For almost a month, we traveled around west central Pennsylvania, visiting campgrounds and biking trails. Pennsylvania boasts some remarkable biking trails. While the Greater Allegheny Passage (GAP) is a familiar trail for us, it never fails to impress. Additionally, we had a great time exploring the Pine Creek Trail and the Red Bank Valley Trail.
Wolfie's, Zanesville, OH
This campground was fine for an overnight stay which we did both coming and going. It was the right distance between our house and our first/last destination. The campground did have a saltwater pool and down the road a short distance was a paved path along the river. The sites were full hookup and large.
Blue Canoe, Connellsville, PA
Under new management, this campground used to be a KOA. Situated along the GAP Trail and the Yough River, it offers a pleasant setting with three large pools, a playground, laundry facilities, and well-maintained bathhouses. The campground accommodates both seasonal and weekend campers, with designated bike camping sites available. While slightly pricey, its proximity to the GAP Trail makes it a convenient choice.
GAP Trail
The GAP Trail runs from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, MD - 150 miles in all. We thoroughly enjoy cycling on the GAP trail! The trail was in particularly good condition on this trip with freshly laid crushed gravel in many sections.
On this trip, we completed three different rides. Our first ride was from the campground to Ohiopyle, totaling 42 miles roundtrip. The weather was ideal for cycling, with temperatures reaching 70 degrees under sunny skies! On another day we embarked on a 36-mile roundtrip from Confluence to Rockwood, where we made a pit stop at the Trailhead Brewing Co. for some beer and sloppy joes from the food truck. It was delicious and made the ride back much easier! Lastly, we cycled from the campground towards Pittsburgh to Whitset, covering approximately 24 miles roundtrip. The scenic river views, tunnels, bridges, and lush woods along the GAP Trail never fail to delight.
Sheepskin Trail and the Mon River Trails
We traveled from the Blue Canoe Campground to Port Marian and cycled a mile on the Sheepskin Trail before joining the Mon River Trail. Our roundtrip covered 32 miles, with the trails running alongside the Mongahela River for most of the way, though visibility was limited by the surrounding brush and trees. Overall, the trail was decent, and I particularly liked passing through Morgantown, WV.
Happy Hills Campground, Hancock, MD
I didn't love this campground. About 90 percent of it is occupied by seasonal or permanent campers. When we camped there, there were only three or four sites with campers who were passing through. Some of the long-term trailers were really run down. People drove around in their 4-wheelers and golf carts, stirring up dust all day long on the weekends. The campground has a nice swimming pool big enough to swim laps in, which was one of the draws for me, but the pool was closed for repairs until the day we left. The campground was very convenient to the C&O Canal Trail and the Western Maryland Rail Trail.
C+O Canal Trail
The crushed gravel/dirt C+O Canal Trail is 184 miles long and stretches along the canal and the Potomac River from Georgetown in Washington D.C. to Cumberland, MD. In Cumberland the C+O connects to the GAP Trail. We did a couple rides on the C+O Trail. We rode 37 miles roundtrip from Hancock to Clear Spring. While it is fun to ride on the canal trail because of the locks and the river, when you can see it, the scenery overall is pretty constant and this section of the trail is pretty overgrown. We did make a stop to visit Fort Frederick. That was pretty interesting. On another day we rode 29 miles roundtrip from Little Orleans to the Paw Paw Tunnel. The tunnel is really cool. It was built for the boats on the canal.
After the ride to the Paw Paw Tunnel we stopped at a fantastic brewery called The Locust Post Brewery. It was way out in the country in an absolutely bucolic setting. The beer was good as was the pizza and the musical group playing music from the 60's and 70's. Discovering the Locust Post was truly one of those memorable and happy accidents.
GAP Trail (eastern end)
On a beautiful June day we rode from Cumberland, MD to Frostburg, MD on the GAP Trail. The route from this end is pretty much all uphill to Frostburg which makes for a very nice return trip.
Western Maryland Bike Trail
The 28-mile long paved trail runs from near Fort Frederick to Little Orleans. We rode from the campground to the east end of the trail - about 35 miles roundtrip. The trail was okay. There are some bumps due to roots but otherwise its very nice. It parallels the C+O Trail and provides riders with an alternative to the C+O Trail for a few miles.
Be sure and stop at Buddy Lou's in Hancock for ice cream following the ride.
Antietam National Battlefield
Known as the deadliest day in American history, 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing after twelve hours of combat on September 17, 1862. The Battle of Antietam marked the conclusion of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia's initial invasion into the North and prompted Abraham Lincoln to release the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. The battlefield possesses a mix of solemnity and beauty, with the museum exhibits conveying a deeply moving and somber narrative, while the grounds themselves are stunning.
Pettecote Junction Campground, Cedar Run, PA
This campground is fantastic, set in a beautiful location and well-maintained. It is situated between Pine Creek and the Pine Creek Bike Trail. The hospitality here is exceptional. On our first night, one of the campground hosts brought us a welcome gift since it was our first time staying there. The scenic beauty of the Wilds of Pennsylvania (what this area is called) is truly remarkable. While the sites offer electric and water hookups only, there is a septic service available once a day to empty tanks for a small fee. Although the sites are not very large, they do offer a sense of privacy. Overall, it is a lovely place and very convenient for accessing the Pine Creek Bike Trail.
Pine Creek RailTrail
The Pine Creek Trail in Pine Creek Gorge is considered one of the top rail-trails in the Northeast, offering a breathtaking 62-mile adventure through the region often known as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. With mostly even terrain, this trail stretches from Ansonia to Jersey Shore, Pa., passing through the scenic Tioga and Tiadaghton State Forest areas. Along 55 miles of its route, the trail closely follows Pine Creek, with stunning vistas of impressive rock formations and cascading waterfalls.
We rode most of the 62 miles over the few days we were in the area. The middle 52 miles are the most scenic from our perspective. Biking through the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon is amazing! We saw eagles, hawks, turkeys and even a bear cub who ran across the path in front of us. Happily no Mama bear in sight! There are a few places to stop and eat. We especially liked the Hotel Manor in Slate Run.
Bear Ridge Campground
My feelings about this campground are mixed. It offers a peaceful environment, but was a bit shaggy looking. While it provides full hook-ups, the camping sites are quite uneven. On the positive side, there is a nice pool and some children's playground equipment available. We did explore several bike trails in the area, but they were all a 30- to 45-minute drive from the campground.
Ghost Town Trail
We enjoyed this trail very much. It is 49 miles long, comprised of two sections. The 32-mile section runs between Black Lick and Ebensburg, which is the part we rode. There is also a 17-mile C&I Extension. The trail is well maintained, forested and runs along the Black Lick Creek. There are many historical signs about the coal industry and the towns and the people who used to live there. Levity Brewing in Indiana, PA was a great place to re-fuel after the ride. Good beer and sandwiches!
Allegheny River Trail
The Allegheny River Trail is paved and runs for 27 miles between Franklin and Emlenton. The trail was very bumpy from roots. It does pass through two old railroad tunnels for which you will need lights. They were long and dark! The trail ran along the Allegheny River which provided some nice scenery.
Armstrong Trail
The Armstrong Trail is 44 miles long and runs along a former railroad corridor. We began our ride in Kittaning and rode to the Cooling Tower - about 33 miles roundtrip. The trail follows the Allegheny River on the eastern bank as it winds through the Allegheny Plateau. There are many relics from the area's past railroading and industrial past. The day we rode was very hot but the trail was pretty well shaded the entire way.
Redbank Valley Trail
The entire Red Bank Valley trail is nearly 60 miles long. For 51 miles it runs along the forested banks of Redbank Creek to the Allegheny River and then continues for 9 miles to Sligo. This was one of the nicest trails we have ridden on this trip. We started our ride in Losenham and rode to New Bethlehem. There were two tunnels - one curved and was very long and dark! There were beautiful views of the creek, interesting signage about the history and ecology of the area, and sculptures along the way. It was very well maintained and enjoyable even on a very hot day!
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