Originally Posted by
DropBarFan
Nice photos, thanks PedalingWalrus. DC area had such an astounding stretch of rainy weather in late spring I was wondering how the C&O/GAP riders managed things. I wish the C&O trail could be fixed up & paved since it's so vulnerable to rain damage. Wouldn't look as rustic but then the C&O wasn't built as a nature trail anyway. Last fall I drove to Cumberland to check out trailhead & facilities for a GAP trip & was surprised to see how nice it was including a free parking lot for GAP users.
The towpath is maintained and improved on a regular basis. Sometimes it takes a while to fix the trouble spots, many years in some cases, but that is part of the charm. IIRC, it took around 20 years to fully repair the damage caused by Hurricane Agnes flooding in the Widewater section near Great Falls. Paving would destroy the historical character of the towpath. It is a National Park, not a rail trail that is paved over. The organic nature of the towpath makes it far more interesting to ride, than for example, the GAP.
Also, the free parking area in Cumberland is for both the GAP and C&O users. Originally for the C&O, in fact.