Two of America’s most beloved rail trails link seamlessly at Cumberland, Maryland to form one of the great car-free touring routes in the East. The C&O Canal Towpath covers the first 184 miles from Georgetown in Washington DC, hugging the Potomac River on a flat packed-dirt path through Civil War history, river gorges, and the dramatic Paw Paw Tunnel. The Great Allegheny Passage picks up at Cumberland and climbs 150 miles through the Allegheny Mountains on crushed limestone to Pittsburgh’s Point State Park.
The contrast between the two trails is part of the appeal. The C&O is riverside, flat, and historically saturated — you’ll pass through Harpers Ferry (John Brown’s raid), antebellum canal locks, and the remains of the old canal system that George Washington helped design. The GAP climbs into real Appalachian terrain, crossing the Eastern Continental Divide at the Maryland-Pennsylvania border before descending into the Steel City.
The route is a natural week-long trip at 40-50 miles per day. Trail towns like Harpers Ferry, Hancock, Frostburg, and Ohiopyle have full services and cyclist-friendly lodging. Pittsburgh delivers a satisfying urban finish — end your trip at the Confluence of three rivers at Point State Park, then celebrate with a meal in the Strip District. One of the most accessible big tours in the eastern US, rideable on any hybrid or touring bike.