Biking the C&O Canal Towpath: Day 1 (Canal Place, Paw Paw Tunnel, Hancock)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ธ.ค. 2017
- The C&O Canal Towpath is 185 miles of historic trail between Cumberland, Md., and Washington, D.C. Ride along with Bike-the-GAP.com (bit.ly/2j5fxOb) on Day 1 of the C&O Towpath self-guided tour, taking riders from Cumberland to Hancock.
Day 1 includes a start at Canal Place where the towpath meets the #greatalleghenypassage, scenic biking alongside the canal, the Paw Paw Tunnel, ending at Hancock, Md. We also include advice on what is the best bike for traveling the C&O and what to expect on the trail.
Visit www.bike-the-gap.com read about our self-guided tour packages.
Links
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SELF-GUIDED GAP/C&O BIKE TOURS: bit.ly/2j5fxOb
SELF-GUIDED GAP BIKE TOURS: bit.ly/2jc4Qf3
HOW TO BOOK YOUR TRIP: bit.ly/2jcd4Um
TRAIL FAQS: bit.ly/2j5eyNO
FACEBOOK: / bikethegap
TH-cam: bit.ly/2iLVu6v
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Sara: This was a fabulous video. Very informative and professional. I have done the GAP/C&O 3 times and your depiction of the experience is second to none.
I appreciate that, Bill. Thank you so much!
Great for planning a first time trip.
I’m working up from Hancock to Georgetown. Practicing round trip Hagerstown to Hancock. 🐢
Thanks for the post. Very interesting. I used to live in the DC area, so am very familiar with the Towpath.
I work for a fully supported touring company and the GAP is like a super highway compared to C and O canal towpath. I’ve seen people be comfortable on full on road bikes on the GAP, but definitely need more of a cross or gravel bike for the C and O. Sometimes there’s closed sections, but usually detours are well marked. Sometimes pranksters, time travelers and/or ghosts remove detour signage, but overall, I’m looking forward to doing this on my own after completing the whole route 15 times from Pittsburgh, but never once on my own.
I find it strange that you left out the beauty of the 4 Lock houses from Cumberland to Oldtown, the locks theirselves, and the wonderful Town Creek Aqueduct where Town Creek flows into the Potomac. All these things are what makes the trip worthwhile. Without mentioning them, you made it just another boring bike trip on a dirt path. I was so hoping to see this wonderful trip of historic beauty. 😔
Very good content.
I'm really interested!
So glad you enjoyed the video. Learn more about our C&O and GAP bike tours at our website- listed in the description above.
I made a trip down the trail to the Paw Paw Tunnel since I wanted to see what it was like, I had never been in a tunnel that was so LONG, but man was it SCARY inside that thing. If you have no headlight, good luck seeing where you are going. Not only that but the trail is quite bumpy through the tunnel and has low head clearance. The ledge is quite high from the water below to the left as well! Be careful to not go over.
It's so cool! But yes, definitely need a light for that:) Did you notice all the rope marks worn in along the railing from the canal boats?
saw Shepherdstown in 'teaser trailer', I live there :D
I'm going to fatbike this entire trail system.
Great video nice thanks I love to ride from home germantown md to Washington DC 48 miles Back-and-forth .
I watched the three videos for the C&O Towpath and am now actively interested in exploring the possibility of a 3-day self-guided tour. However, when I visited the website, I only see an option for a 5-day tour. Unfortunately, my riding partner and I don't have that kind of time. The videos and other resources I've come across suggest that this can be done in 3 days. Do you not offer a 3-day option?
We do not. But you certainly can bike the trail in three days if you wish and I'd encourage you to do so. Bikecando.com is a good site for C&O trip planning and I'd recommend looking it over.
Do you recommend or have you ever stayed at a lockhouse on the C&O? Seems like a rustic way to enjoy the history of the canal.
Chase Choo I've not stayed in one but they are a great way to experience the Towpath. If you are through biking, you'll need to bring sleeping bags/linens and food, similar to camping.
What about a Trek 820 Mountain Track with rigid fork?
Would a recumbent trike be suitable for these trails I have a Catrike 559 and this looks very interesting.
The trike will be fine on the GAP. On the C&O there is a grass middle strip along much of the trail. I'm not sure how comfortable that would be for a trike.
I do self-contained touring so two of my top questions which never seem to be in any video is where to find a safe place to park my vehicle for multiple days and campsites/water availability. Got the answers?
It's usually best to look at the official trail site for those questions. Official maps will generally show water and campsites if they exist. That said, it's often difficult to find an answer to the parking question. I find that as well:)
Very nice video... What tires do you recommend on a hybrid bike ?
Very experienced rider here. I recommend 1.75" as a great compromise for speed and comfort. Speed is 1.50 or lower; comfort or off road is 1.95 or higher. I have used all sizes and 1.75 is my favorite for hybrid riding, especially since some days I ride on multiple surfaces: asphalt, concrete, metal, wood, composite, grass, gravel, dirt and mud.
What's the last trip you sponsor this fall or early winter ?
We'll book trips on the GAP/C&O up to mid October, but they must be completed within the third week of that month. Our Katy tours run until the end of the month of October. And our Virginia Capital Trail tours until early November.
Would this trail be good for a recumbent? The full trail
Yes, you can definitely ride the full trail on a recumbent.
Noble Invention Bike Touring thank you :)
Umm... not sure if she mentioned camping.... Free campsites on average every six miles!!!
My thought exactly, man, sleep next to the trail, there are places everywhere!
What about showers? Drinking water and food?
Did I miss the part about what type of bike you need? She spoke of tire size and that’s about it. Hhhmmmm
mary pinchot meyer was murdered on this trail. Is her death location marked for visitors?
what?
Oh my god