GAP 5-Day: Point to Point

Car-Free Bike Touring on the Great Allegheny Passage Rail Trail

Ride the Great Allegheny Passage from Pittsburgh!

 

Experience Pittsburgh, the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) and the surrounding Laurel Highlands. We’ll ride the GAP trail from the Point in Pittsburgh all the way to Cumberland. We’ve added on an extra day to this iconic journey so you have time to explore the mountains off your bike! 

 

Relax, take in the sights, and enjoy! In a region overflowing with stunning natural beauty and with an amazing history, this tour is sure to delight, and we’ll even take some off-the-saddle excursions, such as Fallingwater and rafting on the Youghiogheny River. Suitable for beginners and intermediate cyclists, the repurposed passageway is a nearly flat journey.

 

Request a Tour Itinerary for more detailed information and logistics.

Tour Highlights

Cycling from downtown Pittsburgh

Visiting Bicycle Heaven

A full day to explore the Laurel Highlands

Cross the Youghiogheny River on a 100'-tall railroad bridge

The Eastern Continental Divide

Transportation back to starting point

Lodging Options

Bright Morning B&B

The Summit Inn

Yoder's Guest House

Day 1: Start your day at Pittsburgh’s Bicycle Heaven, the world’s largest bicycle museum! From there you will ride across the Allegheny River – one of the 3 rivers coming together at Point State Park. Here the Allegheny meets the Monongahela and Ohio. Then ride Pittsburgh’s incredible bike paths to the official start of the GAP trail at the Homestead Pumphouse, we will ride the Great Allegheny Passage pass former steel mill sites before arriving in West Newton, where we will stay for the evening.

 

Day 2: Pedal through historically industrial coal patch towns, past waterfalls and beautiful mountain laurel as you enter the Youghiogheny River Gorge and Ohiopyle State Park. After crossing the Youghiogheny River twice via two spanning railroad bridges, the ride concludes in Ohiopyle at our outfitters base. Once there, you will then have the option to check out the stunning Ohiopyle falls or relax with a beer at Falls City Pub! At the end of the ride, the group will shuttle to the historic Summit Inn for the night.

 

Day 3: Today, we’ll give our biking muscles a rest to discover a couple of Laurel Highlands gems and PA’s largest state park. We’ll begin with breakfast together at the Summit Inn, and then we will shuttle for about 25 minutes to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy your tour led by a professional guide through the architectural masterpiece that cantilevers over a waterfall on Bear Run. After lunch, you have the option of exploring Ohiopyle State Park on the river or on foot! Return to the Summit Inn again tonight to enjoy the sweeping view of the Laurel Ridge and a good meal.

 

Day 4: After a morning riding through the remaining section in the green tunnel of Ohiopyle State Park, you will find yourself high above the ground as you bike across the 101-feet-high Salisbury Viaduct!  This former railway viaduct carries riders for 1,908 feet of trail, providing a sweeping, panoramic view of the landscape. Tonight, enjoy a comfortable night’s rest at Yoder’s Guest House in Meyersdale.

 

Day 5: Three railroad tunnels await your passage on the final day of riding, one of which is the Big Savage Tunnel, a 3,294-foot tunnel that was completed in 1912. Cross the Eastern Continental Divide for an easy downhill cruise winding into Cumberland, and enjoy the expansive views. In Cumberland, where the Great Allegheny Passage meets the C&O Canal Towpath, we will have our final meal together. We will provide a shuttle back to guests’ vehicles at the conclusion of the tour.

See More GAP Bike

Tour Options

“The 5-Day GAP tour is nice. We all agreed that two days cycling, one day sight-seeing or hiking or just hanging out, followed by 2 more days cycling was perfect. The break in between is well worth it, especially if we can take in the sights and sounds of a new place. “

~Joe O., Loudon, NH

Top 3 Blog Posts on the Great Allegheny Passage

The historic Great Allegheny Passage isn’t just a path through the woods. The 10-foot-wide multipurpose trail is built on railroad corridors constructed to heavy-duty standards of gentle grades, sweeping curves and major bridges and tunnels that take you through the mountains, not over them.  

One of the best things about bike touring is eating lots of food. The Great Allegheny Passage (a 150-mile continuous rail-trail from Pittsburgh to Cumberland) is one of the best touring routes because it goes through many different towns. Your journey along the GAP trail can be a food tour through the Allegheny Mountains!

While riding the GAP you will cross 21 historic railroad bridges, plus another 9 small wooden trestle bridges, for a total of 30 bridges on your journey. The GAP is a bridge buff’s dream!

Trip Information

5

Trip Length - Days

bike-rail
Tour Type
Rail Trail
Active-Difficulty
Tour Rating
Active
Bike Tour Routes with Elevation gain and loss
Route Overview
E-bikes Allowed

Required Specifications

  • 50 pounds or less weight limit
  • Pedal assist only
  • Removable battery
  • 5+ hour battery capacity
32-40

Daily Mileage

Check In Location
Ohiopyle, PA
Gap tour bike map
Tour Area
SAG Vehicle New York Finger Lakes Bike Tour
Support & Gear Vehicle
18

Minimum Age

Meals

4 Breakfasts | 5 Lunches | 3 Dinners

2024 Pricing
  • PP Double Occupancy

    $1875
  • Single Supplement*

    $340
  • Standard Bike Rental

    $175

*This is required if you are traveling solo or if you are traveling with someone but require separate beds.

RESERVE ONLINE BY DATE

Select your departure date and click to reserve your bike tour!

  • 2024 Dates
  • If your desired departure date is within 30 days, please call our office to book, it will be unavailable to book on-line.

    If your desired date is no longer available, to be placed on a waitlist or request a private departure, please follow the ‘Request Itinerary’ button below & send us a message or call our office number below to speak to one of our reservation staff. We may open additional tours, and those on the waitlist receive priority on future tours

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