Mountain Biking - great allegheny passage

gang, i need a little advice on this one question perhaps: recently, i heard that the great allegheny passage is all hard, road-bike type of pavement, but wanted to know if this is true -- and is it for all 150 miles of the trail? i know this trail goes from pittsburgh to DC i believe (part of the C&O Canal), passing thru some of the great pennsylvanian mountains.

has anyone taken this trail on a mtn bike or have any advice for someone who wants to ride it?? are there reststops along the way or do you do it all in one day? i am curious for a few insights you may have. post

I haven't a clue but I have seen pictures of that trail and it is magnificent for sure!!!

that is/was on my hiking list of things to do but sounds like it might have to be done on 2 wheels...

that Rocky Mountain trail is also on this 'bucket list'

I might have to look into this next time I go to PA to visit family...

They're house is right on the Allegheny river lol.

Org, being from PGH, you now got me curios ;) I myself still visit at least once a year. Keep us posted on this !!!

It isn't all paved...the C&O canal portion is mostly dirt...the upper Allegheny Passage rail trail portion (Pitt to Cumberland MD) is a mix of paved, crushed limestone and some dirt as well. I did the ride from Pitt to DC about 3 years ago now with my father...wonderful ride. I rode my flat bar road bike with 32mm CX tires and he rode a MTB with semi slicks (a bit of tread but not like a true MTB tire).

Here are a couple of photos. I have a ton more. The Big Savage Tunnel was really cool...like 1/4 mile under ground. In the C&O Canal the Paw Paw tunnel is also long but it isn't lit and it isn't paved...and there is a canal in it so you don't want to be riding it.

Phoetriu - I ride the Conellseville to Confluence sections all the time, it's crushed pea gravel stuff the whole way. I use my road bike w/o a problem on the trail but most of the time I'm riding w/ my kids so I ride my MTB. It's overkill to ride a mtb on the trail, it is not challenging or rough at all. The terrian is relatively flat since the trail uses the old railroad path. The Ohiopyle to Confluence section is beautiful, if you can be sure to schedule a raft/kayak trip on the Lower Yough. Let me know if you have any other questions - good luck!

You could post specific questions on Bike Pittsburgh's (http://bike-pgh.org/xdforum)forums.