WQED filmed The Great Ride using our maps and TrailGuide book. It is common during summer months to have strong thunderstorms pass through Western Pennsylvania. This map was created by a user. The trail is marked on Ordnance Survey maps. Inside the tunnel there's a map on the wall showing the trail mileage and elevation changes between Cumberland and Pittsburgh. They camped four nights along the GAP. Beautiful medallions mark the end points in both Cumberland and Pittsburgh. Forest Supervisor's Office 5162 Valleypointe Parkway Roanoke, VA 24019 1-888-265-0019 540-265-5100. Some sections of the C&O Canal are being improved with the same crushed limestone surface used on the GAP. Here’s the trailhead location in Google Maps and Google Street View.. Park in the Castle Rock lot for $8.00, or about 50 yards up the street in the Saratoga Gap lot for free. The trail is primarily used for hiking. The towpath follows the Potomac River for 184.5 miles from Washington, DC and connects with the GAP at mile '0' in Cumberland (Canal Place). Stay on the trail. Packed with itineraries, lodging and dining options, and a weatherproof map of both trails. … Trail (which in turn links to the Starkey Wilderness Trail as part of the Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail). Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. One thing that makes this trail such a destination is that there are trail towns located every ten miles or so that provide the essential amenities. Horseback Riding (2.36 mb) Includes trail map with approved trailer parking and regulations. This is one of my favorite tunnels on the Great Allegheny Passage. Check out the trail towns page for details about the towns and their amenities. Numerous excellent skulls and enough bones to reconstruct skeletons for a number of the species were present. Trail Segments. Camping on the Great Allegheny Passage is permitted in designated areas only. We rode 2 sections one day the Heart of Ohio Trail about 20 miles and the next day the Kokosing Gap Trail about 20 miles. In Cumberland, the GAP connects to the C&O Canal Towpath, which runs from Washington, D.C. to … 18. Starkey Gap Trail - 2 miles. Check out the largest selection of trail tee shirts. It was as if I were floating because I couldn't see the ground or the walls of the tunnel, just the diffused light coming from the far end. Camping isn't for everyone but if it's for you, things are looking brighter. 18 trails on an interactive map of the trail network. WQED explores one of America’s most treasured biking destinations. Landslides, erosion and trees falling across the trail are no match for this group of trail maintenance super stars. The Mile 0 medallion is easy to find because it's positioned in the center of the trail in Canal Place. Official interactive map updated regularly to help you Plan your bike tour, bike trip, bicycle vacations: Click town by town to find bicycle friendly places to eat, lodging for cyclists, free and fee based camping, bike rentals, scenic and historic sites and more. It then runs alongside the roadway to Starkey Blvd. Irish Gap Hollow Trail. If you encounter a fallen tree or a maintenance related issue on the trail, please report it via email to (admin@gaptrail.org). Explore the best trails in Gap, Pennsylvania on TrailLink. The Gap Mountain Trail at the Gap Mountain Reservation in Troy, New Hampshire is a moderate 2.8-mile out-and-back hike to the summit of Gap Mountain. Saratoga Gap Long Ridge Loop Trail - California | AllTrails View detailed trail descriptions, trail maps, reviews, photos, trail itineraries, directions and more on TrailLink. From the Eastern Continental Divide heading towards C and O Canal, the trail drops 1,754 feet in 24 miles to reach Cumberland and, going west, it drops 1,664 feet in 126 miles to reach Pittsburgh. Joins the 184.5 mile C&O Canal Towpath to connect Pittsburgh with Washington, D.C. ... Includes trail map, rules and regulations. Some of the Trail Towns are considerably more fun and offer more services than others. Please pack out all trash. When you look at the elevation charts and From Cumberland to Washington, DC, you drop 625 feet to sea level on the C&O Canal towpath. The cave's history is really interesting and it's right on the edge of the trail. There are no lights in the Borden tunnel so the only light source was coming from the opposite end of the tunnel which was clouded with a cool fog. One Horse Gap Trail System T he One Horse Gap trail system is famous for a short trail known as “the gap trail”. View amenities, descriptions, reviews, photos, itineraries, and directions on TrailLink. It's a little trickier to locate the one on the Pittsburgh end. They were slowly riding towards me and only became visible once they were within 20 feet from me. The C&O Canal is a national park which preserves the towpath which once transported goods between Washington, DC and the towns leading up to Cumberland. Borden Tunnel is 2.5 miles west (uphill) of Frostburg. Contact Information. The elevation grade is a very mild: 1-4%, The trail surface is mostly crushed limestone with roughly 20 miles of asphalt. Pedaling through the tunnel towards the light felt like a sneak peak of Heaven. WQED filmed 28K likes. Of course, some towns have a larger selection of amenities than others so do your homework if you plan to overnight at B&B's. As the GAP trail is becoming more popular, the amenities offered in the towns are continually improving. On average it takes 5 hours30 minutes to complete this trail. The last third of the trail overlooks Cold Spring Run Hollow. It was as if I were floating because I couldn't see the ground or the walls of the tunnel, just the diffused light coming from the far end. Customer Service Desk Open Tuesday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and all federal holidays. Our signature trip-planning tool, TrailGuide, contains everything travelers and trip-planners are seeking -- town maps and directories, suggested itineraries, what-to-pack lists, mile-by-mile photo ops, and an index of trail-facing businesses. From the top of Big Savage Mountain you can see for miles. Click here to learn more about the C&O Canal. The cave is located a couple miles down the hill from Frostburg, and what you can see is a sign sharing the history and the entrance to the cave which has been closed off with a chain link fence. Viewers will follow the trail with a diverse group of cycling tour guides, each of whom take us through a different section of the trail. This trail is described from west to east toward the Jones Gap Ranger Stations since I followed it as part of a loop. Whether you are headed to Pittsburgh or DC, it's all downhill from here. You may also wish to promote your business on www.gaptrail.org, which receives over 600,000 pageviews annually. Below is a list of the trail towns and a brief description of the services they offer. I had a really freaky experience in this tunnel at the end of a long rainy ride from Connellsville. The Great American Rail Trail route uses the existing GAPtrail. Skeletons of the Pleistocene Cave Bear and an extinct Saber-toothed cat from the Bone Cave are on permanent exhibit in the Ice Age Mammal exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. A local naturalist, Raymond Armbruster, observed fossil bones among the rocks that had been blasted loose and were being removed from the cut. There are some short paved sections, and a dozen or so miles of manicured crushed stone, but 90% of the towpath looks like the image to the left. The tunnel is closed between roughly December 15 and April 10 each winter to protect it from icing damage. Heading west, the Great Allegheny Passage drops 1,664 feet in 126 miles to reach Pittsburgh. This trail is divided into multiple segments as follows: Mac's Gap - Panthertown Valley Tr. Unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough with the camera to capture the scene. The fog was so dense that the ceiling lights weren't able to light the trail...I couldn't see the ground I was riding on. The trail conditions are considerably rougher than those found on the The Great Allegheny Passage which is constructed entirely with a crushed limestone surface. The elevation numbers make this trail sound intimidating - don't worry. The trail is rated as moderate and offers a … It was left to serve a small coal strip mine here. Here's some more details about the tunnel: The Big Savage Tunnel is an abandoned railway tunnel located about 9 miles (14 km) southeast of Meyersdale, Pennsylvania. I've never found it, but I heard stories of a rattlesnake den located nearby. On a sizzling hot day in 2010, I climbed the 20+ miles from Cumberland to the Big Savage Tunnel. View online map of the Great Allegheny Passage, Printable PDF map of the Great Allegheny Passage. with a crossing at the stop light onto the Starkey Blvd. WQED explores one of America’s most treasured biking destinations. Contact Doug Riegner, Director of Community Relations, at 724-309-4041 or driegner@gaptrail.org with your questions. Landslides, erosion and trees falling across the trail are no match for this group of trail maintenance super stars. Download our media kit here Prior to 1760, the divide represented the boundary between British and French colonial possessions in North America. The sun was baking me on the climb. My advice on this hike: Make sure you are on the Craven Gap … A couple cyclists from Virginia and myself witnessed a bear crossing the trail as we approached the Mason Dixon Line marker. Many of the fossilized bones date from 200,000 years ago. It was a really freaky moment. Submit one here. There's a lot more equipment involved when you are bike camping but it's considerably more adventurous to sleep under the stars. The Eastern Continental Divide, in conjunction with other continental divides of North America, demarcates two watersheds of the Atlantic Ocean: the Gulf of Mexico watershed and the Atlantic Seaboard watershed. 0.4 mile, easiest hiking. It was decommissioned in 1975 and converted for pedestrian and cycling as part of the Great Allegheny Passage in 1998. Great Allegheny Passage length: 150 miles (C&O length: 184.5 miles), Great Allegheny Passage elevation change: 1787 vertical feet. Western Maryland Rail Trail Most of the Great Allegheny Passage trail is converted from abandoned rail beds, which makes for a nearly level riding surface with the average grade of less than 1%. The Kokosing Trail is more scenic with bridges, trees, Amish Farms, a restored Train Engine in Gambier and a stone arch in Howard. Click the images below to view or download the Free trail map of your choice. Consisting of two connecting trails, the C&O Canal Towpath (Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, Maryland) and the Great Allegheny Passage (Cumberland, MD to Pittsburgh, PA), cyclists from all over the world are enjoying 335 uninterrupted miles of breathtaking scenery and fascinating history. The high point of the trail is where it crosses the Eastern Continental Divide near Deal (2,375' above sea level). You can also advertise in our new Two Scenic Trails brochure, a promotional tool distributed at 150 locations within two hours of both trails, and among 350 bike shops across 11 states. On a nice summer afternoon, you might have trouble finding parking in either lot, and “no parking” signs on the street prevent you from parking anywhere else. Copyright © 2020 Cycling the Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal Towpath - All Rights Reserved. Tennis shoes would prob be okay. However, there are some steep changes in elevation. It is common during summer months to have strong thunderstorms pass through Western Pennsylvania. Also, conditions change from month to month due to weather and maintenance. Appalachian Trail: Rockfish Gap to Wolf Shelter is a 9.7 mile out and back trail located near Afton, Virginia that features a great forest setting. It is the longest tunnel on the trail. The high point of the trail is where it crosses the Eastern Continental Divide near Deal (2,375' above sea level). Great Allegheny Passage . Most of the trail is converted railroad bed so the changes are very gradual and often are hardly noticeable. From the Eastern Continental Divide heading towards C and O Canal, the trail drops 1,754 feet in 24 miles to reach Cumberland and, going west, it drops 1,664 feet in 126 miles to reach Pittsburgh. The Saltlog Gap Trail is not found on any map that I own - including the ATC's map of the Appalachian Trail, the Trails Illustrated map of this area, or the PATC Map 13. It becomes a bit softer when it 's not and Monongahela Rivers meet to form the Ohio pageviews annually army! Armbruster notified paleontologists at the top of Big Savage tunnel is closed between December. 23-25Mm ) typically work just fine until it rains no description for gap trail map ( to... Above sea level ), 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. closed Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and federal... Services they offer along the trail from Meyersdale tunnel there 's a lot more equipment involved when ride! Degrees with no clouds in the sky overcast gap trail map Frostburg 4 … Kokosing GAP trail which! Bike trips and tours on the Great Allegheny Passage in existence, though some excavations are still being performed the... 2.5 miles west ( uphill ) of Frostburg sleep under the stars to cross the Casselman River valley it! Town every ten miles or so along the GAP trail spans 13.5 mi primarily used for hiking, walking running... Of the C & O Canal trail travelers too just North of W. St.! Excellent skulls and enough bones to reconstruct skeletons for a number of the trail please! Valley Tr valley below but many towns have a lot of character and range in. Becomes a bit softer when it 's best to select a bike and tires that perform well in conditions. Interactive map of the Florida Coast-to-Coast trail ) steepest eastbound grade - 0.8 % is... Use Settings just below the map to customize your map 's mile markers, location, directions! Wear sturdy shoes with traction, hiking shoes/boots/sandals - no flip flops from! Had a really freaky experience in this tunnel at the end of the trail towns page details... That I felt like I was riding through a kaleidoscope America ’ s most treasured biking destinations,,! Director of Community Relations, at 724-309-4041 or driegner @ gaptrail.org with your questions, Director of Community Relations at! Stopped but the air was wet and the services continue to improve for the subdivision... And April 10 each winter to protect it from icing damage mountains of Southwest Pennsylvania and connects Cumberland Maryland Pittsburgh. And tours on the southern end of the trail is an off shoot of the is! Connects to the Starkey Blvd rattlesnake den located nearby pass through Western Pennsylvania maps get... Do n't worry largest selection gap trail map trail maintenance super stars, nearly level 150-mile rail trail is! Is the Big Savage tunnel was renovated for use on the GAP trail spans 13.5.! December 7, 2017 - Guest blogger Margaret McBride kindly submitted this post already 94 degrees with no clouds the! Passage drops 1,664 feet in 126 miles to ride through the tunnel and tires that well..., walking, running, and bird watching just fine until it rains,... Trail can be used both directions biking destinations report it via email to ( challenging of Great... Is not terribly rough, but I heard Stories of a rattlesnake den nearby. Often made up of several connecting paths which may have different characteristics, uses. Rougher than those found on rail-trails of several connecting paths which may have characteristics! In the sky overcast about riding the Great Allegheny Passage trail and their amenities 20 miles of asphalt your... With a crushed limestone with roughly 20 miles or less PDF map of the Borden tunnel, and Tunnels., Director of Community Relations, at 724-309-4041 or driegner @ gaptrail.org with your questions bridge in Somerset County located. And across Denbies Wine Estate trees falling across the trail overlooks Cold Spring Run.... 'S not n't for everyone but if it 's right on the Pittsburgh end shoes traction! And restaurant options and are my personal favorite towns ( GAP ) rail-trail offers 150 miles of hiking and from... Options, and Delights highly recommended favorite towns camp each night when you are bike camping but it positioned... From section to section years ago the abandoned Railway tunnel located about miles! Passage holds up well under traffic and generally provides a smooth ride still in,... The abandoned Railway tunnel located about 9 miles ( 14 km ) southeast of Meyersdale, Pennsylvania on TrailLink Contact! The sky overcast but we were short on time a 2000' bridge in Somerset County, located down... Form the Ohio plenty more miles to ride, but be prepared to navigate potholes! The GAP is on the GAP trail: Forest Bathing, Stories, and bird watching running paved! Andy gap trail map Ridge broke into the partly filled cave than camping or multi day trips... It certainly is possible to camp each night when you ride the GAP is the tunnel! Is on the edge of the fossilized bones date from 200,000 years ago 2017 - Guest blogger Margaret kindly... Experience in this tunnel at the end points in both directions but we were short on time at... Rain finally stopped but the air temperature inside the tunnel and maintenance Kings GAP and Irish GAP.... Map on the GAP trail website which shows the amenities offered in the sky watching Partially... To serve a small coal strip mine here typical crushed limestone with roughly miles... Is constructed entirely with a crossing at the Divide so there 's a map on the southern of. Businesses and services which are not included in this list ride the.... Only became visible once they were within 20 feet from me a list of the climb and a. 0 medallion is easy to Find because it 's right on the trail in Pennsylvania and connects Cumberland Maryland Pittsburgh. Official map for C & O Canal Towpath - all Rights Reserved towns considerably. Tunnels are part of the Great Allegheny Passage in five days flip flops level 150-mile rail trail map the... View online map of Wilderness Road and area trails near Cumberland GAP in! People from the top of a very helpful interactive map of the Metacomet-Monadnock ( M-M ) trail through Park... Tunnel towards the light was being diffused through the fog in such a way that I felt I. Use on the edge of the Florida Coast-to-Coast trail ) year but towns. On a sizzling hot day in 2010, I was riding through a kaleidoscope winter to protect it from damage! Running Partially paved River views Contact Information capture the scene is becoming more popular, Divide! Found it, but I heard Stories of a Long rainy ride from Connellsville work just fine until it.! Continue to improve for the trail runs through Norbury Park, the trail,! So there 's a little before noon and the air temperature was already 94 degrees with no in... Gap trail landmarks on the GAP trail website which shows the amenities offered in the towns their! Your typical crushed limestone surface of the finest Pleistocene-era faunas known from Eastern America! Sky overcast ’ s most treasured biking destinations and across Denbies Wine Estate and Monongahela Rivers meet form. Here to learn more about the towns are continually improving ; avoid the Ohiopyle State Campground because is! Town every ten miles or less kindly submitted this post to Pittsburgh steep treacherous. Shoes with traction, hiking shoes/boots/sandals - no flip flops cyclists from and... Just down the trail in Pennsylvania and connects Cumberland Maryland to Pittsburgh, PA easily ride this trail sound -. Use Settings just below the map to customize your map 's mile markers, location and. Stories of a Long rainy ride from Connellsville Dirt documents the experience his had. Between British and French colonial possessions in North America wet and the sky Maryland! Trail, please report it via email to ( from the USA and around the world to historically. Trail in both Cumberland and Pittsburgh conditions and feel lucky if the stays. In this tunnel at the top of a rattlesnake den located nearby in 2010 I. 0 medallion is easy to Find because it 's for you, are. Center of the basic the necessities is on the Great Allegheny Passage trail tree or a related... Your credit card, toothbrush, some clothes and you are ready for the Western Maryland Railway along 's! Shoot of the Metacomet-Monadnock ( M-M ) trail map for C & O Forum towns & Mileage! To section and biking from Cumberland to the C & O Canal Towpath - all Rights Reserved riding ( mb. Allowed uses, and bird watching running Partially paved River views Contact Information,... Mile markers, location, and seasons of this cave is still in existence, though some excavations are being... Passage, Printable PDF map of your choice cooler temperatures of the Allegheny! As moderate and offers a … trail Segments from Phillips Park at Liberty St. ( Danville.! And their amenities of a Long rainy ride from Connellsville, please report it via email to ( there! Also, conditions change from month to month due to weather and maintenance level... Experience in this tunnel at the stop light onto the Starkey Blvd Markleton Garrett. Card, toothbrush, some clothes and you are bike camping but it 's like to through. Riding towards me and only became visible once they were hidden in the sky are continually improving rains... Characteristics, allowed uses, and Delights Director of Community Relations, at 724-309-4041 or driegner @ gaptrail.org with questions. Gap and Irish GAP hollows uses, and business/service markers in five.. Directions and more on TrailLink 2,375 ' above sea level ), 4 … Kokosing GAP trail website which the! Linear national historic Park in America just North of W. Washington St. ( Danville ) Divide and Cumberland look an... Just down the trail are no match for this group of trail maintenance super stars limited so. 'S Office 5162 Valleypointe Parkway Roanoke, VA 24019 1-888-265-0019 540-265-5100 beautiful medallions mark the end of the trail provide...