Yet another Great Allegheny Passage activity
 

Lots of people will make side trips to places like Falling Water and Antietam (yeah actually the C&O) on the GAP. But I came up with another activit, kayaking.

This weekend I did a short trip from Connnelsville to Confluence. Not very far but IMHO the best section overall of the GAP, except maybe the Big Savage and that glorious lookout just before the glide into Cumberland. But mile for mile, this has to be the most beautiful section. Ohiopyle is just awesome and the ride from there into Confluence probably gets you closet to the river on any part of the trail.

Confluence is small but worth exploring. The bike shop there is worth seeing. There is a great ice cream shop in town. The ice cream is delicious nad the owners friendly and welcoming. The dam at the outflow campground is worth seeing. It has hydro electric plant, I do not think I have ever been that close to a hydro plant before.

Camped at the Outflow campground. The next morning struck camp and went into town to have breakfast at the Sisters Restaurant, Later stopped at the gas station across the street to pickup a turkey wrap which turned out to be very tasty. They can make sandwiches to go, fresh, if you wish.

Checked into to Riversport which is just across the 281 bridge and immediately across the river from the Outflow campground. You can start your river run just across the road from Riversport. If you are coming from DC to Pittsburgh then you can opt to skip the Confluence to Ohiopyle section and do it by kayak instead. Riversport will transport you bike a gear. I would recommend staying a day over in Confluence if you have never ridden from Confluence to Ohiopyle as it is worth seeing. If you stay over Riversport will shuttle you back from Ohiopyle.

The kayak run from Confluence is doable with someone with minimal kayak skills. I have some lake experience but have not been in whitewater for about 40 years and that was in a canoe. I hit a number of rocks along the way. It got a little dicey a couple of times when I got wedged with swift water rushing down on me but kept my wits together and eventually freed myself. There is one section where you pass and island and you should keep to the right, from my experience this means stay to the right well up river of the island as it is very shallow up river of the island.
I think things would have gone a little better had the river been a bit higher.

The trip down river was simply beautiful. Osprey fishing for their lunch, a number of ducks and a strange water bird I have never seen before, gray back, white chest, orange feet and a long bill. I have lived in Western PA most of my life and this trip made be realize how impressive our hills can be. You get a true appreciation of the steepness of the hills looking up from the river.

Andy and his crew from Riversport were fantastic. Helpful, friendly, prompt just a great bunch of guys. Riversport is small but mighty,. No big cattle calls like some other outfits. You get a real personalized service. The price was a bargain at $40.

So if you are looking for a little twist to your GAP trip I would recommend a kayak ride and recommend that you go with Riversport.

I spent two days in the Smithsonian before leaving DC. Ok, it was the C&O, not GAP.

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Sounds great, pencil me in for 16'. When are the best months for a little yakking out that way without requiring supreme skillz.

Hard to tell with the Yough. Because of the dam. Except for the Casselman that flows into the Yough, there isn't a lot feeding it. Spring is probably pretty good as anywhere but not sure if it would make a significant difference as the feeder streams aren't that big. The Casselman might run a little deeper that time of year that could help out. But I think the big help is when they have a larger release at the damn and I am guessing that happens based on the rain through the year. I understand they just had one back in August. Probably a followup release for all of the rain we got in June. I need to look into this more to see if there is a way to know when the release is scheduled.

There is also the upper Yough which is the section below Ohiopyle but that requires a lot more skill, Mainly Class 3 and 4. There is a famous rock on that section called Dimple Rock. It creates a hydraulic that sucks you in. So many people have died and been hurt there, they actually installed a phone and backboard on shore.


And if you really want excitement, you can go over the falls but that occurs only 1 weekend a year (I think). Saw it two weeks ago

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The section downriver from Confluence is enough excitement for me for now. :)

Us bikers need kayaking/canoeing to beef up the spindly arms! In DC's Georgetown waterfront I saw that they now rent kayaks, saw a whole bunch out on the river. Naturally folks have already solved the bike/kayak transport issue, maybe a folding bike could fit inside the kayak?:

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The overlook on the C&O by the Great Savage tunnel is nice (on the Gap, actually).

Bicycle Heaven in Pittsburgh bills itself as the world's largest bike museum. Awesome stop. About -1/2 miles from western terminus of the GAP.

Hey, why didn't we hit that one Spin? Pencil that one in as well.

Thought we did on one of the trips. We parked at my parents house and rode into town. I think we had dinner in South Side. But I don't remember use stopping at the museum one way or the other.

Bicycle Heaven is on the North Side. It is on the bike trail that is on the Ohio River. You might pass the ball park, the football stadium, then the Casino. You will start seeing signs along the trail down river of the Casino. The museum is huge and well worth seeing. Craig, the owner is a great guy. There is a reality show in the works about the museum.

Our 2 inclines on the South Side along with the Mexican War Streets on the North Side are worth seeing too. As well as the ride under the convention center, if the wall fountains are on and lots of old architecture in the city to see too.

Looks pretty interesting. A friend drove to Pittsburgh for the weekend recently & raved about the city--scenery, hills etc.

That is actually the Lower Yough. The Upper Yough is actually in Maryland (Sang Run Rd to Friendsville) and is much harder yet (Class IV-V).

I always get them confused. :)

I'll be heading down the GAP and the C&O this October. I think this will make my 5th or 6th ride. This is a beautiful ride for any one wanting to avoid cars.