150 Miles. No Briefs. No Billables.
Recharge on the Great Allegheny Passage
Exploring the Great Allegheny Passage® is easy to fit into a demanding schedule. With clearly marked access points, trail towns spaced at manageable intervals, and itineraries that range from a single day to a full thru-ride, you can build a trip around your schedule rather than the other way around.
The GAP offers 150 miles of biking and hiking from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland. The nearly-level, crushed limestone path soars over valleys and snakes alongside rivers in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands.
Eastward from Cumberland, the GAP connects to Washington, D.C. by another trail, the C&O Canal Towpath. Our interactive map, TrailGuide, and directory feature trail towns and attractions found along both trails.
Featured Itineraries
Over the River and Through the Woods
Starting in Connellsville and heading to Cumberland, you’ll cover 88.8 miles over two days on what was once the Western Maryland Railway’s extension into Pennsylvania.
Ride the Divide
This ride features the most spectacular structures on the GAP and a chance to cross the Eastern Continental Divide.
Steel Valley Volley
Experience thrilling inclines and hills — both natural and made of steel — during this out-and-back trip between the Laurel Highlands and Pittsburgh’s South Side.
Get the TrailGuide
Official Guide to the Great Allegheny Passage
TrailGuide is packed with mile-by-mile trail descriptions, town maps and directories, and itineraries for day trips, weekends, and thru-rides.
The book also includes a mileage chart, a plan-your-trip checklist, suggestions on photo ops, options for camping, and a list of parking and trail access points.
At 232 pages, it’s comprehensive, but still fits nicely into a trunk-mounted rack or in the outside sleeve of a backpack. Included in every TrailGuide is a removable, two-sided, weatherproof map, showing both trails and hundreds of amenities.
The Latest From the Trail
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Pennsylvania Environmental Council Equips GAP Segment Owners and Volunteers with Mapping, Maintenance Toolkits
Big thanks to the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) for outfitting the Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy and its partners with toolkits and training for best-in-class trail maintenance practices. Its new certification program, Training Regional Advocates, Investing in Long-Term Sustainability (T.R.A.I.L.S.), is increasing the organizational capacity of segment owners and volunteer groups along the Great Allegheny Passage.…
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Insider Tips: Hidden Gems on the GAP
For 150 miles, the Great Allegheny Passage twists and turns along river valleys and over the Eastern Continental Divide. Bicycling, hiking, walking, and birdwatching are popular pastimes, with overnight travel among trail towns a favorite way to mark the miles. And in addition to the four deep tunnels you’ll pass through and 14 converted railroad…
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Miles of Trail. Endless Possibilities.
You’re ready to leave behind the pressure and the grind for some much-deserved peace and quiet. And maybe you’d like a fresh perspective. That’s all possible on the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage, a beloved green corridor winding through the Laurel Highlands, and a perfect place for bicycling, hiking, walking, or wandering. Deep woods, mountain meadows,…