Linking Up Frequently Asked Questions

We have ridden the entire trip from DC to Pittsburgh on these trails twice, and we’ve ridden most sections many times. In the process, we learned a lot about the route. People often ask us about planning similar trips. You may also be interested in our answers.

Is the trail finished?

Almost. But there are (in 1999) three unfinished sections and a detour between Pittsburgh PA and Washington DC. We tell you how to handle them.

Where does the trail go? How long is it?

The route connects Pittsburgh PA to Washington DC. It runs on the trails of the Allegheny Trail Alliance from Pittsburgh to Cumberland MD, then down the C&O Canal Towpath to Washington. Eventually the Montour Trail will add connections to southern Pittsburgh and the Airport. Here are the trails, with lengths and locations of open sections and detours

Total is about 274 mi on trails and 63-64 mi on road detours (see driving directions).

What’s the trail like? Paved roads, or rough rocks, or what?

Something in between. The rail-trails on the Pittsburgh side are mostly packed crushed limestone. Most of the C&O Canal towpath is closer to gravel – mostly double-track (two packed tracks with a hump between them, like a one-lane dirt road. More details.

What kind of bike do I need?

Much of the trail is too soft or too rough for a road bike with skinny tires, but you don’t need all the tread of a true mountain bike tire. We recommend a hybrid or mountain bike with conservative tires. Ride the bike before the trip to be sure it’s comfortable.

Can I do it?

Probably. If you can ride a bike for 30 miles on both days of a weekend, you’ll do fine. We’ve seen families with children, youth organizations, and groups of adults of all ages. One night we shared a campsite with a 70-something gentleman who was riding from New Castle to DC one more time. If you aren’t up to the full trip yet, plan some day trips this summer, a couple of weekend trips next year, and the whole trip the year after.

Where will I sleep? Where will I eat?

There’s plenty of lodging, but you should plan carefully and make reservations. Hotels, B&Bs, motels, and hostels provide indoor lodging close to the trail every 30 miles or so (see amenities on trail maps). Campgrounds are more frequent, especially on the C&O Canal Towpath (see amenities on trail maps). Grocery stores and restaurants give you a choice of preparing your own food or eating someone else’s cooking (see amenities on trail maps). See our sample itineraries for ideas.

Do I need reservations?

Yes, except at the Hiker-Biker campsites along the C&O Canal. Reservations are especially important if you won’t be able to drive your whole group 20 miles to an alternate motel.

How do I get to the trailhead to start the ride and then back home at the end of the trip? Where can I leave my car during the trip?

Take the train. Have friends drive you. Have a support car big enough to carry everything. Run a shuttle. Hire an outfitter. See our suggestions. For long-term parking, see our suggestions.

What time of year is best?

Any season except winter. Spring offers flowers but the weather can be chancy. Summer gives the longest days, but they can be hot. Fall has autumn colors and generally good weather, but days start getting shorter in late September.

What if it rains?

You get wet. Take a rain suit. If you plan the trip for warm weather, riding in the rain isn’t horrible. It rarely rains all day for several days. If it rains for a few minutes or an hour, you sit under shelter until it stops. We carry a small waterproof tarp to stand under. If you’re camping, you can stop at the next campsite. If you have room reservations, you slog on to your motel, but you get to dry out. If it rains for days at a time, you’ll probably find a motel, get dry, and consider whether to wait out the rain or cancel the rest of the trip.

Is it dangerous?

Not particularly. You should know how to fix a flat tire and recognize poison ivy. You need to be able to control any children in your party. If you’re camping, you should know how to pitch your tent and operate your stove safely. You won’t have to worry about automobile traffic except between the trail and your lodging. We recommend against biking the detours around trail gaps; if you ride them anyhow, you will encounter traffic – some of it heavy and fast. This is not, however, an amusement park. Everything you see is real; there are no absolute guarantees of safety and no one else to blame for any problems.

[Overview Map] [ATA Information]

This page is part of the Allegheny Trail Alliance's site in support of the Pittsburgh to Cumberland Trail, a motor-free recreational rail trail connecting Pittsburgh PA and Cumberland MD. Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000 by Allegheny Trail Alliance, Bill Metzger, Mary Shaw, and Roy Weil. Amenity information courtesy of FreeWheeling Easy. We encourage you to create links to this site and to print copies of the maps for your personal use. We prohibit other uses of this site, especially if they generate spam or other mass communications -- see our Privacy Policy.. This page was last modified on 04/22/00. Send email to ATA or contact the ATA or member trails.