The Great Allegheny Passage

Before I get in to this quick write up of my time on the GAP and C&O, I rode this popular route in October 2022. I’ve had a notebook from the ride sitting on my desk ever since I got home from the tour… I’m not really sure why I didn’t take the time to update this website in the weeks following the trip. Regardless, it doesn’t matter because this website has no agenda at the end of the day.

This is a much, much shorter ride than the East Coast Greenway that I had completed the year before. The GAP and C&O could possibly be one of the most documented routes in the country as it’s a highly accessible (much more on that in a few minutes) route via plane, train, or automobile and the trails are both well maintained and chock full of all the services you would want.

Day 1 49.48 miles

It was…. quite the trial getting to Pittsburgh. Many changed plans in the last few weeks but I finally found one:

Train from NYC -> Syracuse, NY
Car from SYR -> Watertown, NY
Drive from Watertown -> Cleveland, OH
Train from Cleveland -> Pittsburgh, PA

Why would I go through all that when I live in the city with the busiest train terminal in the country that can take me anywhere I want? Well it’s quite simple. I wanted to see family for a few days and family always comes first.

The only train from Cleveland to Pittsburgh was cancelled, like some twisted comedy bit I would have thought up a decade ago. With the help of Kenzie I was able to find a bus that would take me to Pittsburgh, albeit an overnight ticket. That was fine though, as the train was supposed to be overnight so I had prepared to do a very short first day on the GAP. My aunt that lives sort of between Cleveland and Pittsburgh caught wind of my woes and offered to come pick me up, stay at her place, then she would drive me to the start of the GAP.

I agreed to let her help me out, and we were in Pittsburgh earlier than any of my other options. The city looked very cool, I wish I had more time to spend there but I needed to get on the bike… it was a long few days just to get there. My aunt ended up riding the first 10 miles with me, which was a nice way to start the trail. It’s so rare that I ride with other people that I really enjoyed that time taking in the first few miles with a family member.

What an easy start to the GAP. All trails were well marked and well taken care of, which were complimented with a beautiful bluebird day. I made it to Round Bottom Camp and was the only one at the site until a couple rode in at sunset. It is so rad that you can just ride this trail, and pass several free camping options along the way.

Boy oh boy am I in terrible shape. Definetely feeling it after today. I’m sure it’s a mix of the long few days of travel along with the fact that I simply didn’t ride as much as I wanted to before heading out here. But it’s all good. The best way to adapt to the long miles is… to ride long miles! Still, it feels so good to be out here on my bike.

Day 2 38.88 miles

I think I slept 12 hours last night. All the unexpected travel got to me it seems. Plus, that was the longest I’ve ridden since August. It is so beautiful out here, the people I chat with on the trail out here are pleasant. I was at a an old railroad river crossing and a few adults and about twenty kids rolled up, they were doing a two day ride to Pittsburg! One of the trip leaders was from the Hudson Valley so we chatted about the City for a bit. When I was filling up my water just outside of a town a park ranger approached me and handed over an updated map for the GAP and suggested that I stop at Kickstand Kitchen for their Cuban, so I did just that. Great little spot in Connellsville, PA. Most of the other folks eating there were also on the GAP in some way or another, whether it was Inn to Inn, self supported all the way to DC or just out for a day. The Cuban weighed me down hard, but it was delicious and when a local tells you to stop somewhere for a meal you shouldn’t pass it up.

The miles felt slow today, stopping frequently to to take photos and hang around. Most of the river was whitewater today so it was nice to just stand there and listen to it roll by. At one point there was a longer trail that led down to the river where there ended up being a standing wave and a few kayakers surfing, so I sat there for a bit watching them dance along the water. Riding in to Ohiopyle was a treat for me. There were three bridges, and I love riding my bicycle over a good bridge. I could hear some heavy whitewater so I followed the sound until I came upon a decent little fall right in the middle of town, aptly named Ohiopyle Falls.

The last 11 miles to Confluence, PA were slow, I could feel the VERY minor gain in elevation as I rode throughout the day. Like, 1-2% minor. I got to Outflow Campground and attempted to find someone to ask where I can pitch my tent. Turns out, the campground was closed for the season. There were other folks staying in the back of the grounds so I don’t know why I couldn’t book a site online. Another cyclist showed up and said “I’m not cycling anymore today, I’m sick of it. They can arrest me”, so we found the hiker/biker section and set up camp. Tomorrow is my last full day on the GAP and I believe I’ll be crossing the Eastern Continental Divide!

Day 3 47.14mi