Pittsburgh to DC via Railtrail

[westvirginia]

You can now go between Pittsburgh to DC via Cumberland.. on a all railtrail route

[smiles19]

That's been open for some time now right?

The trail from DC to Cumberland is the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal towpath right? So, its technically not an all-rail trail route.

I've been meaning to do this route.

[bumunderbridge]

There are a couple of problems--The C&O canal trail is mountain bike only as it is a hard pack dirt trail also known as single track---The route from Pittsburgh has a gap between Homestead and Mckeesport PA--Once in Mckeesport there are no signs for the trail- The trail starts at the steel mill across the Yough River on river ridge road. Once on the trail there is no stores for the next 30 miles untill connellesville after connellsville there are no stores for the next 40 miles...which in it self is odd because the northeast is loaded with convainve stores at least every 5 to 10 miles...Amtrak even though it has stops in Cumberland and Connelsville and Harper Ferry only takes bikes at Pittsburgh or DC however conducters can take bikes at there discreaction but dont count on it. ( A box of cigars and 20 doller bill might help)..The Western Maryland Railroad has 15.00 rides up hill from Cumberland to Frostburgh and at a 5% grade you might need it.