With countless day trips imaginable and a nearly-level trail surface, the Great Allegheny Passage is the perfect spot for your next biking adventure. Every mile (150 total) offers super scenery, from vistas in Maryland’s mountains to open meadows in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands. Railroad history abounds, and you’ll find remnants of the coal and steel industries on which the United States was built. In Maryland, the GAP can be accessed from Cumberland or Frostburg.

In Cumberland, we recommend starting at Canal Place, where the GAP meets the C&O Canal. Need a bike rental? Check out Wheelzup. Free overnight parking can be found off of Howard Street. Restroom Facilities are available at Canal Place Mile Marker 1.

In Frostburg, the trail can be accessed by the Old Train Depot. Need a bike rental? Check out Tracks and Yaks.

Many people refer to the C&O canal towpath, but what is it exactly? The towpath is the dirt and stone path that runs 184.5 miles along the C&O Canal, where visitors can walk, run, or bike the distance between Georgetown, D.C. and Cumberland, MD. It was originally built for the canal mules to walk beside the canal as they “towed” the canal boats through the waterway. Today, it is a popular recreational trail for the millions who visit each year.

If you're in Frederick, we suggest starting in Brunswick. There is plenty of free parking at the MARC Train station, which is right by the trail. The restroom in the train station is open from 4am-8pm on weekdays.

Need a bike rental? Check out Bridgeway Bikes at 5 W Potomac St, Brunswick, MD 21716.

The Western Maryland Rail Trail (WMRT) is about 28 miles long and parallels the C&O Canal Towpath for its entire length. A paved, linear trail, it is suited to anyone seeking a pleasant, leisurely outdoor experience - walking, running, biking, and inline skating. The easy grade and paved surface make this trail ideal for families, the elderly, and persons with limited mobility. The WMRT is wheelchair accessible.

Note: the Indigo Tunnel is closed, so between roughly miles 24–27 users are routed onto the C&O Canal Towpath for about two miles. That section is hard-packed dirt rather than paved and can be muddy after rain.

There are several parking and access areas for the rail trail. One at Big Pool, several in Hancock, one at Pearee Station, and one at Little Orleans. Currently at the Pearee and Little Orleans lots there are portable toilets. They will be removed at the beginning of November. Dogs are allowed as long as they are leashed.

Need a bike rental? Check out C&O Bicycle, 9 S Pennsylvania Ave, Hancock, MD 21750. You can also access the C&O Canal from here!

The Margraff mountain biking trail system is located in the Accident area of Savage River State Forest. It is almost 10 miles in length, and provides mountain biking trails of varied difficulty; beginner, intermediate, and advanced. There is also a 2 mile intermediate adaptive mountain biking loop. These trails can also be hiked. There are gravel roads within this system that provide additional biking and hiking miles. The gravel roads are also open to snowmobiles and horseback riding. There are 4 primitive campsites located within the system. The elevation is 2800 feet and visitors enjoy splendid views all year long.

There are no restroom facilities located on site. Dogs are allowed if leashed.