Pittsburgh - Cumberland - Washington D.C.
Self-guided Bike Tours
Ride trails separate or combined - April through October
The Great Allegheny Passage trail runs from Pittsburgh to Cumberland where it meets The Chesapeake & Ohio Towpath trail which goes to Georgetown (D.C.). You can ride these trails separately or for a combined ride.
Great Allegheny Passage is a 150-mile crushed limestone trail that follows the Allegheny river by waterfalls and dense tree-lined canopy's.
C&O Towpath is a 185-mile mostly dirt road with short paved sections, and a couple dozen miles of manicured crushed stone. You ride through Civil War history with beautiful views following the Potomac River to Washington, DC.
Pittsburgh , United States
3 nights
Ride the GAP - One of America's most famous rail trails. Pittsburgh to Cumberland
FROM$525.00/pp
Cumberland , United States
3 nights
Ride America's early transportation history - Cumberland to D.C.
FROM$600.00/pp
Pittsburgh , United States
7 nights
Ride the GAP + C&O Towpath from Pittsburgh to D.C.
FROM$1,100.00/pp
TOUR | NIGHTS | BIKE DAYS | TOTAL MILES | AVG. MILE/DAY | DOUBLE OCCUPANCY - Queen (per person) | DOUBLE OCCUPANCY - 2 Beds (per person) | SINGLE OCCUPANCY* |
GAP 4 Days | 3 | 4 | 150 | 37.5 | $525 | $625 | $950 |
C&O 4 Days | 3 | 4 | 180 | 45 | $600 | $700 | $1100 |
GAP-C&O 8 Days | 7 | 8 | 330 | 41 | $1100 | $1250 | $1990 |
* PRICE FOR SINGLE: Price for SOLO CYCLIST OR ONE PERSON in a room
GROUPS OF 7 OR MORE, OR RETURNING GUESTS: Receive 5% discount
TOURS AVAILABLE APRIL - OCTOBER
150 miles
The trail starts in Pittsburgh, PA and finishes in Cumberland, MD through the Appalachian Mountains. You ride from urban to very rural areas seeing rugged natural terrain and quaint small towns. The surface is crushed limestone where hybrid bikes or ebikes can ride comfortably over this rail trail. At the highest point of the trail, you will cross the Eastern Continental Divide and then the trail drops around 1,700 feet over 18 miles before reaching Cumberland. Highlights along the route include Ohiopyle State Park and “Fallingwater” designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
180 Miles
The trail runs along the north shore of the Potomac River from Cumberland, MD to Washington, DC (Georgetown). This canal was dug by hand starting 1828 and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal operated from 1831 to 1924 to transport coal from the Allegheny Mountains. You will ride over 11 aqueducts and pass many of the old locks. This mostly dirt road with short paved sections, and a couple dozen miles of manicured crushed stone will lead you through Civil War-era national parks and battlefields to the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.
The GAP trail (Pittsburgh – Cumberland) is packed crushed gravel surface for a smooth ride. Built mainly on abandoned rail beds. The trail increases in elevation until Big Savage Tunnel where you go downhill1,754 feet in 24 miles to reach Cumberland.
C & O Canal (Cumberland – DC) is a well maintained and mostly flat dirt towpath. It is less smooth than the GAP Trail and you will have roots and rocks. Hybrid and ebikes do well on this surface.
Our Self-guided tours include your accommodations at great providers, shuttle to the starting city, GPS mapping and voice directions, electronic itinerary with restaurants recommendations and e-charging locations, themed t-shirt and patch.
You can also add luggage shuttle, bike rentals (hybrid and e-bike) and extra hotel nights before or after your tour.
At Crossroads Bike Tours we prefer travelling West to East due to the more downhill terrain and our services move in this direction as well.
We start our tours in Cumberland, MD. We shuttle you to Pittsburgh on the first day of your tour (GAP and GAPCO) or you start riding in Cumberland for the C&O tour. There is free parking in Cumberland for the length of your tour as well.
If you want to start in Pittsburgh instead of Cumberland, you will need to add another night at the end of your tour in Cumberland or Georgetown which is not included in the tour pricing.
The trails are open from April to October but we find the best time to ride is Mid-May to Mid-June with less bugs and humidity then again Mid-Sept. to Mid-Oct. for the temperatures and fall colors.
Our start dates allow you to start or end your tours on a Saturday. If you would like to start on another day, just email or fill out our "contact" information and let us know what day you prefer. We will work to make your tour happen.
