Our guests who purchase the GAP/CO Bike Tour Blueprint receive the following:
We suggest the following itineraries but also provide information on how to build your own perfectly paced tour. *These itineraries reflect the best options (an overnight in Brunswick) given the closure of Whites Ferry. Without the ferry you can only access Leesburg (for lodging) via hotel shuttle – some will offer shuttles midweek, call them to inquire.*
5-DAY Pittsburgh to DC
Day 1 – Pittsburgh to Ohiopyle (75 miles)
Day 2 – Ohiopyle to Cumberland (75 miles)
Day 3 – Cumberland to Hancock (60 miles)
Day 4 – Hancock to Shepherdstown (51.5 miles)
Day 5 – Shepherdstown to DC (73.5 miles)
7-DAY Pittsburgh to DC
Day 1 – Pittsburgh to Perryopolis (45 miles)
Day 2 – Perryopolis to Confluence (42 miles)
Day 3 – Confluence to Cumberland (63 miles)
Day 4 – Cumberland to Little Orleans (43 miles)
Day 5 – Little Orleans to Williamsport (41 miles)
Day 6 – Williamsport to Brunswick (45 miles)x
Day 7 – Brunswick to DC (55 miles)
8-DAY Pittsburgh to DC
Day 1 – Pittsburgh to Perryopolis (45 miles)
Day 2 – Perryopolis to Confluence (42 miles)
Day 3 – Confluence to Cumberland (63 miles)
Day 4 – Cumberland to Little Orleans (43 miles)
Day 5 – Little Orleans to Williamsport(41 miles)
Day 6 – Williamsport to Shepherdstown (27 miles)
Day 7 – Shepherdstown to Brunswick (18 miles)
Day 8 – Brunswick to DC (55 miles)
9-DAY Pittsburgh to DC
Day 1 – Pittsburgh to West Newton (34 miles)
Day 2 – West Newton to Ohiopyle (42 miles)
Day 3 – Ohiopyle to Meyersdale (42 miles)
Day 4 – Meyersdale to Cumberland (32 miles)
Day 5 – Cumberland to Little Orleans (43 miles)
Day 6 – Little Orleans to Williamsport(41 miles)
Day 7 – Williamsport to Shepherdstown (27 miles)
Day 8 – Shepherdstown to Brunswick (18 miles)
Day 9 – Brunswick to DC (55 miles)
10-DAY Pittsburgh to DC
Day 1 – Pittsburgh to West Newton (34 miles)
Day 2 – West Newton to Ohiopyle (42 miles)
Day 3 – Ohiopyle to Confluence (11 miles)
Day 4 – Confluence to Meyersdale (31 miles)
Day 5 – Meyersdale to Cumberland (32 miles)
Day 6 – Cumberland to Little Orleans (43 miles)
Day 7 – Little Orleans to Williamsport(41 miles)
Day 8 – Williamsport to Shepherdstown (27 miles)
Day 9 – Shepherdstown to Brunswick (18 miles)
Day 10 – Brunswick to DC (55 miles)
List of camp sites and suggested itineraries
Most popular times to travel are around Memorial Day and the end of September/start of October.
Well-maintained trail surface can accommodate all types of bike and riders, but with a tour of this length riders should be conservative with daily mileage estimates.
Trail is closed at the Big Savage Tunnel (GAP) between December-April.
End-to-end shuttling is available for this trail system.
Daily luggage transfer is available for this trail system.
Bike rentals are available in Pittsburgh and Cumberland. Standard and e-bikes available.
Connecting Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania to Cumberland in Maryland, the Great Allegheny Passage stretches for nearly 150 miles through the Appalachian Mountains. The Great Allegheny Passage incorporates defunct corridors of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, and the Western Maryland Railway
In Cumberland the GAP seamlessly intersects with the C&O Canal Towpath. Hugging the north bank of the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, the C&O Canal operated from 1831 to 1924. It was used for transportation between the Allegheny Mountains and urban areas of the Chesapeake Bay.
Today, both trails have an average grade of less than 1%. At the highest point of the trail, you’ll cross the Eastern Continental Divide, after which the trail drops around 1,750 feet over 20 miles before reaching Cumberland.
The C&O Canal Towpath descends around 600 feet from Cumberland to Georgetown in Washington, D.C., with the gradual change in elevation almost indiscernible . Along the C&O, occasional potholes, rocks, and mud can be expected in some sections but conditions are improving dramatically as a major trail resurfacing project is currently underway.
Our GAP/C&O itineraries are designed to give you ample time to take in the sights along the way and experience the region’s natural beauty. Take your time and explore all the trail has to offer or opt to cycle long miles each day and push your limits as you complete the 335-mile trail.
Difficulty: The Great Allegheny Passage/C&O Canal Towpath is rated at medium to hard difficulty. The trail has little daily elevation gain (with the exception of Meyersdale-Cumberland) and the surfaces are fairly well-maintained, although the C&O Towpath can be uneven and slow in sections. Itineraries range from 20-60+ miles/day with options for a wide variety of riders.