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Great Allegheny Passage / C&O Canal Bicycle Tour, 2013

Stretching 335 miles through serene woods, deep valleys and quaint eastern towns, the Great Allegheny Passage / C&O Canal path is a bicycle tour on many people’s wish list. In 2013, we were fortunate to live just a few miles from where the trail ends in Washington, DC. So, we tossed our bikes into the back of a rental car, drove up to Pittsburgh, PA, and bicycled back home on the trail. Nearly all of the route is on dedicated bike paths. Check out some photos from our ride.

Photo Gallery

Duquesne Incline

Duquesne Incline

Working funiculars like this one are rare in the United States. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Point State Park

Point State Park

Start of the Great Allegheny Passage, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Sounds Tempting...

Sounds Tempting...

Great Allegheny Passage, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Lively Mural

Great Allegheny Passage, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

A Welcome in Pittsburgh

A Welcome in Pittsburgh

Great Allegheny Passage, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Old Steel Mill Chimneys

Old Steel Mill Chimneys

The bike trail owes it’s existence to the many steel mills that once occupied this area. These Chimneys were left in place as a remembrance of the area’s history. Great Allegheny Passage, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Whitaker Bridge

Whitaker Bridge

Because the trail is an old railroad grade, there are many bridges and tunnels that the trail passes through which are now used primarily for bike traffic. Great Allegheny Passage, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Time for Lunch

Great Allegheny Passage, West Newton, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Taking a Rest

Great Allegheny Passage, Perry Township, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Stained Glass Archway

Stained Glass Archway

Great Allegheny Passage, Connellsville, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

From Coke to Spokes

From Coke to Spokes

Public art along the Great Allegheny Passage, Connellsville, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Greenwood Bridge

Greenwood Bridge

Great Allegheny Passage, Connellsville, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Break Time

Great Allegheny Passage, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Along for the Ride

Along for the Ride

Great Allegheny Passage, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Youghiogheny River

Youghiogheny River

Great Allegheny Passage, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Rafters in the Youghiogheny River

Rafters in the Youghiogheny River

Great Allegheny Passage, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Nearing Our Destination

Nearing Our Destination

Great Allegheny Passage, Confluence, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Parker House

Great Allegheny Passage, Confluence, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Mist on the Youghiogheny River

Mist on the Youghiogheny River

Great Allegheny Passage, Confluence, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Trailside Service

Trailside Service

Great Allegheny Passage, Black Township, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Salisbury Viaduct

Salisbury Viaduct

At 1,908 feet, the Viaduct was the longest bridge on the P&LE Railroad Line. It is now one of the longest bridges dedicated to bicycle traffic. Great Allegheny Passage, Meyersdale, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Trailside Info

Great Allegheny Passage, Meyersdale, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Keystone Viaduct

Keystone Viaduct

Great Allegheny Passage, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

It's All Downhill from Here

It's All Downhill from Here

Great Allegheny Passage, Larimer Township, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Big Savage Tunnel

Big Savage Tunnel

Yes, that’s really its name. At 3,295 feet, It’s the longest tunnel on the Great Allegheny Passage. Larimer Township, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Mason-Dixon Line

Mason-Dixon Line

Great Allegheny Passage, Southampton Township, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Hitchhiker

Great Allegheny Passage, Southampton Township, Pennsylvania (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Trail Inn

Great Allegheny Passage, Frostburg, Maryland (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Steep Climb

Sculpture Garden, Frostburg, Maryland (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

New Friends

Great Allegheny Passage, Frostburg, Maryland (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Misty Mountain

Great Allegheny Passage, Maryland (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

C&O Canal Towpath

C&O Canal Towpath

Maryland (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Paw Paw Tunnel

C&O Canal Tow Path, Oldtown, Maryland (USA). At 3,118 feet long with no lights, this tunnel is almost pitch black in the middle. Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Tunnel Hill Trail

Tunnel Hill Trail

C&O Canal Tow Path, exiting Paw Paw Tunnel. Oldtown, Maryland (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

C&O Canal Tow Path

C&O Canal Tow Path

Hancock, Maryland (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Black Rat Snake

Black Rat Snake

Pantherophis alleghaniensis. C&O Canal Tow Path, Hancock, Maryland (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Lock Keeper's House

Lock Keeper's House

C&O Canal Tow Path, Clear Spring, Maryland (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Holy Canoli!

C&O Canal Tow Path, Williamsport, Maryland (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Big Slackwater

C&O Canal Tow Path, Williamsport, Maryland (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Canal Stop Gate

Canal Stop Gate

C&O Canal Tow Path, Sharpsburg, Maryland (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Bridge to Harper's Ferry

Bridge to Harper's Ferry

C&O Canal Tow Path, Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

The Other Big Trail

The Other Big Trail

Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

View of the Potomac River

View of the Potomac River

Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Historic Town Center

Historic Town Center

Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Sunset Rainbow

Bolivar, West Virginia (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Canal Quarters, For Rent

Canal Quarters, For Rent

C&O Canal Tow Path, Brunswick, Maryland (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Muddy Legs

C&O Canal Tow Path, Brunswick, Maryland (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Ending at the Beginning

Ending at the Beginning

Mile 0 of the C&O Canal Tow Path in Washington, DC (USA). Copyright © 2013 by Pedals and Puffins. All rights reserved.

Duquesne Incline

Sounds Tempting...

Lively Mural

Whitaker Bridge

From Coke to Spokes

Greenwood Bridge

Break Time

Along for the Ride

Youghiogheny River

Rafters in the Youghiogheny River

Nearing Our Destination

Parker House

Mist on the Youghiogheny River

Trailside Service

Salisbury Viaduct

Trailside Info

Keystone Viaduct

It's All Downhill from Here

Hitchhiker

Trail Inn

New Friends

Misty Mountain

C&O Canal Towpath

Paw Paw Tunnel

Tunnel Hill Trail

Black Rat Snake

Lock Keeper's House

Big Slackwater

View of the Potomac River

Historic Town Center

Sunset Rainbow

Canal Quarters, For Rent

Muddy Legs

Ending at the Beginning