Cycling the C&O Towpath and the Great Allegheny Passage: An ICONIC bike tour from D.C. to Pittsburgh

As the father of a fit and active teenage daughter I love to see you tour with your dad. You’re seeing such interesting places and making great memories together. Keep it up 😊

This is on my list to do. Good video with music. Great tips. Thanks. I envy your dad getting to do these kind of trips with his daughter.

Loved the video. You made dad very happy, kudos to you!

Great and inspiring video! We did the Pittsburgh to DC trip down the Great Allegheny and C&O Trails about eight years ago. The GAP is well maintained, stone dust surface, and posed no challenges for us on two single bikes with 30mm tires. The C&O was another story. It had rained heavily the day before we descended into Cumberland. The next day, we were met by cyclists coming north from DC who all noted "don't even think about doing the C&O today... it has turned into a goat track." Sure enough, huge mud puddles and lots of slippery clay may loaded cycling impossible. We returned to Cumberland and took Amtrak south to miss the worst of the trail conditions. Even from Harper's Ferry south two days later, the trail was still a challenge. Perhaps in the intervening years NPS has laid down another two inches of fine gravel or stone dust to mitigate standing water on the trail surface. In any event, riders are advised to take wider tired gravel or mountain bikes with a minimum of 40mm tires on the C&O if weather has been wet.

9:26 Those threes have never seen sutch a beauty before!✌✌👌👌👍👍

Lots of bridges and scenic views on the GAP.

This bike tour is now on our bucket list. Thank you for sharing this inspiring adventure! Great job!

My daughter and I rode the GAP and C&O last July from Pittsburgh to DC. This brought back so many good memories!!!

What a great adventure! Something you and your dad will always remember.

I loved your positive attitude and smile the whole way, even on the up from Cumberland and in the heat. Thanks for the video! I live 5 miles from the C&O and bike it regularly and have biked the GAP twice. It was fun to relive it through your video and get excited about the upcoming summer of biking.

I just came across this. Beautiful video and your narration and choice of music made it better! It's very nice to see love for biking being shared in the family.

I rode this twice. Really epic. Every trail rider needs to do this 5 to 7 day ride on their bucket list.

What an endearing video Aspen, your joy whilst 🚴‍♀️ cycling shone like a beacon! Cheers 👍

awesome!! i have watched this vid several times. never gets old listening to you talk. just got back from a bike trip my self!!

Thanks for sharing. I can't wait to do this ride.

This ride is still on my buck list, there are so many great rides out there to enjoy. Thank you for giving a detailed review. Wishing you and your Dad tailwinds on your explorations.

Love the adventures you are posting with your dad. Love the videos and shared experience.

I live in Pittsburgh, and visitors should really spend a few days here to explore the sites and rich history.

Loved the video! Just got back from driving to and from DC and saw signs for the C&O trail and the Great Allegheny Passage and looked into making this trip via bike. The fact you did this with you father was awesome! A memory I’m sure you both with cherish forever. I hope to get to do this with my daughters some day too.

Thanks for this post. Really enjoyed it.