Vexxer

Has anyone used Amtrak to get to the GAP/C&O trail in Pittsburgh? The train from Washington is not getting in until 11:48pm, a little late to start out, or to be riding around a unfamiliar city in the dark. Do they have cabs or anything that can carry bikes to a hotel?

indyfabz

There are two hotels on Smallman St., about two blocks or so from the train station. A Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites. The Hampton Inn was cool with me bringing my bike up to the room and had a decent free breakfast when I stayed there a few years ago.

AusTexMurf

Great tip and info and a direct answer to your question.

Entirely different line:
I like to ride out of our dense then sprawling Southern cities w/o long range bicycle infrastructure during the late night and wee morning hours. Best time to avoid the drunks and morning rush. Makes it much easier to punch outside of cities like Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Memphis, etc… And Pittsburgh is different, with the Montour trail connection from the airport to the GAP on down to DC. Soon to be up to Eerie as well, I understand… And DC also has a direct bike trail to Ronald Reagan airport and Amtrak at the other end.
So,
Could consider moving through Pittsburgh at night. Maybe stop and rest at the Dravo Cemetery, a very cool place to camp. You move through some of the least scenic areas in the dark this way anyway. But best part is, you get to sleep in a very old cemetery ! It is also too close to Pittsburgh to stop and camp if you leave out in the am. Easier to time Dravo on the return up to Pittsburgh, for most folks. But you get in at midnight and may feel like riding there.

If you do stay overnight in Pittsburgh, the Adirondack shelters/park/grocery store in Connellsville is a Very Nice spot to camp. You can network a bit with other GAP riders and community members and provision as needed at the grocery and liquor stores in front of the shelters and train caboose.

Highly recommend Husky Haven in Rockwood, Trail Inn Bed/Breakfast/Campground in Frostburg, Md, C&O Bicycles and Bunkhouse in Hancock, Md.
Lots of stops with things to see, do, take in, along the entire GAP/C&O.
Have fun !

spinnaker

I live hear and I would not take the bike paths at night. There are lots of homeless along the path and what appears to be gang activity. If you absolutely must move at night then use surface streets as much as possible. I would take 2nd Ave to the Hot Metal Bridge. Avoid the path between Station Sq and the Homestead Waterfront at all costs as this area seems to have the highest concentration of homeless.

The area between, the Waterfront and Duquense will be responsibly save as there is little street access to the path, though I would still be cautious.

When entering the Duquense are, consider moving to Route 837 or at the very least keep moving. I have seen drug activity near the trail during the day. I can't imagine what it is like at night. Though the activity was on a back street separated from the path with a fence. But there is a cross street, a possible danager point.

When getting to Mckeesport, take the surface streets. STAY on the main street. You can take Walnut all the way to Boston. There is a bit of a climb but so there is on the bike path across the river. DO NOT take the bike path that runs behind Walnut into Versailles. It is rough in more ways than one. Lots of rough road but also great place for kids to be hanging out.

I disagree that this area is the least scenic. First if you are lucky you will get to see our bald eagles. The bike path behind the waterfront is very pretty. You will get t a glimpse of our locks on the river once past Kennywood Park which both are interesting in their own right. Plus over all they did an excellent job on this path. The flyovers across the railroad tracks are excellent.

spinnaker

Instead of Husky Haven, I would stay at the hostel. Have a nice quiet night.

DO NOT try to camp at Ohiopyle. You will be sorry.

spinnaker

I would have no problems riding my bike at night in the city, near the train station. I would avoid areas like the upper part of Smallmen St because of it's concentration of bars. We have had problem in this area in the past with knuckleheads shooting people.

There are a couple of new hotels on the lower part of Smallman that I would have no issues riding to at night. There is also the Westin which is directly across the street from the train station and one or two other hotels very close by. Sadly nothing affordable.

Vexxer

Are these areas of the path safe during the daytime? I have no intention at of riding at night any further then a few blocks from the train station. I actually found a couple hotels a little further that have shuttle service, just waiting to hear back from them how late the shuttles run.

tarwheel 

I've ridden the entire GAP-C&O trails twice. Both times we took the train from DC to Pittsburgh, riding in the dark to our hotel. We all had good headlights and tail lights and took the route that Spinnaker recommended to our hotel near Hot Metal Bridge. It's about a 4-mile ride and took about 20 minutes. Traffic was not bad at all but good lights are a must, and they're good to have for the tunnels on the trails as well.

alan s 

This year I'm going to get off the train in Connelsville and stay in the shelters. That way I stay for free, skip the urban area, and get in at a more reasonable time. Makes for an easier 3-day trip back to DC.

indyfabz

Heh. The Capitol Limited as heard from Husky Haven. It wasn't the only train that night. Turn up the volume on your computer to get the real life effect:


I work in the rail industry. I heard the locomotive approaching from the south and started recording.

OP: If you are a light sleeper, I recommend ear plugs. On the upside, there is free firewood and total shade, and I saw an owl swoop down not far from me and snag a chipmunk.

robow

It probably wasn't the only train that HOUR. Both my times thru there, it was crazy difficult to get a decent night sleep. Probably the only downside to the GAP/CO

Vexxer

I might just have to skip that town.

irwin7638

What is to regret about Ohiopyle? There's a state park campground with trail access right there.

Marc

irwin7638

I would want to travel the other way, from Pittsburgh to DC because the prevailing winds are from the west.

Marc

2 Piece

I thought that if you were riding the train, Amtrack, with a bicycle you could only get off at either Pittsburgh or DC, depending on which direction you were going.

2 Piece

It doesn't matter if you skip that town, you'll here them at the next town. Those trains pretty much run parallel to all the GAP and a great part of the C&O trails.

indyfabz

That recently changed. The Capitol Limited now has roll-on bike service at all stops. No need to box. Reservations required. IIRC, each train can hold up to 5 unboxed bikes.

indyfabz

Were you able to push your bike up that very, very steep trail? If so, congratulations.

indyfabz

Traffic calmed down over night, but it wasn't completely quiet. I had an 85 mile day to Bedford, PA the next day so I got up at 5 a.m. By 5:45 three trains had come through. The issue is that there are at least two grade crossings in town. By law, the trains have to blow their horns at each one unless a "quiet zone" has been established. Establishing one usually costs the municipality money it doesn't have, which is why you usually don't find them in smaller communities.

deapee

I'm from Pittsburgh (originally) -- the city quiets down a lot at night. I wouldn't expect to see very many people out at all at night unless you're near where all the bars are.

And yes, Pittsburgh has cabs but I think you have to call and order one, not like NY where you can just flag one down. Some of the busses even have bike racks -- but I bet at night, they'd let you wheel that thing right on and hang onto it while you rode. You could call PATransit to confirm. They run all the busses there.

--

When you get up through Williamsport, MD area, if you need anything, send me a PM -- I'm about 10 minutes from the Williamsport C&O entrance.

Philly Tandem

The hostel is pretty noisy, too, seeing as how the train tracks run literally right behind the hotel, and there is a crossing there that the train blows its horn at. Being inside makes it marginally quieter, but not a whole lot. I've also stayed at the B&B right on the trail where the road crosses (Rockwood Trail House) and that is probably the quietest of the options in the immediate area, although you can still hear the trains. Earplugs are a must on any overnight GAP ride. I remember thinking that it would be interesting to ride the GAP at night (during a full moon) and sleep during the day. Would probably be quieter.

My worst night was at Roundbottom campground. Felt like the train was running right through my tent all night!

johnbort2

This thread was perfect timing for me. I leave tomorrow morning with my buddy to do the GAP. We are leave Cumberland, MD and doing an out and back. I'll make sure and take earplugs!

robow

"What is to regret about Ohiopyle? There's a state park campground with trail access right there.

Marc"

No congratulations due here, that campground was a lot farther off the trail then what we were lead to believe and that steep hill was impossible to ride up. Heck, it was tough to walk your bike up that thing. Then once we finally arrived, we found the area wasn't that nice with few amenities.

tarwheel 

You don't have to camp if you stay overnight at Ohiopyle. There are other options for lodging. Ohiopyle is a fun place to stop and very scenic. It could be very busy with campers, rafters/kayakers and park visitors at times but there is a lot to do there. Many restaurants and pubs, a bike shop, park visitor's center, ice cream shops, etc. We stayed at Confluence a few miles down the trail but ate lunch and had long stops in Ohiopyle. In my opinion, it's one of the highlights of the GAP.

Vexxer

Thank you! That kinda info is great to have. I am planning on mostly camping. But I was going to do a stop over or two in a B&B.