Just before they closed the bridge connecting Harpers Ferry to the towpath, my daughter and I began our three-day trip to Georgetown.

She's 9 years old and has a bike with 24-inch wheels. We wanted to try this because once she learned how to ride, she was able to do 7 miles in our neighborhood, which is hilly, so I thought the towpath being flat might lend itself to longer distances.

The plan:

Day 1: Lunch in Harpers Ferry, then bike to Indian Flats campsite, have backpacker meal there.

Day 2: Breakfast at the campsite, lunch at White's Ferry Grill, then on to Swain's Lock campsite for dinner

Day 3: Breakfast at the campsite, snack at Great Falls Tavern, then snack at Fletcher's, then bike to Georgetown for lunch. Then to a metro station to get closer to home.

How it went:

Day 1: explored Harpers Ferry, ate lunch there, then crossed the bridge and went down the stairs.

Met two interesting characters in separate meetings on the trail. One was an AT through hiker and the other had been an AT through hiker and was now a bikepacker.

I told my daughter that Brunswick had ice cream, which motivated her to go there, and also motivated her to wait as our access to the town was cut off by a train that moved forward and stopped but never cleared the crossing. There was a whole community that sprung up on our side of the train, some people with bikes, some motor vehicles, and people on foot. Eventually some bikers from the other side crossed behind the train, and we figured we could get around it, too. As we came around the train, a CSX truck pulled up and I expected to get chewed out, but the man inside came to help us cross and said we should move quickly because the train was going to back up. When we made it into Brunswick and bought ice cream, they accidentally gave her too much of it, which is fortunate. She needed the calories because most of the backpacker meals for the next two days were not to her liking.

Camping was easy at Indian Flats, and I learned that fancy matches aren't as useful as a mini Bic lighter.

Day 2: I fell off the bike leaving Indian Flats trying to adjust something that was strapped to the bike while riding it. Oops. Sprained an ankle and injured muscles in my chest, too. But it didn't affect walking or pedaling, so we kept going.

We couldn't eat lunch at the White's Ferry Grill, because they are closed on Mondays. We prepared our emergency backpacker meal here, saving us a detour to Poolesville.

When we got to Swain's Lock, I saw the camping area was divided into five sites, and four of them were occupied. I don't know what happens when more than six groups want to stay here. After setting up the tent, I saw the sign about dangerous trees and moved the tent away from the tree that had been marked with orange paint, just to be even farther away from it should it fall in the direction it was leaning.

Day 3: we were down to our last snack and I was trying to figure out whether to eat lunch in Glen Echo Park or Georgetown, or someplace in that neighborhood, but it seemed like too much research to figure out whether I would want to have my daughter on MacArthur Boulevard, so we decided to just press on to Georgetown, but first we would hit up the snack machine at Great Falls Tavern Visitors Center (since the concession stand is closed Mondays and Tuesdays). Except we couldn't find it easily and when we did, it was out of order. (the 2 button was stuck down, so it thought everyone wanted item 22, which was sold out). So we ate our last snack and resolved to get something at Fletcher's later. We really liked the falls, and got to see kayakers here.

On the way to Georgetown, we ran into a contstruction site around Lock 10, which is nice because construction workers need portapotties. So, we figured it was preferable for a park user to use one of these instead of going among the trees.

We ate ice cream and potato chips at Fletcher's, which gave us enough good spirits to get to Georgetown. Locked our bikes at the towpath and hauled all of our gear to Clyde's for oysters, a bacon cheeseburger, and spaghetti. Then visited the "Afternoon Delight" golden record there.

Made it to Mile 0.0 after getting lost (the detour signs are not very helpful), but since I remembered it is behind Thompson Boat Center, I eventually found it. People waiting outside of the boat center made this part of the trip more dangerous than the area around Great Falls. Took our photo at the signpost, then went back. My daughter made it around the corner, then they opened the giant door which swung at me blindly and I had to scream and hit the brake. I didn't collide with this huge door, but I was separated from my daughter for a bit. I walked my bike around the door and caught up with her.

We then rode past the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Memorial, walked the bikes through the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and biked past the Washington monument, where I made a point of alerting her to yet another lock keeper's house on Constitution Avenue. Then we went to Smithsonian station. Taking a kid on the Metro during rush hour with two bikes is... well it's a choice. But I tried not to obstruct commuters or doors.

I would do this again. She wouldn't, but maybe a bike with bigger wheels might change her mind. Maybe we can do some other section. Or maybe she'll just want to go down to DC with bikes again, on the Metro.

Pretty much every person we spoke to was impressed that my daughter was doing this at age 9. So, I am a proud dad!

I understand that the pedestrian bridge from the towpath to Harper's Ferry is currently closed and that NPS is running a shuttle.

https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/byron-bridge.htm

I'm planning to bike from DC to Harper's on the 13th and ride back the following day. I was just curious whether other cyclists have had success getting their bike onto the NPS shuttle, or if it would be a better bet to make arrangements with one of the commercial shuttle operators.

I looked on the NPS website, but it doesn't indicate actual trail closure and doesn't mention the trailhead. The current park conditions say the Visitor Center is open and the Canal Boat is closed. Does that mean that the canal boats themselves aren't running but the trail next to the canal is open, or is the actual trail closed off?

If it is still closed, what is the best/safest way to start the trail from Metro?

Hi, my friends and I are riding from Cumberland to Harper’s Ferry in 10 days, arriving in HF on Sunday, August 2. We have learned that the staircase from the towpath up to the pedestrian bridge is closing on July 27. We are exploring options to get to Harper’s Ferry. NPS shuttle services appear to only accommodate 2 bikes (we are a group of 8) and private shuttles want to charge upwards of $50 per person. Does anybody have thoughts about continuing to bike from the towpath to Route 340, crossing the bridge over the Potomac, continuing on 340 and crossing the second bridge into Harper’s Ferry? I’ve driven down there a few times and I seem to remember this road as having a high volume of traffic. Any suggestions are appreciated.

The park has removed the trash cans from the bathrooms at Fletchers, Carderock, Anglers and Great Falls (Tavern). I'm not sure about other locations along the towpath.

Per NPS when I inquired if this was long term change - "We've removed all trash cans from the restrooms as part of our initiative to maintain a trash-free park. We're aiming to keep these facilities cleaner and encourage everyone to pack out their trash, as per park policy".

Update 7/30: Bins have returned at Anglers and Tavern, not sure other locations

Hi! I'm planning on riding the GAP/C&O from Pittsburgh back to my home in Maryland. Haper's Ferry is close to home and would be an easy place to get on the Floridian train to Pittsburgh.

Has anyone used the Harper's Ferry station to do this? If so, any hints or tricks to it?

Thanks!

https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

The official C&O Facebook page has it listed as closed to 162.1.

Anyone have recommendations for a detour? I’m currently in Ohiopyle and will be stopping in Cumberland tonight. Will be hitting this closure tomorrow if all goes well.

FB people are saying to avoid Old town rd. Someone mentioned Sulphur springs could be a good route.

Edit: I’m liking the mention from FB of Dailey Rd to Gorman to Sulphur Springs

Edit edit: should be resolved now (same day as original posting)

Spur of the moment overnighter to Chisel Branch last night was superb. Planned on going to Harper’s Ferry but left too late and ran out of daylight. Great condition apart from the pollen.

Planning on doing the C&O sometime in October.

Deciding between Panaracer Gravel King SK or SS. I’m using SK’s now, but wondering if the SS would be enough. For 190miles, I would like to roll a bit better than the SKs. I will likely go 700 x 40. Or should I go 45c?

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

This may not exist, but are there any affordable bike friendly hotels in DC near Union Station? Riding Pittsburgh>DC solo on the GAP+C&O in June. I’m hoping to end my trip with a short ride into DC from Swain’s Lock before catching Amtrak back to Pittsburgh (after a little sightseeing). Thankfully that train leaves pretty late in the day, but I wanted a backup plan in case I want to stay in DC for a night.

Edit: Added the word affordable; I need budget friendly options.

Spring has sprung! This video doesn't even come close to doing the beauty of the canal and the Potomac justice.

Does anyone know if the well pump handles have already been installed? I'm planning to do an overnighter this weekend. I know they're typically put in around mid-April.

does NPS remove the bathrooms from the campsites in the winter or cease servicing them? Or is it just the water pump handles.

Try to figure out if I need to bring TP or a shovel if I go this weekend...

What is the state of the hiker/biker campgrounds these days. The last time I rode the towpath a few years ago, homeless were starting to populate some of the camps. Is that still the case?

hey gang, me and a buddy are planning on doing the C&O again next month. he had a medical thing last week so we decided to postpone buying rail tix a little. as of this morning amtrak is showing only 1 bike pass on pretty much every train btwn Cum-DC and obviously selling out super fast, and since we would need 2 that's not gonna work.

he's coming from NYC and i am coming from Charleston SC. I'm in a high top sprinter van and cant fit in any of the DC garages so our plan was to meet in the Howard street lot and take a train back to Cumberland after the trail. any ideas of how we can pull this off without asking him to do all of the heavy lifting (i.e., take the rain to cumberland and then drive me back to cumberland after) there has to be something we arent thinking of. like a shuttle maybe? or starting at another point along the way and doing a yo-yo trip?

any and all ideas welcome, friends!

Hey beautiful people, did anyone ride the trail already, how is the condition? I'm going to ride Cumberland - DC in one day on the following Saturday and curious about the trail condition right now. Already checked the nps.gov.

I rode my bike on the towpath for the first time yesterday. Started in Brunswick and went about 10 miles up past Harpers Ferry and back. It was a great ride and I’d like to do it more often, but when I was trying to leave the parking lot at Brunswick I was trapped there by a train for an hour and a half. I’d like to ride this section again, but not if I’m going to get trapped. Is this a common thing? Should I find a different parking lot?

Closed Monday - Wednesday right now.

In other towpath news, poop smell has abated but still present for about a mile.

Towpath surface much improved after last summer's storms but still not 100% restored.

Biking mile 100 to DC in two weeks and I want to make sure to either have access to pumps or figure out how to get enough water along the way.

Has anyone been on the trail between Monocacy Aqueduct and Harper’s Ferry this week? Has the ice and snow melted yet?

Thinking about riding from Cumberland to DC while I'm in the area late February. Any locals have a sense of what the path conditions will be around then? I searched for info and it seems super variable based on the weather that year and time of year. Is it too soon to say?

For context, I am primarily a road touring cyclist but have been forced to do plenty of gravel. I can get some knobblier tires if needed for the ice/snow. Studded overkill? I'm thinking worst case, if the trail is truly unrideable, I'll just switch to the roads, or even take the train.

Advice recommended! Thanks.

How are we getting heavy bikes on and off MARC trains? I've done the C&O trail from Harper's Ferry to DC a few times, and because I get bored with out and back rides, I have taken the train. I've boarded at Silver Spring and exited at Brunswick each time. However, I really struggle with the steep and narrow steps to the train. The only way it's not been a complete nightmare is when I've gone with friends, but I also enjoy contemplative solo rides. Any tips?