Great Allegheny Passage
Included in these categories:
5 DaySelf-Guided Tour
What’s included
For Double Occupancy |
For Solo Riders |
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Tour and Shuttle |
$890 per person |
$1,640 per person |
Tour, Shuttle and Luggage Transfer |
$1,155 per person |
$2,130 per person |
$295 off total price if not taking a return shuttle.
10% discount for groups of 6 or more (requiring at least 3 double occupancy rooms).
Our Great Allegheny Passage bike tours utilize the best in local B&Bs to ensure a comfortable and refreshing stay each night. All B&Bs are located right next to or within a few blocks of the trail. Hotel nights before and after the trip can be included.
We choose only rooms with private bathrooms, and most have one queen bed. Some B&Bs offer rooms with two separate beds, and some have suites which allow up to 3 guests (typically these rooms have a queen and single bed or air mattress).
A one-way shuttle between Cumberland and Pittsburgh is included in all tours, but can be removed. The drive time is approximately 2.5 hours barring unusual traffic. Airport drop-off (to Pittsburgh International) can be arranged for an added charge. Shuttles commonly run at 2 p.m. or 8 a.m. but this can be altered. Talk with your trip coordinator when booking about your scheduling and location needs.
Daily luggage shuttling can be included on this tour. Luggage must be ready each day by 9 a.m. and is transferred to your next overnight location by 4 p.m. We request each rider bring one carry-on sized piece (approximately) and one smaller, personal bag. Luggage should weigh no more than 40 lbs per person. Odd-sized and/or bulky pieces such as bike stands, coolers, or bike racks are not permitted.
Riders with luggage not ready on time or significantly overweight or oversized will be charged an added fee.
Most breakfasts are included in our GAP tours (all included meals will be noted on your tour quote). For non-included meals we provide daily suggestions and a list of recommended restaurants. Those with significant dietary restrictions, please advise us at the time of booking so that we can communicate this to your B&B correctly.
In smaller towns, some restaurants will close one day a week and often that will be on a Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday.
Vegetarian and vegan options are relatively accessible along the trail and can be accommodated by all B&Bs we book.
All riders will receive access to our Ride with GPS Trip Experience created just for this itinerary. You do not need to have a personal account to use the premium features included. The Experience provides you with a daily itinerary, including where to eat each day, trail highlights, and any specific instructions, all easily accessed on your phone.
It also includes digital mapping with offline voice cues and other premium features. Mapping can be downloaded for use on Garmin and other devices, as well.
Itinerary
Welcome to Pittsburgh! Arrive a day or two early and spend time exploring the city. Enjoy a city bike tour, visit the Warhol museum, or take in a Pirates baseball game at PNC Park.
On Day 1, you’ll start your GAP trip in Downtown Pittsburgh at the western terminus in Point State Park. Take a moment to grab a photo at the start, then follow the Monongahela River out of the city. The transformation of Pittsburgh is on display as you cycle past the former steel towns that drove the U.S. in the 20th century.
Meals: On own
Overnight: West Newton
After a full breakfast to start the day off right, you’ll have the chance to pedal through some of the most gorgeous sections of the GAP trail – Ohiopyle State Park. Arriving in Ohiopyle, take your time exploring the small town and surrounding hiking trails. Or simply sit by the falls and watch the rafters and kayakers make their way through the rapids.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Ohiopyle
Have breakfast in town, then enjoy one of several off-bike activities Ohiopyle has to offer. You may visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater or Kentuck Knob this morning. You can also consider whitewater rafting or exploring the river trails and surrounding hiking areas. *Fallingwater is closed on Wednesdays.
In the afternoon, continue on to Confluence, one of Pennsylvania’s “favorite outdoor small towns.” Have a relaxed evening at your B&B.
Meals: On own
Overnight: Confluence
Today the trail leads you through the dense woods and rolling farmland of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The Pinkerton Tunnel is your first of several tunnels on the GAP (use caution entering and exiting!). Ride across the Salisbury Viaduct and take a moment to pause and enjoy the spectacular view. End the day in the sweet town of Meyersdale (home of the Pennsylvania Maple Festival).
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Meyersdale
After a full breakfast at your B&B, get ready for a special treat on your last day on the Great Allegheny Passage. Today’s highlights are the incredible views to be found at the top of the Eastern Continental Divide – you can see three states on clear days! Even better, after you’ve had your fill of the view you can spend the afternoon enjoying 20 miles of gentle downhill riding (1.75% grade). The trail here follows alongside the Maryland Scenic Railroad line; watch for the historic steam engine which still runs on some days.
Meals: Breakfast
Meet your shuttle in Canal Place – at the end of the GAP trail – and enjoy your drive back to Pittsburgh.
Riding the GAP
The Great Allegheny Passage is a crushed gravel rail-trail with very little elevation change. We recommend hybrid/touring/gravel bikes with at least 28 mm-wide tires with minimal tread. Bikes with narrower tires will find considerable vibration and some bogging down if the trail has been quite wet.
Mountain bike-style or wide (2 in+) tires with large knobby treads will be very slow and are not necessary to navigate the trail surface, but can also be used. Tandems, trikes, recumbents and other non-standard frames are also suitable for the GAP.
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A deposit is required to secure your reservation; amount is based on the total price of your trip. |
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Total Trip Cost |
Deposit |
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Up to $500 |
$300 |
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$501-$1,500 |
$600 |
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$1,501-$2,500 |
$800 |
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$2,501-$3,500 |
$1,000 |
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$3,501 and above |
30% of trip cost
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Excepting the listed cancellation fees, all payments for travel services not provided to the traveler shall be refunded; this does not include any non-refundable charges.
Applicable vendor fees – Some vendors charge a percentage of their cost upon cancellation, the amount often determined by how early the cancellation is made. Any non-refundable charges will be assessed if a trip is cancelled IN ADDITION to our cancellation fee outlined below.
Cancellation fees
UP TO 90 DAYS prior to departure –15% of trip cost; plus any applicable vendor fees.
90-21 DAYS prior to departure – 30% of trip cost; plus any applicable vendor fees.
Within 3 WEEKS of departure – 50% of trip cost; plus any applicable vendor fees.
Cancellations can be made at any time; if you must cancel your trip, you must do so in writing or via email.
Our full list of terms and conditions can be found here – https://www.nobleinventionbiketouring.com/refund_returns/
Many riders book 4-8 months in advance, that said, you’ll have the best chance of booking the dates and rooms you need the earlier you book – so we recommend 8-10 months in advance. Groups requiring more than two rooms are also best served to book well in advance to insure availability.
We require at least 2-3 weeks prior to start date to book a trip.
Most afternoon shuttles leave at 2 p.m., while most morning shuttles leave at 10 a.m. Day 1 shuttles can leave as early as 8 a.m. In most cases the shuttle will be assigned only to your group, so some flexibility with times is possible.
Yes. We can book a room for you in Pittsburgh (Courtyard Marriott Downtown Pittsburgh) or Cumberland (Fairfield Inn). In both cases the hotels are located right next to the bike trail and just a block from bike rentals and long-term parking.
All accommodations are personally vetted by our staff and must maintain an excellent rating from our riders. Preferably lodgings are locally-owned/operated; easily and safely accessed by bike from the trail; and located near restaurants.
Our trail phone is answered daily between 7:30am-7:30pm at 844-424-5347. We can be reached via voice or text. In the case of a medical emergency riders should always call or text 911 first.
Have a question about this tour?
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