GAP Trail: Bikepacking the Great Allegheny Passage

[@railtrailbike]

Well done sampling of the full GAP Trail. It’s a wonderful experience, highly recommend! Nice editing and compilation!

[@DeniseLookingOut]

Love that y’all went the direction I did. So fun! Takes me right back to the GAP! Love that trail!

[@KentuckyCycling]

Me too!

[@tonyorme6446]

I did the trail 2 years ago...did it in 3 days, had gorgeous weather. The GAP trail is a treasure. Watching your video brought back great memories. Thanks!

[@KentuckyCycling]

Glad I help bring back memories of the GAP for you. It was great to get to ride it again.

[@Dr_Strangelove702]

Where did you stay over night?

[@tonyorme6446]

Just stayed @ 2 different hotels...

[@mountainsnmoore256]

Awesome video on what looks like it was an awesome trip. I am about to share this video with my wife. We had this trip planned back in 2020, but it was cancelled, and we just haven't been able to swing it since then. Maybe her watching this video will spark that conversation up again! The train ride would be pretty darned cool!

[@Keepitride]

Great video in all the ways, music, scenery, information. I think I was somehow meditating while I was watching this peaceful ride. I can't get enough of the greenery, I feel like my eyes are drinking it in. 😁

[@KentuckyCycling]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@davidcrowson4745]

Wow that's impressive... Well done 👍

[@KentuckyCycling]

Thanks!

[@frankducett9]

Very informative video. Thanks Nathan.

[@KentuckyCycling]

You're very welcome!

[@thegreatexaggerator9077]

Great video, trip looks amazing! Pittsburg to DC end of the month, really looking forward to it! Cheers!

[@KentuckyCycling]

Thanks for the kudos and enjoy your trip!

[@TheBane1979]

I did the western 60 miles of the GAP on my way from Pittsburg down to Parkersburg. I plan on doing the C&O and GAP this year at the end of August!

[@KentuckyCycling]

Very cool. Be sure to check our C&O ride video and LMK if you have any questions that I can answer for you.

[@JB-rt4mx]

We would pull a Wagon behind our Bikes while picking Wild Bacon from the Blossom Pork Trees...oh, the memories..🫠🪷🥓🚲🚲🛤

[@ForKnFifties]

Beautiful

[@jameslovasziii6917]

I’m lucky to live in West Newton just minutes from the trail. The red waterfall is one of our favorite spots! BTW, I go to mcKeesport to Zak’s bike shop, much better service and prices! Next time you’re in West Newton on the GAP be sure to check out the mailbox formation and the Youghness monster all close to Buddtown

[@pedallinraw]

Used to follow Dave …Three wheel journey …he rode lots of these routes although not uploaded for a long time 🤔👍🏻

[@iamblaisen]

great video!

[@KentuckyCycling]

Thanks!

[@kwaktak]

Nice video. I live off the Montour Trail and often envision "running away from home" and riding from my driveway all the way to DC. This spring I did a test ride out to McKeesport (and back for about a 40 mile ride) but the connection route through the town of Glassport can be a little tricky given you have to ride along with vehicle traffic for a few miles. Otherwise I've done the GAP in sections from the Point to Confluence but have yet to experience the rest and the C&O. If you ever come back to Pittsburgh you should check out BikePGH's events schedule. They've made it a bicycle friendly town, provided you are conditioned to ride the hills! That said, what's the incline like going up to the continental divide from Cumberland? Personally I think it's a great idea to get all that climbing out of the way early! PS: I'm sorry the weather didn't cooperate. That's PA weather for you!

[@KentuckyCycling]

Thanks for the kudos on the video and no worries about the weather. That's part of it, especially in the spring. We still enjoyed the ride and were happy to that we didn't get the rain until the last day. As for the incline up from Cumberland, it's an average grade of about 3%, with a maximum grade of 5% up to the eastern continental divide. So, all in all, not too bad.

[@Mordecai9052]

I am in the same situation as you. Pittsburgh to Confluence in sections alone, but never the full route. The montour trail has some beautiful sites and is my preferred trail lately. Give the GAP a shot!

[@roivosemraiva]

Nathan,,thanks...I ride this on a mountain bike..

[@randybarber6833]

Another great video! Your initial video of the GAP actually inspired me to start bikepacking. I was wondering if you had any issues with "non-bikers" at the Connelsville campground?

[@KentuckyCycling]

Interesting you should ask. We didn’t encounter any “non-bikers”, it there were a couple of guys on bikes who may/may not have been exceeding the two night maximum that you are supposed to stay at the hiker/biker shelters, but it didn’t look like anyone was policing that.

[@rogerhart612]

Awesome, Awesome video. If you don't mind how did you all come to ride together. Seems like a group of guys.

[@KentuckyCycling]

Thanks for the kudos. Three of us on this trip actually rode bikes together when we were kids and then came back to riding, as adults. The fourth is someone I met through my wife's work friend, who I became acquainted with when they bought a house from us. I'm typically the one who comes up with ideas for these trips and am lucky to have friends that are interested in coming along for the adventure.

[@aaronraygo9821]

Nice video!! Is that still an active rail next to the bike path/trail?

[@KentuckyCycling]

There is a historic railway next to the path for about the first 15 miles. After that, the rail road is on the opposite side of a river.

[@LarryHopper]

It looks like a great trip. How do you secure your bike when not riding?

[@KentuckyCycling]

We had a couple of cable locks with us, though we didn't use them much; only while we were in a restaurant or store or something and not going to be able to have eyes on the bikes.

[@elmiguel6725]

I gotta do this, just have difficulty going over bridges with my height issues, I freak.

[@KentuckyCycling]

Would it help you to get off your bike and walk it over the bridges?

[@roivosemraiva]

Nathan, I looked for a map of this Ride, On RWGPS . Could not find it. I'll try again..thanks for the video. Would love to ride this....would you recommend Road tyres .??? Or Gravel tyres???

[@KentuckyCycling]

I'd recommend utilizing the planning site when riding this trail, which is included in the video description. Please refer to 11:36 in the video where I talk about tire recommendations.

[@pdiddysea8599]

I did it and the PA part was super underwhelming but once into Maryland it got better fast. But still among the worst Rail to Trails I did in the US.

[@KentuckyCycling]

That's an interesting perspective. I"m curious as to what your favorites are and why?

[@pdiddysea8599]

@@KentuckyCycling Good question. What I found is that the GAP was pretty much all back yard trails for lots of it and way too many trains. It didn't get impressive until you literally got out pf PA. For perspective look at the Palouse to Cascades or even the KVR. Its just not that great. Cool yes. Awesome definitely not.

[@KentuckyCycling]

@@pdiddysea8599 Sounds like you have a strong preference for wilderness over lots of small towns, which I can certainly appreciate. For folks in this part of the U.S., I t think the GAP represents a logistically simple rail trail for getting started with a multiday adventure. And there are lots of resources along the route that would allow people to approach it as day rides, a tour with hotels and Airbnbs, or camping. As far as scenery, there are trails I like better in this part of the U.S., but the length and variety are hard to beat on this one. And I really enjoy all the bridges and tunnels. I also think coming in or. out of a major city, like Pittsburgh, and the transition from urban to wilderness make for a really interesting trip, with a variety of experiences.

[@pdiddysea8599]

@@KentuckyCycling Totally fair. I found when I got to the divide and the trestles it got pretty cool.

[@travispowers1704]

@@pdiddysea8599 KVR looks amazing! I just checked out photo's of it, thanks for sharing that! Palouse to Cascades is already on a lengthy bucket list for me. I do ride the GAP often, mainly the Cumberland to Meyersdale section. I live an hour away, so it's a nice trail to spend a day or bit more on. Along with the C&O which I spend multiple days every week on. Although, will admit, with the trails I've ridden on within the mid Atlantic region, my favorites are the Pine Creek Rail Trail and the VA Creeper.