal. So, unlike other pyramids, couples looking to share a two-person sleeping bag or snuggle will be able to do so without interference from a center pole. For short walks, the basic equipment is comfortable walking shoes and comfortable clothing. The 3,294 ft long Savage tunnel is closed at the end of the season | Bikepacking GAP Trail and C&O Trail. So it’s no surprise that the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trial is known as  “America’s Friendliest Long-Distance Rail-Trail.”. 28K likes. Finally, reviews express my own independent opinion. Experienced riders tend to prefer a hybrid (cross between road and mountain bikes) as thin tires can sink into the trail surface and make the going slow. You’ll want a true air mattress to compress small on your bike and save space, and this is the best all-around sleeping pad! I do not receive compensation from the companies whose products I review. Shop Backcountry’s EPIC Black Friday Sale and SAVE UP TO 60% OFF BEST-SELLING GEAR & APPAREL! Taking the train is a totally relaxed way to shuttle between start and finish. References – Great Allegheny Passage Site 1  https://gaptrail.org/ GAP/C&O Planning Site https://bikecando.com/default.aspx, and even a SmartPhone App which will find food and lodging, etc. Fallingwater is arguably Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece. Buy while they last! In Cumberland, you have many options. View Revelate Designs Ripio Bike Frame Bag, View Revelate Designs Terrapin System Saddle Pack, View Revelate Designs Gas Tank Bike Frame Bag, Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20 Quilts, © Alan Dixon and AdventureAlan.com, 2000-2018 | All Rights Reserved. You can also change some of your preferences. or to Pittsburgh and/or Chicago. The reason Alison opted for panniers was because her bike ended up being too small for most of the frame bags for the main triangle (e.g. This site uses cookies to provide you the best experience. Supplies are easy to get from trailside towns and there are tons of camping, lodging, grocery store and restaurant options for every taste and budget. The good news is that from here on out, your options for NPS campsites become plentiful. Turtles in the historic Chesapeake & Ohio Canal on the Way from Harper’s Ferry to Brunswick, MD. Traveling light! What isn’t shown in the picture are the two straps used to secure the dry bag to the bike rack. Alan used a set of frame mounted bags for his gear which distributed the weight nicely. Here you can easily see how much climbing you have actually done. Then again, you will also miss riding on this path. 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. We have put together this tried and true, proven packing list the covers what to bring for clothing, gear and bike equipment, and what campgrounds are available along the GAP Great Allegheny Passage trail. We absolutely love its asymmetrical pitch. Experienced riders tend to prefer a hybrid (cross between road and mountain bikes) as thin tires can sink into the trail surface and make the going slow. Gossamer Gear Sale: up to 35% off thru Dec 7. 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. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. Levi Deal Mansion Bed & Breakfast in Meyersdale, the Maple Syrup Capital of Pennsylvania. In fact, Amtrak stops at Cumberland, MD which is the break between the GAP and the C&O Canal trail which means you can easily do half the trip, and still keep it low carbon. Obviously, the sweetroll bag works great with a flat mountain bike bar. The 100 mile marker on the Gap trail (along the P&LE rails-to-trail conversion). The good news is that from here on out. Best bike: our buyer’s guide to which bicycle type you should buy in 2020. Most bicycles will be fine on the trail which is for the most part surfaced with fine crushed limestone. That said, taking the sweetroll on and off required a bit of work so we would only recommend it at end-of-day stops. We just took a left on the Capital Crescent Trail to Bethesda Maryland and on to Northern DC. But it’s just as suitable and rewarding trip for accomplished riders. This tent is super compact! 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. In short, this bikepacking trip has something for everyone. Includes official map for C&O Canal trail travelers too! Packed with itineraries, lodging and dining options, and a weatherproof map of both trails. On your way back to DC make sure you stop at Great Falls for incredible views. And just as important they are more compact to fit on your bike. The local, trailside towns are super bike friendly. View 9 Pound Full Comfort Lightweight Backpacking Gear List, This may be the most confusing subject to those new or newish to bikepacking. For product reviews: unless otherwise noted, products are purchased with my own funds. This segment runs along a powerline from the Pinellas/Pasco County Line to SR 54. Each night you can sleep in a bed at a cute B&B, eat at restaurants — or you just as easily can tent it in a beautiful campsite and munch on takeout or camp food. In short, this bikepacking trip has something for everyone. Insane MTB trails and gap jump sending - The best day ever!! As you enter into the tunnel that signifies the E Continental Divide, there is a map painted on the wall showing your route. View Revelate Designs Sweetroll Medium Handlebar Bag. Alison’s bikepacking set up was essentially a set of panniers with balancing weight up front. In Cumberland, the GAP connects to the C&O Canal Towpath, which runs from Washington, D.C. to … 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. No grinding/too-long days. 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. Road bike vs. mountain bike. was just our standard ultralight backpacking gear. Trip start in historic Union Station in Washington DC. We spent the night in Pittsburgh since the train arrives pretty late, and the next day, started on the trail. Be sure the bicycle, particularly the saddle, is comfortable. Our Gear Picks | BLACK FRIDAY & CYBER MONDAY DEALS FROM TOP COTTAGE BACKPACKING BRANDS. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. October is great for fall colors and fewer people. The Great Allegheny Passage ® (GAP) rail-trail offers 150 miles of hiking and biking from Cumberland MD to Pittsburgh,PA. Alan was able to fit this spacious (but compacts extremely small) tent, poles, stakes and both our  “Women’s” version of the XLite, (yes, all the men we know use it) into his Sweetroll Handlebar bag! The tear-drop panel opening shape maximizes the top tube storage area nicely. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. But please respect our work and copyright and don’t re-publish or distribute them to others. As such, the GAP trail is in good condition, well marked, and the path easy to navigate on a bike. But by October, it may be getting cold in the mountains (it snowed on us one night). Note that the stairs up to the pedestrian bridge to Harper’s Ferry are steep and difficult to maneuver with a loaded touring bike. Riding along the cliff cement path next to the Potomac. which we provide at the end of this guide, Detailed information logistics to trip start/end, the light and effective gear we took on this trip, See our other Low Carbon Trips via Amtrak, (which is included in our GPX track for the trip), Our 9 Pound Full Comfort Lightweight Backpacking Gear List, Here are a few highlights of gear we brought, Mountain Laurel Designs Duomid XL Pyramid Tent, 2019 Buyers Guide to Lightweight Backpacking Quilts, Hammock Gear Economy Burrow 30 ºF down quilt, 9 Pound Full Comfort Lightweight Backpacking Gear List, 9 lb Full Comfort Lightweight Backpacking Gear List, 5 lb Ultralight / Lightweight Backpacking Gear List, Best Camera for Hiking or Backpacking 2020, Best Backpacking Food – fast, simple & nutritious, How to Train for Hiking & Backpacking a Quick & Efficient Method, Top Mistakes Layering – How to Stay Warmer and Drier, Patagonia National Park Trek – Guide to a New World Class Trek, Trek Guide to Cerro Castillo in Patagonia, The Southern Sierra High Route (better than the John Muir Trail), A Very Different High Route – Escalante Overland Route. 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