GAP and C&O Towpath Epic Tour
10 Day Epic Tour
Tour Information
We will ride the entire length of the Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal Towpath from Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, DC. We'll cover 382 miles of trails in the autumn when the nights are cool and the days should be filled with brilliant color. Join us!
Call Us!
The tour is filled, but call us. We may be able to squeeze you in.
Moderate
Mostly flat terrain on crushed stone. Average 49 miles per day. Moderate cycling level.
9 nights lodging, 7 breakfasts, 8 dinners, daily snacks, vehicular support, luggage transfer, mechanical support, cue sheets, maps and GPS files, trained guides, and transportation at the end of the tour back to Pittsburgh if you've driven.
$195 for a Specialized hybrid bicycle and $295 for a Specialized electric-assist ebike.
Fly or take the train into Pittsburgh, PA and out of Washington, DC. Or drive and leave your car at our starting hotel and we'll take you back to Pittsburgh arriving about 5:00pm on the last day of the tour.
Cindi West
Tour Leader
Tour Details
DAY 1: We’ll meet in Pittsburgh at our starting hotel on the bike path along the Monongahela River. We’ll begin with an orientation at 2:00pm followed by a rental bike fitting and dinner. 0 miles.
DAYS 2-9: We’ll run this tour as we do our other epic tours. We’ll start early with a light breakfast provided by the hotel. Then we’ll pack our bike bags with snacks of raisins, nuts, energy bars and peanut butter sandwiches. We’ll make sure we have an extra layer of clothing and perhaps a rain jacket with us. We leave on our own, usually between 8- 9am and cycle at our own pace.
About every twenty miles, we’ll meet our SAG vehicle along the route. It holds water, snacks, tire repair tools and a first aid kit. Even if you don’t need anything, you can stop to chat and talk about the wonderful tailwind or view. If you’re too tired to bike anymore, you can take a ride in the SAG vehicle to our hotel for the night. The SAG makes sure everyone is in safely at the end of the day.
Once at our hotel, you'll find your luggage, (delivered earlier by the WomanTours van and trailer), and can check in to your room. You can also grab a quick late lunch on your own before dinner.
We rotate roommates every night, unless you've requested a specific roommate or to upgrade to a single room. There will be time to shower before dinner and perhaps take a dip in a hotel hot tub. If anyone has experienced bike problems during the day, you'll use the time before dinner to work with the guide to fix it. If it's a complicated repair, we'll help get your bike to a professional at a bike shop.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Pittsburgh Point State Park
- Ohiopyle State Park
- Eastern Continental Divide
- Mason-Dixon Line
- Flight 93 National Memorial
- Potomac River
- Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center
- Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia & Maryland
- History happened here & small town hospitality
Then we'll eat dinner together usually served buffet-style outside. Our traveling chef will create hearty and healthy dishes from our trailer kitchen. While our chef will accommodate guests with specific allergies and provide a nonmeat protein source for vegetarians, she cannot adhere to everyone's likes and dislikes. We ask that you be flexible. If you require a vegan or gluten-free diet, there is an additional fee of $50.
After dinner, our guide will hold a map meeting to discuss the highlights of the day and go over the details of the next day's route.
We'll celebrate the end of our adventure at dinner on our last evening together. 50 miles on average per day.
DAY 10: You're free to take a taxi at your leisure to the Reagan National Airport (DCA). If you have time to stay longer, our ending hotel is a short walk across the Key Bridge to Washington, DC. If you need to return to Pittsburgh, PA for your car, WomanTours will provide you with a shuttle back to your car arriving about 5:00pm. 0 miles.
CANCELLATION & REFUNDS: To sign up for this tour, we require a nonrefundable deposit of $300. The balance of the tour price is due 75 days prior to the tour, by July 4, 2020 and is nonrefundable. We offer a 2% discount for paying by check.
SAG DRIVERS: We will use three SAG volunteers to drive a Honda CRV every third day to support the tour in exchange for a 40% tour discount. If you’re interested, contact us!
GAP and C&O TOWPATH ITINERARY
Date | Location | Miles |
---|---|---|
Sep 17, 2020 | Pittsburgh, PA | 0 |
Sep 18, 2020 | Belle Vernon, PA | 45 (+1356’/-1172’) |
Sep 19, 2020 | Confluence, PA | 52 (+1634’/-1233’) |
Sep 20, 2020 | Cumberland, MD | 62 (+2528’/-3244’) |
Sep 21, 2020 | Cumberland, MD | 0 |
Sep 22, 2020 | Hancock, MD | 60 (+780’/-950’) |
Sep 23, 2020 | Shepherdstown, WV | 55 (+811’/-795’) |
Sep 24, 2020 | Leesburg, VA | 46 (+573’/-697+) |
Sep 25, 2020 | Arlington, VA | 44 (+617’/-835’) |
Sep 26, 2020 | Home | 0 |