C and O Canal questions

[cdale56]

I will be staying in Gettysburg for a few days (for the Civil War Century) and hope to do a short ride on the C and O canal as well. The Bike Washington site gives a route that includes the canal and Antietam and I was wondering if anyone could please tell me if this a decent route or if there was a better place to ride along the canal nearby?

http://bikewashington.org/routes/antietam/antietam.htm

I hope to visit Harpers Ferry (by car) again too, this time we hope to take our new puppy but the Park Service to the place doesn't allow dogs on the buses. The second question is, is there a place where I could drop off my wife and dog, then drive and park along the canal somewhere and then ride and meet them? A shorter ride? That might seem silly but we have only been to Harper's Ferry twice, we were rushed both times, and we hope to spend more time there this year.

Thank-you

[bioman63]

Hello. I live in Harpers Ferry so I think I can help. The dog questions is easy. There is a train station in Harpers Ferry were you could drop your wife and dog off and then ride the bus down. If you get there early you may even find a parking spot. The C&O canal trail is gravel and kinda ruff for skinny tires.

[ks1g]

If you just want to ride the canal towpath, drive and park at Harpers Ferry, walk bike across the walkway on the railroad bridge (built for the Appalachian Trail hikers), manhandle it down the spiral staircase (no clue what they were thinking when they spec'd THAT!) and you are on the towpath. The Antietam Creek H&B campsite (has a REAL bathroom, not a portajohn) is about 10 miles upriver. You can head up to the battlefield via Millers Sawmill Rd and Harpers Ferry Rd (steep) or at the Rt 34 Sheperdstown Bridge (steep coming up from the canal to Rt 34, then traffic but I recall the shoulder is decent).

Another option [looking at maps - I have NOT biked this!] would be have your wife drop you at the Antietam Battelfield Visitor Center, do the battlefield part of the loop, then take 34 across to Sheperdstown and paved roads to Harpers Ferry. Or stay on the Maryland side and take Harpers Ferry Rd back (use the railroad bridge walkway to cross - Rt 340 is BUSY!). FYI, Canal Rd (parallels the towpath from Antietam Creek to Rt 34) is flat and paved. No shoulder, but light traffic.

The towpath itself is flat, non-technical packed dirt and gravel - 32mm 'cross tires will work, 23mm road tires would be, ahem, challenging! 28s would probably work but I've never tried it myself. Figure on making 12-15 mph on the towpath.

I helped lead a group of Boy Scouts ride the Antietam battlefield loop a few years ago from the Antietam Creek H&B site. It is a fun ride. Since it is a loop, you can start it from almost anywhere. Keep the following in mind:
- climb from Taylors Landing up to Rt 65 is steep, especially at the start when you 1st leave the canal area. Rt 65 is busy (not as bad as 34) but there's a good shoulder.
- Ride on the battlefield is interesting and low traffic, esp. if you are a Civil War buff. Most of the big monuments were built by groups affiliated with Union units (apparently the Southern groups didn't have the money for them). Do take in the view from the observation tower at Bloody Lane.
- You can get drinkable water (pump) at the C&O hike&bike sites, at the Battlefield park Visitor Center (also bathrooms), and in Sharpsburg.
- There is an EXCELLENT ice cream shop in Sharpsburg at the intersection of Harpers Ferry Rd and Rt 34. From the bike washington cue, at mile 6.3, turn right instead of left and go down the hill into Sharpsburg. Store is on the right at the corner with Rt 34.
- The last couple of 100 ft of road approaching Harpers Ferry Rd (that mile 6.3 turn) is surprisingly steep!

You can get current info on C&O Towpath conditions at the Yahoo group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/coTowpath/).

Good luck!

[cdale56]

Thanks for the info.

Yesterday we were wandering around on roads south of Antietam and by chance we ended up on road called Harpers Ferry Rd, having no idea where we were, we saw a nice spot on the canal and stopped for lunch. Looking across the river, we realized that we were very close to the bridge so we walked the pup over to Harpers Ferry. That has to be one of the nicest places in the world and we got the chance to sit there for hours and enjoy it.