Cycle 185 miles over six days and through 300 years of American history, drinking in autumn's beauty as you follow the wild and scenic Potomac River along the towpath of the historic C&O Canal. An engineering marvel that was obsolete the day it was completed, this unique route drops 600 feet from mountain valley to tidal bay. Along the way it passes through quaint canal-side towns, canal locks, aqueducts, a tunnel, waterfalls, river gorges and some of the most pivotal places in American such as Harpers Ferry and Antietam battlefield. Finish in historic Georgetown near the center of Washington D.C.
Included
- 7 nights lodging at three or four-star hotels or inns
- 16 meals: 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 6 dinners
- Experienced and cycling expert tour guideis
- In-ride drinks & snacks
- Van/sag support (mechanical assistance and van ride, if needed)
- Route navigation via free use of Ride With GPS
- Post-ride informal gatherings with light snacks (fruit, cheese, crackers, chips, nuts etc.) and non-alcoholic beverages
Itinerary
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Day 1 - Saturday
Meet in Cumberland, MD for our introductory meeting and dinner. Arrive early and explore this charming and historic town. Stay at the Fairfield Inn right next to Canal Place, where the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) meets the C&O.
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Day 2 - Sunday
43.5 miles – Our longest day takes us on the dirt towpath as it follows the wild Potomac River cutting through the Allegheny Mountains. We stop first at Oldtown, an historic village, cross over the Town Creek Aqueduct and take lunch at the amazing Paw Paw tunnel that cuts over 3,100 feet through solid rock. We end our afternoon in Little Orleans, then shuttle up to the top of the Alleghenies and stay at an historic National Road (U.S. Rt. 40) Inn.
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Day 3 - Monday41.5 miles – Another long day begins with a sumptuous breakfast at the Town Hill B&B and then a shuttle ride from the top of the mountain back down to the trail. Half of the riding today is on the paved Western Maryland Rail Trail, which parallels the towpath. In the town of Hancock is a coffee stop where we'll pick up lunch to be enjoyed further down the trail at Fort Frederick State Park. Our day ends at the quaint canal town of Williamsport with a stay at another B&B, this time located just two blocks off the trail.
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Day 4 - Tuesday
23 miles – This is the first of two short cycling days, ending in artsy Shepherdstown, WV. A side-trip along the way is an 8-mile diversion to Sharpsburg and the Antietam National Battlefield site, where you could spend hours. Grab lunch on your own in either Sharpsburg or Shepherdstown. We stay tonight at the luxurious Bavarian Inn Resort & Brewing Company -- featuring a top-floor "infinity pool" dangling 101 feet above the Potomac River's edge!
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Day 5 - Wednesday
13 miles – This short day ends in fabled Harpers Ferry where we stay in one of the most historic homes in town, the Lighthorse Inn. Built circa 1770 and restored to provide luxurious accommodations, it features rooms with views of mountain heights and the small town, with the on-site Snallygasters Café and Barn of Harpers Ferry featuring craft beer, live music and more. Lunch and dinner are on your own as you explore this town with its views up and down the valleys of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers.
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Day 6 - Thursday
29 miles – This is another beautiful day of remote but easy riding as we get closer to the finish in Georgetown. We pass the two longest aqueducts on the path, Catoctin and Monocacy, the latter which was the longest on the canal at 516 feet. Lunch halfway at White’s Ferry. Day’s end is at Edward’s Ferry, where we'll load into the van and shuttle to the modern Doubletree by Hilton Gaithersburg, MD for the night.
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Day 7 - Friday
31 miles – Our final day begins with a shuttle ride back to the trail, where we follow the towpath alongside the two large dams of the Potomac. Snack break is at the amazing Great Falls Park, which we then follow for several miles along the falls of the river. Our endpoint, Mile 0, is in Georgetown, near the heart of Washington D.C. Explore Georgetown and grab lunch where you want, then we'll load into the van and head across the river to our accomodations for the last night of the tour, Wainwright Hall on board historic Fort Myer, adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery and home to the Army's Old Guard.
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Day 8 - SaturdayArise at dawn to watch the sun rise over Washington DC from a vantage point above the Arlington Memorial Bridge, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol. After breakfast we'll load into the van and head back out to Cumberland -- or arrange your tour so that you can fly home out of Washington National Airport or take the Amtrak from DC's Union Station.
Difficulty Level: Advanced
The C&O Towpath is a well-traveled bicycle route but is "maintained" by the National Park Service to reflect it's historic use as a mule trail -- the surface is a mix of hard-packed dirt, gravel, and some pavement -- it should be hard packed in the fall, but can be uneven and challenging in spots
Suggested bicycle: Gravel bikes, hybrids
Suggested tire size for this tour: 32mm – 38mm (or larger)
Pricing
$3,360 USD per person (based on double occupancy)
$750 – Single Supplement (extra price to have your own room)
$150 - Standard Bike Rental
$400 - E-bike Rental
Your Travel Plans
The town of Cumberland Maryland is easily reached by car on I-68 or U.S. Rt. 220, or by Amtrak from Pittsburgh or Washington DC.
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