Cycle the historic paths of Appalachia as you bike from Pittsburgh to the national capital
The 9-day guided Great Allegheny Passage Biking Tour offers an extraordinary ride down the Great Allegheny Passage and the Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Trail. Ride along the traffic-free historic bike trails that stretch through the beautiful landscapes between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.
It took 30 years to plan and restore the Great Allegheny Passage for public use, and it connects with the stunning Chesapeake and Ohio Trail, providing 335 miles of protected riding trail! Take in the tranquil riverbanks, scenic views, and dramatic tunnels and bridges as your bike the GAP. Make a pit stop at the famous Frank Lloyd Wright house “Fallingwater”, admiring the incredible architecture. As you cross the Mason-Dixon Line you’ll be following the historic path that follows the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. You’ll have the opportunity to visit Civil War battlefields to learn about the history of the nation before cycling into D.C. where your tour culminates at the inspiring sites at the National Mall. This tour is a dream for any cyclist-turned-history buff or anyone looking to appreciate the northeastern United States.
Highlights of the Great Allegheny Passage Biking
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Great Allegheny Passage Biking Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Welcome Dinner and Bike Prep
Meet the tour shuttle at the Pittsburgh airport, then you’ll be driven to McKeesport, Pennsylvania. The group will assemble to prepare your bikes and gear, and then you’ll have a welcome dinner where your guides will go over important orientation information.
Overnight Location: Hotel in McKeesport
Distance: None
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 Start the Great Allegheny Passage
Today your bike ride will be along the gravel path that follows the Youghiogheny River. You’ll follow its shady banks as it meanders towards the town of Connellsville, where you’ll spend the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Connellsville
Distance: 44mi
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 3 Ride to Fallingwater and Mount Davis
Continue along the river as you bike towards Ohiopyle in the Laurel Highlands. On the way, you’ll pass Fallingwater, a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed heritage landmark. When you stop for lunch you can take the shuttle back to the house for a tour if it sparks your interest!
After lunch, you’ll be following the Casselman River as it skirts around the foot of Mount Davis. You’ll continue cycling all the way to Rockwood, where you’ll be stopping for the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Rockwood
Distance: 45mi
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 4 Tunnels, Bridges, and the Mason-Dixon Line
Your route today will bring you to the newly restored Pinkerton tunnel. This sequence of bridge-to-tunnel-to-bridge is finally open to bicycles and is a popular highlight of the GAP.
Then, you’ll be riding 30 meters above the Casselman Valley as you cross it on the Salisbury Trestle. Your route begins a gentle climb as you approach the Eastern Continental Divide, which separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Gulf of Mexico and is the highest point of the Passage.
Shortly after the Divide, you’ll reach the Big Savage Tunnel, which is a short trip through the mountain itself. Take in the spectacular view as you emerge from the tunnel and cycle past the Mason-Dixon Line to Cumberland
Overnight Location: Hotel in Cumberland
Distance: 43mi
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 5 Start the C& O Trail
Start today’s bike ride from the Western Maryland Scenic Rail Station and head east through the countryside to West Virginia (country roads, take me home…).
As you leave Cumberland you’ll have reached the end of the Great Allegheny Passage and begun the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail. You’ll find the paths are dirt trails now rather than the gravel track you’ve been on so far. You’ll be riding through some gorgeous, rugged country after passing through the Paw Paw Tunnel.
The day ends in Little Orleans, where you can relax for the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Little Orleans
Distance: 44mi
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 6 Ride to Williamsport along the Western Maryland Rail Trail
Today you can enjoy the nice paved Western Maryland Rail Trail, which runs parallel to the C&O Canal. You’ll be cycling to Fort Frederick and then on to Williamsport for an evening in this lovely waterside town.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Williamsport
Distance: 42mi
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 7 Visit Antietam Battlefield
The group will leave the C&O Trail today to make a stop at the National Battlefield of Antietam. There will be time to walk the field and learn about this historic Civil War landmark.
Afterward, you’ll return to the trail and ride to Harpers Ferry, where you’ll take the ferry to make the crossing where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Harpers Ferry
Distance: 44mi
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 8 Cycling in Great Falls Park
This morning you’ll ride along the trail as it follows the canal. You’ll pass the canal locks and the last auto ferry to still operate the Potomac crossing.
Enjoy the relaxing ride through Great Falls Park, where you’ll see the water falling over the jagged rocks that had once been an imposing impasse on the Potomac. A shuttle will pick you up here to bring you to the hotel on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. for the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel near Washington, D.C.
Distance: 42mi
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 9 Reach Mile 0 of the C&O Trail
Your day starts with a ride along the last stretch through Maryland into Washington, D.C. The paved path is undergoing refurbishment, but you’ll still be able to visit the plaque that marks Mile 0 and signifies your completion of the C&O Canal Trail. Congrats!
From here you’ll take the paved path into the capital to visit the National Mall. You’ll have time to explore the area and visit the inspiring Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. The final leg of your journey takes you to visit George Washington’s Mount Vernon home, where you can reflect on his contribution to the building of the very canal you’ve been following. This is where your tour ends, and your shuttle will bring you to the airport.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: 36mi
Meals: Breakfast
Great Allegheny Passage Biking Price and Dates
This guided cycling tour of the Northwest Passage is run as group tour where you would be joining a fixed departure. Please note, that the prices below might vary based on the season, accommodation availability and other factors.
The prices below are per person:
Accommodation on the Great Allegheny Passage Biking Tour
This tour is based in 3 and 4-star hotels and B&Bs. All the rooms provided are clean and comfortable with private washrooms.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel. Please contact us if you would prefer this option. Rooms are double occupancy and solo travelers may be required to pay a supplement.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Hotel near McKeesport
Spend the night in a comfortable 3 or 4-star hotel or bed and breakfast along your route.
Hotel near Connellsville
Spend the night in a comfortable 3 or 4-star hotel or bed and breakfast along your route.
Rockwood Trail House Bed & Breakfast in Rockwood ★★★★
This welcoming bed and breakfast sits at the trailhead for the Allegheny Passage. Enjoy the period antiques in this turn-of-the-century colonial home.
Fairfield Inn & Suites in Cumberland ★★★★
Enjoy the clean comfortable rooms you’d expect from a Marriott Inn & Suites property. Relax in the indoor pool and whirlpool with an adjoining outdoor terrace.
Town Hill B&B in Little Orleans ★★★★
Nestled in the mountains of western Maryland, this cozy bed and breakfast oozes charm. Relax on the porch and enjoy the view or unwind at the outdoor fire pit.
Hotel in Williamsport
Spend the night in a comfortable 3 or 4-star hotel or bed and breakfast along your route.
Hotel in Harpers Ferry
Spend the night in a comfortable 3 or 4-star hotel or bed and breakfast along your route.
Hotel near Washington, D.C.
Spend the night in a comfortable 3 or 4-star hotel or bed and breakfast along your route.
What’s Included in Bike the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Tour?
Meals
8 breakfasts and 8 dinners are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 8 nights are included. Accommodations before the tour in Pittsburgh and after the tour in Washington, D.C. are not included.
Transportation during the Tour
Transport for you, your luggage, and your bike are included as outlined in the itinerary. Airport transfers are included.
Also Included
- English-speaking guide
- Support van
- Park entrance fees
- Trail maps
Not included
- Cycling equipment such as bikes, helmets, gloves, and shoes
- Travel insurance
- Flights to Pittsburgh or from Washington, D.C.
- Lunches and dinners or drinks and snacks not previously mentioned
- Tourist taxes if applicable
- Visas if required
- Personal equipment
- Fees not mentioned as included
- Gratuities for guides, drivers, servers, or hotel staff
Optional Extras
- Various bicycle rentals, including touring saddles, odometers, pumps, tire irons, and patch kits
- Single occupancy upgrades
- Any additional nights before or after the tour
Frequently Asked Questions about Great Allegheny Passage Biking
Timberline Adventures specializes in fully supported cycling, hiking, and multisport adventure tours in the United States and Canada.
Over the last 38 years, our adventure experts have crafted unique itineraries consisting of only the best routes and trails. We are all about striking the perfect balance of challenge, discovery, and tons of fun! Our epic tours include visits to 35 different national parks, and we take great pride in introducing our guests to some of the wildest and most beautiful areas in North America, like Glacier, Yosemite, Acadia, Big Bend, and so much more!
We share in the joy, exhilaration, and sense of accomplishment that is a part of every single tour, and the quality of your experience is how we measure our growing success.
Map of Great Allegheny Passage Biking
Map of Great Allegheny Passage Biking
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