4 to 8 Day Bike Tours
Pittsburgh - Cumberland - Washington D.C.
Self-Guided
Ride trails separate or combined
April through October
GAP and C&O
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 bike rides through Civil War history with beautiful views following the Potomac River to Washington, DC.
About the GAP - 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 .
About C&O Towpath - 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.
Pricing 2025
* 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
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, GPS mapping and voice directions, electronic itinerary with restaurants recommendations and e-charging locations, themed t-shirt and patch.
You can also add shuttle from one end to the other, 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 can 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 can catch a shuttle from Cumberland to Pittsburgh on the last day at 3pm (purchased separately) or you can catch a shuttle back from D.C. but you will need to stay the night before catching the shuttle the next day. Give us a call and we can explain your options further.
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.
Cancellation Policy
Deposits of 50% of tour and 100% of all “Extras” are due at the time of tour reservation.
Balances are due 60 days before the tour – your tour can be cancelled if balance is not paid on time
If you give notice of cancellation before the tour:
91+ days - 100% refund less $250 per person or can change date for $150
90-60 days – 50% refund or can change date for $150
59-30 days – 25% refund or can change date for $250
29-0 days – No refund or transfers
Written notice by e-mail no later than the above deadlines to apply proper credit to your account. [email protected]
We highly recommend trip insurance. We have seen many reasons people need to cancel due to accident, illness, family members having illness, jury or military duty, fire and pregnancy. All of these are covered with our trip insurance which you will have the option to purchase at checkout or you can purchase your own trip insurance or check your homeowners’ or credit card policy.
