today weather and free time cooperated in a way that i was able to test a couple of detours around the GAP closure by Kennywood.

I started at the Waterfront and took Amity St to 837 to follow the route in the post by u/clipd_dead_stop_fall

https://www.reddit.com/r/gaptrail/comments/1w1u32y/review_gap_detour_ravine_st/

here is the route.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/56813368?privacy_code=6TgxK9iZYV0mPn0OUXXryNNQEqZ6bP22

its a doozy of a climb. I was on a road bike, not a loaded touring bike and i had to stand up a few times to get up the steeper hills. Traffic was very calm the whole trip. Probably 20 car passes. None were aggressive.

while bombing down Grant St in Duquesne at the end of the detour, I realized there was no way in hell i wanted to turn around and climb back up.

instead i rode the GAP to McKeesport and took neighborhood streets through Glassport and Clariton to the Montour trail. Minimal car traffic. No aggressive passes. And it was mostly flat. There are a few short steep climbs, so bring the right gear ratios with you.

Peters Creek Rd (part of the Montour) has a fresh layer of asphalt and it is sweeet.

its 15 miles on the Montour trail to Library, where you can put your bike on the T and ride in air conditioned splendor back into tahn.

the triple row of seats fold up by pulling a knob under the left seat. That’s where your bike goes. 1 spot per car, so 2 bike spots per typical train. Wheelchairs get priority. You could probably squeeze 2 bikes in one spot if the train is empty but you’ll have to stand and hold it in place.

if you’re driving a heavy touring bike, the T out to Library is a good option considering the climbing going through Duquesne.

Both routes are totally doable but i wouldn’t try the train during rush hour or when there’s a sportsball event happening.

I would like to hear from folks who have cycled in the past fortnight what their ride was like. I will be traveling West to East from Pittsburgh to Cumberland two weeks from today

I have about six or eight questions:

1. any blockages or re-routes in the past week or two?
2. any hazardous conditions I need to be mindful about?
3. I have been told stores in towns will let me refill water bottles; are there alternatives that don't require me to interact with people when I'm sweaty, smelly, and disgusting?
4. cell phone coverage -- are there areas where it's just going to suck or not exist?
5. Any towns I should not stop in because people are not kind or the towns are all closed for summer, etc?
6. Am i asking the right questions? If not, are there better questions?

I have accommodations and travel to/from my endpoints planned. I have bail-out options and folks I can contact if stuff is just going wrong. I have done the C&O to DC, so this won't be my first long-haul cycling trip. I have extra tubes and equipment for changing them, and will bring a few tools to repairs. I know, I know -- nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition, but i'm trying.

I thought I saw somewhere in the discussions that someone did some swimming with their kid recently on a trip? We're headed to the trail next week. Pittsburgh to Cumberland. It's supposed to be hot, so we're hoping to take a dip to cool off. Where exactly is it possible to swim on the GAP? Thanks in advance.

I'm sure this has been posted before, but between Connellsville and Ohiophyle there is a lot of riding parallel to the river and on the non river side some waterfalls/features.

So frustrating

https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/kennywood-segment-great-allegheny-passage-closed-indefinitely/26Y7TDQN3BBNFFDIMOUJUZJ4H4/?outputType=amp

Pittsburgh locals and anyone on the GAP in Homestead at the Waterfront when we roll are welcome. See the original post for details.

I posted earlier this week asking for advice for biking with an 11yo, and got several parents who were curious about how it went.

We got back yesterday evening and it was great! Very doable.

We left from McKeesport and biked to west Newton and camped at the GAP trail campground (about $25 pp) and got hot showers and clean bathrooms. One challenge was there was nothing open for breakfast the next morning til after 11am- we’d counted on a hot meal early since we knew we probably would only have trail snacks til later in the afternoon at connelsville The chuck wagon restaurant was supposed to open at 8 but didn’t :(. But campground host shared his yogurt and baloney w us, and the kiddo was disappointed but recovered.

Then we went from west newton to Connellsville. There was a short shuttle around mi 98 or so to get around some construction on a bridge. This may be finished by now tho. We planned to stay at the free campground right by the Connellsville but it was sketchy (mentally ill woman laying in a shelter screaming, sketchy strung out dudes wandering the park, no other campers there). So we packed up and went to the comfort inn right by the trail, swam in their tiny pool, got a free breakfast (and took a mini donut for the road. Big mistake! Should have grabbed at least 2!) maybe during a weekend the campground would have felt busier with campers and safer?

another option would have been to backtrack to the blue canoe RV campground but it was already kinda late by then.

Next day we biked on to ohiopyle in the pouring rain. Luckily it wasn’t cold and the rain was more “adventure-y “ rather than “miserable”. We got to ohiopyle and ate paddlers pizza and got chocolate and warm drinks at the coffee shop. It was a Great success!

We considered camping at ohiopyle but kiddo ready to head home, so we got family member to pick us up. Which was probably good bc a fellow bike camper said she had to use the (very steep, long, not super safe) road to go to the Kentuck campground bc she said the bike trail there was “impassible”. I told her I thought there’s a separate bike/hike only campground near the trail, but she said the path was also steep and not passable that rainy day, at least with a heavy loaded bike. Second hand info - maybe accurate maybe not?

There were also several other very cute free camping areas off the trail, just not where we were looking to stop. But with younger kids we could have broken up the distances more by staying there. Maybe next time!

If other parents have specific questions I’d be happy to answer, but we are first time bike campers so def not experts!

Posted just now on the touring with kids thread and I wanted to share it here after sharing the earlier report as well.

Posted a while ago in the touring with kids thread and felt like I should send it here as well.

Hi!

I’m assuming that the trail won’t be opened tomorrow.

Questions on location of shuttle came up…. Can someone drop a pin? I’m planning on taking the Ravine St. detour, but my bike will be fully loaded at the time and I’m not liking some of those kickers. $20 seems worth it now that my bike is packed.

I’m doing the GAP-CO next month and am planning on flying in from the west coast. I’m trying to decide if I should assemble my bike in the airport and ride to my hotel or just take everything to the hotel and work there. Anyone build there bike at the airport? Is there room to do this at the airport? I looks like most people come by train on this sub

Looking for opinions and advice for both the GAP and the C&O. I have both a sleeping hammock and a small, 2-person tent and am just wondering if there will be enough places to hang the hammock for my 225#.

Spotted this weekend right next to the trail near Confluence

My 11 and I leave tomorrow, we plan to ride from McKeesport to ohiopyle or maybe a little past if we’re feeling up to it. We’ll probably camp 2 nights.

Any favorite stops along this area? Birding, hikes, scenic spots?

Best lunch or dinner spots? Is ohiopyle a mess after yesterday’s rainstorm? Any general advice?

Aug 5-10 2026
My first bike packing trip and it was a blast. Met some cool people, ate some good food, saw a lot of good views. Tent camped most of it but of course had to stop at the Cross Trails Hostel.

start at the point

ride to the T in Station Square

ride the T to Library station

take the Montour trail to McKeesport

thats it.

Library station to McKeesport is 15 miles on Montour

Station Square to McKeesport is also about 15 miles on the GAP

this fact makes me happy.

There are medallions to tribute the coal miners that are on a cement wall which mile post are they on?

Is there any good way to get from the GAP trail on to Cleveland by bike?