With dedicated campgrounds and amenities in nearby trail towns,
the Great Allegheny Passage makes for excellent day hikes or backpacking trips
. You’ll find abundant wildflowers in spring and fall, ethereal waterfalls after summer rains, and plenty of parking by which to explore a new section of the corridor.
Is the Great Allegheny Passage paved?
Nearly all of the Great Allegheny Passage is evenly-topped with crushed limestone, although
there are some short paved sections in Connellsville and Cumberland, and a 19-mile stretch paved between McKeesport, and Downtown Pittsburgh
. It is relatively smooth and easy to pedal, run, or hike.
Are there bears on the Great Allegheny Passage?
Bears are of very minimal concern along the Great Allegheny Passage
, and there are no requirements for a bear canister or other bear-proof food storage.
Where does the Great Allegheny Passage start and end?
Starting in Cumberland, Maryland and ending in Downtown Pittsburgh
, the Great Allegheny Passage is a spectacular 150-mile nonmotorized path that soars over valleys, snakes around mountains, and skirts alongside the Casselman River, Youghiogheny River, and Monongahela River on a nearly-level, crushed-limestone surface.
Can you ride a road bike on the Great Allegheny Passage?
The crushed limestone surface is fairly smooth and
can be ridden on any type of bike
. If you’re cycling the Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal, larger tires generally work better.
How long is the Great Allegheny Passage trail?
The longest multi-use trail in PA, the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) stretches from southeast from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland. There, the Great Allegheny Passage connects with the C&O Canal towpath, extending all the way to the Georgetown district of Washington, D.C. for a total length of
334.5 miles
.
What should I bring on a Gap Trail?
- Cycling clothes.
- Helmet.
- Bike gloves.
- Rain jacket (and pants, if you like)
- Thermal shirt.
- Camp/hotel clothes.
- Camp/hotel shoes.
- Extra long-sleeved shirt.
Where does the Gap Trail start in Pittsburgh?
The trail itself starts at
Point State Park
in the heart of the city where you can see the confluence of the three rivers, the Fort Pitt Blockhouse, and more. As you leave, you make your way east along the Monongahela River past downtown.
Where is mile 0 on the Gap Trail?
The C&O Canal’s Mile Marker 0 is located
at the mouth of Rock Creek where it flows into the Potomac
. From this point, hikers and bikers can state unequivocally that they have ended – or are just starting- their full trip on the C&O Canal towpath.
How many tunnels are on the Gap Trail?
In order to compete with the existing B&O Railroad, it built
nine tunnels
and over thirty bridges and viaducts to shorten the route and reduce the grade. While tunneling through Big Savage Mountain, workers encountered soft, wet mud and sand 600 feet from the western portal, slowing progress.
How many miles can you bike in a day?
The distance someone can bicycle in a day depends on a number of things that range from the health of the cyclist to the bike they’re using. Also road and environmental conditions matter. And, well, luck counts too. On average, a person can cycle between
56 to 60 miles
in a day.
What trail goes from Pittsburgh to DC?
Pittsburgh to Washington
The Great Allegheny Passage Trail
is the crown jewel of the Mid-Atlantic Rail Trails. Thanks to this excellent trail and the C&O Towpath National Historic Park, we now have a 335 mile long traffic free corridor between Pittsburgh, PA and Washington, DC!
How long is the bike trail from Pittsburgh to DC?
THIS RIDE: You will experience the entire trail on this
334 mile
adventure. The Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail connects Pittsburgh PA and Cumberland MD on 150 miles of crushed limestone rail-to-trail bliss.
Can you bike the entire C&O Canal?
Biking is one of the most popular activities in the C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP). The main spine of the Park, called the towpath, runs the length of the Park for 184.5 miles.
The entire towpath is open for bikers, from Georgetown in Washington D.C. to Cumberland, MD.
Does the Gap Trail go through Ohiopyle?
Ohiopyle, PA
Don’t blow past pretty little Ohiopyle!
This river town, smack in the middle of Pennsylvania’s biggest state park, is a real highlight along the GAP trail
. This is where our Wilderness Voyageurs headquarters and outfitter store is located, as well as our full-service Ohiopyle bike shop.
Where is the Continental Divide on the Gap Trail?
The Eastern Continental Divide (ECD) is the highest point on the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) at 2,392 feet above sea level, located at
mile marker 23.7
. The watershed divide on the GAP has been intriguing trail users since the trail was opened.
