C&O Canal/GAP

This fall, you won’t need to worry about traffic as you ride your hybrid or mountain bike 330 miles on hard-packed, gently graded gravel and dirt trails from the heart of the nation’s capital north into Pennsylvania.

Historically, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal served as a lifeline for early settlers. Today, it serves as a pathway to an unforgettable cycling experience. We’ll begin with a visit to the National Mall. After bidding adieu to DC, we’ll head through stylish Georgetown and then deep into rural Maryland. We’ll visit Antietam National Battlefield, site of the Civil War’s bloodiest battle, and Fort Fredrick, a restored 1756 British outpost. In lively Cumberland, Maryland, we’ll move over to the Great Allegheny Passage, a stellar rail-trail completed in 2006. Upon finishing in Pittsburgh, we’ll catch a shuttle back to Washington.