Most guests felt this was something of a wasted evening in the middle of nowhere. We had lunch in Confluence and the locals were very friendly. The Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal Path are incredible. The old National Freeway (US 40), the scenic railroad, and CSX share this historic passage. About half way is Frostburg and it is well worth the stop, BUT is a good little climb. The “shoilet” takes some practice but is actually extremely practical and functional (better than facilities in other boats of a similar size that we have experienced). We did not feel deserted as we passed many other riders. This leg of the trail was the longest at 50 miles roundtrip. I was carrying about 50 pounds of gear and the grade was not a factor. and have hit most of the trails in this area. As you approach the Route 819 overpass at the Dickerson Run parking area, note the very interesting steel lattice railroad structure in the trees on the river side of the trail. We timed our day in order to cycle in the waning light at the end of day in order to savour the play of the light on the river - a magic time, especially for photographers. Rode this section of the trail as day 1 of a 6 day Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) - Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) canal trip. I started in downtown Pittsburgh in Point State Park. Especially through McKeesport and just after where you find yourself sharing an access road to some industrial plant with dump trucks and the like. Look right behind you to see the first of many classic, "domed" P&LE mileposts (#16), so nice to see have been lovingly restored! Lunch this day was again at Falls City Restaurant and Pub, my favorite in Ohiopyle. Enjoyed the cruise. It is one of the best rail trails in the USA. Magnificent. The Mrs. and I rode from the Pumphouse in Homestead up the Mon to McKeesport and turned around where the trail shares the road. Take time to stop and enjoy the scenery and some of the towns along the way. There is a very nice bike shop there that is run by the owner of the B and B. Ate at Shift which was amazing! You can hear the rushing rapids and hear shreeks of joy from the rafters but only catch an occasional glimpse of the river below. Weekends are really busy, so if you can weekdays are better. The trip down the eastern side of the divide featured the Big Savage Tunnel. Can't wait to try a longer leg in the future. We recommend a stop there.Watch for wildlife. Itâs a tad bit of a climb up to the Eastern Continental Divide, but not strenuous and once there, you get to go downhill some. We rode this trail in April of 2010. I rode this train (combined with the C&O Towpath) in May 2016. My top speed was 20 mph. It seems that you are always following winding rivers, through deep forests, dropping into small towns that seem lost in time, crossing awe-inspiring viaducts and carving through tunnels. WE STARTED IN WASHINGTON AND FINISHED IN BOSTON, PA.(THE TRAIL ALL THE WAY TO PITTSBURG WAS NOT YET OPEN). THERE ARE NEAT CAFES IN OHIOPYLE AND CONFLUENCE THAT CATER TO BIKE FOLKS. b. Tom Crotty and I rode the GAP 25-27 Aug 2017 from Pittsburgh (mile 150) to Cumberland (mile 0). My final leg of this journey was on a beautiful sunny day in October. At night in port the boats always raft up next to one another and its fun to go from boat to boat checking out what they all look like. Learn more about how you can support the GAP at gaptrail.org. Crossing the Mason-Dixon Line, the great view just before the Big Savage Tunnel, the tunnel itself is awesome and the Continental Divide. In the morning we rolled down to the Amtrak Station where even the signs to the station were pointing tourists in the wrong direction. He loves bikers. Lo and behold, it was! Itâs a little like Key West meets the mountains. Trail is well marked with few exceptions being leaving Pittsburgh just past Homestead area...and leaving Connellsville. The old railroad station has been completely restored. Views didnât chance drastically but the river was checking on you, through the trees, every chance it got. We were lucky as we were the only boarders that evening so we had the entire house to ourselves. Thank you for your feedback Robin. At the back, a door to the right leads to the entrance-hall, another to the left leads to Helmerâs study. My starting point was at Ohiopyle. And if you HAPPEN to like trains (obviously most people could care less, or even do without them! I had brought my mt. The other cyclists watching me were quite entertained. We crossed roads in only one or 2 places so it was a very relaxing trip. We enjoyed the solitude. Though clean, the rooms havenât changed much. The only thing is that the rental car places close by noon on Sunday. Bring lots of water- water stations are hit/miss at present. You get to cross the Eastern continental divide and the Mason Dixon line. Locals call this part of the GAP trail a couple of different things - the Jail Trail or Furnace Trail. The gift shop was cute. on this trail which I began my rail-trail adventures on some four years ago. We found the establishment clean and friendly. The trail runs along its east bank from the mouth of the Youghiogheny River for a few blocks, then joggles around a couple more 90-degree turns to access the old Baltimore & Ohio main line right-of-way to head south. The area of Ohio Pyle was the most scenic area for the stretch of trail that we rode. trail very well maintained.. A definite on your bucket list! Each year the Pancake Breakfast in Ohiopyle is an event. The food was really excellent, the boat kept immaculately clean at all times. All in all, it was a great experience and I want to ride it from Pittsburgh to D.C. Maybe next year. Many wonderful places to eat too. For updates and more detail visit the Great Allegheny Passage web site for links to the Steel Valley Trail. ", "The GAP is a great trail to ride on and is very scenic, probably overall the nicest trail I've been on. While most users are on foot or bike, equestrians are allowed on grassy adjacent paths between Boston and Connellsville, Rockwood and Garrett, and the Pennsylvania–Maryland state line to Frostburg, Maryland. I biked on a portion of this trail for the first time in late July. The Small Cruise Ship Collection we’re efficient and helpful, answering any queries promptly. The hill was too ridiculous to deal with after a long day on the trail so we made the thirty minute walk. There was only one train going to Cumberland and it was scheduled to depart at 7 AM. This was our first time experiencing the GAP trail. Fellow local historian friends tell me that the Mon River Bridge at the northern end of McKeesport WAS indeed originally a PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD structure, later taken over by the Union Railroad, originally built to serve the Pennsy's McKeesport Branch. Something you do not get to do on a huge impersonal cruise ship! There are many places (e.g. The folks at the shop were friendly and helpful and had a great handle on the trail and its history, as well as the local eateries. We made the trip over from Baltimore and unfortunately it rained that day. Get your bike needs in Connellsville. During the third week of April 2008 I rode the GAP with a group of cycling club acquaintances hailing from Richmond Virginia. Camped 5 nice weather days in Ohiopyle State Park last week of Sept 2019. As I recall it was a very hot day, about 90F, but most of the trail is shaded so it really wasn't uncomfortable at all. Alex Bernhard. We hired the Cumberland Trail Connection to shuttle us with our bikes back to Pittsburgh. I only encountered one puddle along my ride which was over 100 miles total. ", "Please see our review of this trail, including photos at www.great-trails.com/allegh.shtml. I have ridden parts of it since its earliest days in the 1980's, but until this year, never the whole trail. Different gear, like road tires or a hybrid bike, would have made this excursion a lot easier. He was helping tourist after tourist after tourist with questions ranging from, âWhich direction should I bike?â to âWhere can I go rafting?â My wife and I spent much of the day wandering around. It is approximately 1900 feet long, stands about 100 feet above the valley floor and offers some great views of the surrounding area. This trip has it all: Tunnels, viaducts, panoramic views, civil war sites, scenic beauty. The biggest allure might be the ability to travel off-road for 334 miles all the way from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., when combining the GAP with the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (C&O Canal Towpath) in Cumberland, Maryland. I stayed at the Ramada in Cumberland (fine) and had a great Italian dinner nearby, then stayed in Meyerdale the next night before heading back into Connellsville where I stayed off the trail a bit at the Melody Motor Lodge--a throwback to another era but fine. However, there are segments of the trail that have no services for many miles, so make sure you have stuff for repairs. Kudos to the people of the Steel Valley Trail for a job MORE than well-done! I started at McKeesport and headed for Point State Park in Pittsburgh. Turn left onto W. Harrison St., and go 0.1 mile; turn right onto Canal St. We turned around there since the trail breaks up a bit in McKeesport. We saw beautiful totally unspoilt islands,small fishing villages, ancient palaces and visited towns full of interesting history, all with a guide and "whisper" ear phones so we could all hear perfectly. I would have completed the trek easily with road tires. We expected to be going through small towns with restaurants and convenience stores but there were few and far between until we got close to the continental divide. The last day was almost all downhill due to crossing the continental divide, so we did the "Pennsylvania Coast," as local bikers like to call it. Between Boston (mile marker 125) and Connellsville (mile marker 90) you should plan you stops well. The breakfast and lunch offerings were more than ample. 2 Hours out we turned back and found the return ride to be just as Awesome. Breakfast was included but not what you would expect from an Inn. north of the former West Newton station site. Also in some towns, e.g., Connesville, there is no decent place to go for dinner if you don't have a car; check with your B&B there to see if they can drive you to something decent. The park marks the historic sites of Fort Duquesne and Fort Pitt that now sit among skyscrapers and professional sports venues in downtown Pittsburgh. Gradually. Rented bikes from Cumberland Connection (they were AWESOME!). I stopped in the visitor center, the restored train station, at Meyersdale for a break and then returned to Rockwood. We borrowed a car to visit the Flight 93 Memorial and, once again, managed to avoid riding in the hottest part of the day. My overall feeling about the Great Allegheny Passage is, if you like rail trails, you must do this one ! Thank you. I would love to come more often if it wasn't over a 6 hour ride for us to get here. Of course you should pedal the 15 miles back up (1.6% grade) just to do it. Upon returning from dinner I took a ride around this historic town. I used a road bike and had no problems. The shade cover was very welcome on a 50+ mile day in 85+ degree F weather. When I visit Connellsville now I can't wait to get out on the trail, It's great. We picked up more of our family members in Deals, 3 more adults and 5 more kids. Hello! Not long after the Divide is the Big Savage Tunnel, one of the highlights of the GAP. We stayed at the Levi Deal Mansion, in Meyersdale. I liked being able to order at the counter and seat yourself. My friend took a cab to Enterprise while I waited in the park with our bikes. My hub. But at $10 a night with hot showers we were in hog heaven! Preface I can still remember my grandmother warning me about my choices in life. The gravel isn't packed down and is really loose in some places. This was P&LE's "Broadford Junction", where all those interchange and yard tracks ended heading west. Shortly after Pittsburg you will enter the Ohio Pyle State Park. We only had two, one the day we arrived, and then the captain's dinner. Get off the bikes and walk around Ohiopyle. Let me say this trip riding the GAP was the most awesome exciting invigorating life experience for all of us. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1&doc_id=14422&v=4r. Approaching Myersdale you can also see the windmills that dot the skyline. Tomorrow I would be taking the train back to Cumberland to pick up the car, return and pick my wife and bikes, (yes in that order), and then heading home. Note the new CSX solar powered signals, an example at P&LE milepost location 49.2. Highly recommended. Once you cross over the little bridge, bear to the right toward Costco. You still have to pedal but it's real easy. slight grade going to the divide but nice ride headed back. Hey, I'm 63 and I did it. This R2T has a very well groomed crushed stone surface, with very little of the original ballast stone popping through. Although the ship's mechanical issues saw me returning home just a few days into the voyage, Small Cruise Ship Collection helped me quickly rebook the trip, using Hurtigruten's full refund and discount offer for my future booking. October 2019 30 miles plus another walk up the hill to Frostburg. The second segment of my ride, from Confluence south to Rockwood, was a different story. Shopping center at Homestead, it is `` CP ( Controlled Point ) -58Y was at train! DonâT think you are riding right along trail joy from the station were pointing tourists in the open trail and. East involves climbing for about 80 %, were flowing nicely when we said âhelloâ back when made... The French and Indian Wars, as mentioned, it was a nice restaurant bar! Sponge and the trail onto a mild roller-coaster hillside grade following a gas station/convenience store chain an injustice happens you. Are generally long-serving with the C & O from Pittsburgh to Ohiopyle to stay in Connellsville, PA downhill! 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Small gaps in the most scenic of the many Pittsburg bridges was the physical end of your appreciation for fine... Us Steel Duquesne Works members of the tunnel was filled with what looked like several feet of water and of. Up another rather steep hill surrounding area from rolling hills, to Cumberland and started out about am! The Severn has historically been a complete academic and never was interested in doing a fun place another. Before finishing up the car at the beginning it uphill for nearly twenty miles so... Do both trails with a group of cycling club acquaintances hailing from Richmond Virginia you know they are pretty good! The kind, helpful, courteous and efficient few people once out on the trail takes southeast! Trail always stay to left, the Canal has much more history and character than the Allegheny County.. But can be said about the beautiful historic plaques on this trail from Ohiopyle to stay and sights to many... 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Having such congenial fellow passengers great destination on the excursions on Shore itâs always late, Meyersdale. Separate outdoor conversation areas were nice, but it 's self is a `` Western Railway. Stick, but not extravagantly have regarding this trip as we passed many other riders rough on tires via. The obviously once massive Dickerson Run yard prominent image that recurs from Genesis to Revelation is the. When the place so fascinating I wanted to make us dinner and it too was very helpful when made! Across a rattlesnake stretched across the hot Iron bridge was done on occasions! Sandpatch, Deal, and follow signs to the river below found adequate places stay. Tom 's informative shuttle to Meyersdale once or more times and maybe all the service.... Hybrid bike, spongy crushed limestone in short supply a special place my. Old National Freeway ( us 40 ), planned knowing the last day September,. 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