Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Ben B planned this outdoor adventure with komoot!

Discover your own fun with the #1 outdoor app.

Ben B

Saved routes

C&O Towpath and GAP Trail

Ben B

Saved routes

C&O Towpath and GAP Trail

Ben B planned a bike ride

June 16, 2022

C&O Towpath and GAP Trail

Hard

45:45

606km

13.2km/h

3,030m

2,820m

Embed

Comments

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Overview

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

Cycling is not permitted along parts of this route

After 88.5 km for 138 m

After 163 km for 67 m

After 195 km for 67 m

After 227 km for 67 m

After 289 km for 106 m

After 293 km for 128 m

Most people would complete this in 7-15 days

Better plan each individual stage of your adventure with the multi-day planner — available as a part of komoot Premium.

Waypoints

Start point

Get Directions

22.4 km

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls

Highlight • River

Great Falls has a scenic Horseshoe Bend where the river curves in a horseshoe shape around a rocky outcrop. It's a nice spot to stop for photos on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail.

Tip by

38.0 km

Seneca Quarry Stone Mill Ruins

Highlight • Historical Site

Built in 1837 by the Seneca Sandstone Company, this mill was created to process the distinctive red sandstone quarried nearby. Today, the ruins, easily spotted by their red sandstone walls, …

Tip by

40.0 km

Seneca Schoolhouse

Highlight • Historical Site

Old Seneca Schoolhouse is a small 1800s school building tucked near the trails in Seneca Creek. It’s a cool little stop if you’re riding or hiking nearby—feels like stepping back …

Tip by

44.9 km

Hughes Hollow Bird Sanctuary

Highlight • Natural Monument

The Hughes Hollow swamps at the edge of the Potomac are a unique bird sanctuary where salt- and freshwater birds congregate, and a precious rest place for migratory birds. Overall, …

Tip by

53.3 km

Lockhouse 25

Highlight • Historical Site

This Lockhouse saw the Civil War unfold as the two sides crossed from one side of the river to the other. It can now be rented as a base camp for your cycling excursions in the area.

Tip by

61.3 km

Historic White’s Ferry (Out of service)

Highlight • Monument

White's Ferry is not active due to a ongoing lawsuit, but the Grill nearby is still worth the trip

Tip by

70.8 km

Lock 27, Spinks Ferry

Highlight • Historical Site

Mile marker 41.5

Spink’s Ferry was an established Potomac crossing long before the Canal was built. Josias Clapham licensed the ferry way back in 1757. Because the approach to his …

Tip by

102 km

Harpers Ferry Tunnel and Railroad Bridges

Highlight • Bridge

From here, you can look up at the West Portal of the Harpers Ferry Tunnel. The tunnel is part of the B & O Railroad Potomac River Crossing, which is …

Tip by

114 km

Antietam Creek Campsite

Camping Site

135 km

Big Woods Hiker Biker Campsite

Camping Site

144 km

Big Slackwater View

Highlight • Trail

Big Slackwater is a deep, smooth area of the C&O canal. It is the place that canal boats used to be launched into the canal.

After a flood destroyed the …

Tip by

155 km

Cumberland Valley Hiker Biker Campsite

Camping Site

165 km

Camping Site

174 km

Public Toilet

177 km

Public Water Fountain

179 km

North Mountain Hiker Biker Campsite

Camping Site

251 km

Public Toilet

268 km

C & O Bicycle, Hancock

Highlight • Rest Area

candobicycle.com Their bunkhouse is the best camping site on the trail. Everything anyone else offers and more for only $15

Tip by

291 km

Public Toilet

297 km

Camping Site

305 km

Stickpile Hill Hiker Biker Campsite

Camping Site

313 km

Sorrel Ridge Hiker Biker Campsite

Camping Site

315 km

Paw Paw Tunnel

Highlight (Segment) • Monument

The Paw Paw Tunnel is an engineering marvel along the C&O Canal, built to avoid constructing six miles of canal along the river. Work began in 1836, but labor disputes, …

Tip by

330 km

Potomac Forks Hiker Biker Campsite

Camping Site

336 km

Ruins

337 km

Pigmans Ferry Hiker Biker Campsite

Camping Site

340 km

Masonry Overfall

Ruins

345 km

Steam Pump

Ruins

347 km

Irons Mountain Hiker Biker Campsite

Camping Site

356 km

Mason-Dixon Line Monument

Highlight • Monument

The Mason-Dixon Line Monument marks the historic boundary between the states of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Today, it is a scenic rest stop for hikers, featuring a granite obelisk, engraved blocks …

Tip by

398 km

Big Savage Tunnel

Highlight (Segment) • Structure

The Big Savage Tunnel is one of the highlights of the GAP. The 3,291-foot tunnel was refurbished for bike use in 2003 and has a modern lighting system. On the …

Tip by

413 km

Meyersdale Visitors Center

Highlight • Rest Area

Nice place to stop for lunch or a break. Visitor's center includes a small museum on the history of Meyersdale and the region, a gift shop, bathrooms, water, and a …

Tip by

483 km

Great Allegheny Passage bridge over the Youghiogheny River

Highlight • Bridge

A former railroad trestle on the GAP trail takes you over the rapids of the Youghiogheny River.

Tip by

488 km

Sugar Run Falls

Highlight • Waterfall

Just a short hike up the Mitchell trail. Swimming hole for summer

Tip by

582 km

McKeesport Connecting Railroad Bridge

Highlight • Bridge

Bike across the historic McKeesport Connecting Railroad Bridge, spanning the Monongahela River. Discover its rich industrial heritage, as it once linked the McKeesport Tube Plant with the Duquesne Works. Enjoy …

Tip by

606 km

End point

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

417 km

132 km

24.6 km

22.9 km

9.14 km

654 m

241 m

Surfaces

242 km

219 km

86.0 km

55.9 km

2.43 km

Route Details

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (730 m)

Lowest point (0 m)

Weather

Comments

Want to know more?

C&O Towpath and GAP Trail

No bridge too far

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls

Seneca Quarry Stone Mill Ruins

Seneca Schoolhouse

Hughes Hollow Bird Sanctuary

Lockhouse 25

Historic White’s Ferry (Out of service)

Lock 27, Spinks Ferry

Harpers Ferry Tunnel and Railroad Bridges

Big Slackwater View

C & O Bicycle, Hancock

Paw Paw Tunnel

Muddy Trail

Mason-Dixon Line Monument

Big Savage Tunnel

Meyersdale Visitors Center

Great Allegheny Passage bridge over the Youghiogheny River

Sugar Run Falls

McKeesport Connecting Railroad Bridge

Sign up or log in to keep exploring this route

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️