Sleep Under the Stars from Washington, D.C. to Pittsburgh
Ready to slow-roll with all your gear, independent and free? Here’s one variant of a self-supported trip that takes advantage of the many hiker-biker campgrounds along the C&O Canal Towpath and a mix of public and commercial ones along the GAP. Your days are between 30 and 50 miles. Take advantage of trail towns to stock up on groceries.
You can do it in a week plus two adjacent weekends. We suggest starting in Washington, D.C. to tackle the bumpier towpath first. Use Amtrak’s Capitol Limited or a shuttle service for your return trip. You can modify this itinerary by swapping in other campgrounds.
| Start | End | Mileage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Washington D.C. | Chisel Branch | 30.5 Miles |
| Day 2 | Chisel Branch | Huckleberry Hill | 32.4 Miles |
| Day 3 | Huckleberry Hill | Jordan Junction | 38.3 Miles |
| Day 4 | Jordan Junction | Indigo Neck | 38.0 Miles |
| Day 5 | Indigo Neck | Evitts Creek | 40.9 Miles |
| Day 6 | Evitts Creek | Maple Festival Park Primitive Campground | 36.3 Miles |
| Day 7 | Maple Festival Park Primitve Campground | Youghiogheny Dam Outflow Campground | 29.5 Miles |
| Day 8 | Youghiogheny Dam Outflow Campground | Cedar Creek Park Campground | 48.9 Miles |
| Day 9 | Cedar Creek Park Campground | Downtown Pittsburgh | 38.6 Miles |
Plan a Day Trip
Explore a beautiful stretch of the GAP or C&O Canal Towpath! Visit a trail town on one of these recommended one way or round trip circuits.