September 12-16, 2025 (Open)
September 18-22, 2025 (Full)
GAP and C&O Canal Trail Ride
Enjoy 340 miles of car-free riding on one of America’s most iconic rail trails over five unforgettable days.
About the Ride
This Ride connects two of America’s Iconic Rail trails for a historic cycling adventure.
September 12-16 (Open) September 18-22, 2025 (full)
Pittsburgh to Washington D.C.
This ride leads you along some of the country’s most scenic rail trails, winding through charming small towns. You’ll follow smooth dirt roads and peaceful trails with hardly a car in sight as we journey from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., uncovering America’s history along the way. Each evening, we’ll rest at inns and hotels conveniently close to the trail. Every day brings new rewards—from stunning rivers and vibrant fall colors to the unforgettable thrill of arriving at the nation’s capital!
Can’t join us for this one?
Event Details
Positive Planet Impact
Full Event Story
Introducing our newest adventure! Ride car-free on this epic journey and make a difference by choosing from our list of 100+ amazing beneficiaries. Join us for a ride with purpose.
Experience the full journey along the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Rail Trail and the C&O Canal from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC. Enjoy 340 miles of car-free riding on one of America’s most iconic rail trails. This inn and hotel-based trip is limited to 25 participants and welcomes riders of all levels.
Starting in Pittsburgh, the Great Allegheny Passage is a breathtaking 150-mile trail adventure! Soar over valleys, weave around mountains, and ride alongside the Casselman, Youghiogheny, and Monongahela Rivers on a smooth, car-free crushed-limestone path. This route follows historic footpaths and old railroad corridors, offering a front-row view into America’s history. Then we join the iconic C&O Canal Towpath, you can experience the thrill of riding all the way from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C.!
More Details
This is more than a bike trip – it’s an inspiring journey with like-minded people united by their passion for sustainability and adventure. You can choose from our full list of beneficiaries and proceeds will be distributed to the Climate Ride grants program based on your beneficiary selection. You will have access to our superb personal fundraising software and the full support of our team. Participants may select their beneficiaries from our list of more than 100 extraordinary non-profit organizations.
By joining us, you’ll experience epic cycling, amazing scenery, and dynamic fellow riders & speakers that all combine to make this charitable event exciting, informative, and fun.
Our professional Climate Ride staff takes care of all the details, so you can focus on riding your bike on carefully planned routes on scenic back roads. It’s challenging yet doable, and you have all day to make it to the next rest stop. On the road, the Climate Ride support team is always nearby to assist you, keep you happy and healthy, and make your ride worry-free and memorable. You’ll settle into your new home at the beautiful Highland Lodge, a classic Vermont B&B with recently renovated cabins.
We provide daily cycling mileage to suit all types of cyclists, including shorter options as needed. We welcome every level of athlete – what’s most important to us is to welcome you into the Climate Ride community and provide a cycling experience that will inspire you to bike for the rest of your life. This is a fully supported ride which means you can focus on pedaling and making connections with your new friends while we take care of everything from overnight details, meals, snacks, luggage transport, and much more to make your trip as enjoyable as possible. Learn more in the FAQ.
Photo Gallery
Itinerary Overview
Itinerary subject to change, your Ride Guide will include full details.
Day 1
60 Miles, 1,400 feet of climbing, 1,250 feet of descent
We kick off in Pittsburgh, PA, where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers meet to form the Ohio River. Our journey begins along the iconic Great Allegheny Passage (GAP), a historic 150-mile trail completed in 2013 that traces the paths of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, Union Railroad, and Western Maryland Railway. Today’s 60-mile ride follows a gentle, steady climb upstream to the charming town of Connellsville, PA, where we’ll stay at a cozy hotel right by the trail and enjoy a welcome dinner together. Expect a mix of pavement and crushed limestone as we settle into the trail life!
Day 2
75 Miles, 2,850 feet of climbing, 1,700 feet of descent
It’s our longest, most challenging day! We’ll continue climbing gently toward the end of the GAP trail and cross into Maryland. For those looking for a little extra adventure, there’s an optional side trip to Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Fallingwater, adding 8 bonus miles and a few hills. We’ll finish in Frostburg, MD, with a hearty dinner and time to unwind in the hotel’s indoor pool.
Day 3
70 Miles, 750 feet of climbing, 2,127 feet of descent
Today is mostly downhill as we transition onto the historic C&O Towpath, once used for towing boats upstream! We’ll wind through stunning narrows—canyon-like stretches carved by rivers—and ride through tunnels that stretch for thousands of feet (don’t forget a headlamp for this thrilling day!). Our destination is Berkeley Springs, where a spa awaits just a half-mile from the trail. Known for its mineral springs, this town was even visited by George Washington for its healing waters!
Day 4
69 Miles, 900 feet of climbing, 1,100 feet of descent
Starting with 22 miles on pavement, we enter the scenic Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park. Riding between rugged cliffs and the lively river, we’ll cross between Maryland and West Virginia. By day’s end, we’ll reach the historic town of Harpers Ferry, where we’ll stay at a beautiful B&B and fuel up for our final day with a big dinner.
Day 5
60 Miles, 445 feet of climbing, 710 feet of descent
On our final day, we follow the Potomac River all the way into Washington, D.C.! This relaxed, mixed-surface ride is the perfect finish, and we’ll celebrate our journey on both the GAP and C&O trails with a celebratory picnic lunch. After toasting our accomplishments, we’ll say our goodbyes and look forward to reuniting on our next Climate Ride adventure!
Ready to get started?
FAQs and More Info
What’s Included
- Double occupancy rooms are included from Night 1 on September 18 through Night 4 on September 21 (a limited number of single rooms available for an additional single supplement fee).
- All meals are provided from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 5, with the exception of one dinner on your own. Breakfasts will be hosted by our hotels, inns, and B&Bs.
- Luggage transport
- Professional guides and bike mechanic
- Aid stations along the route
Not included:
- Bike rental
- Transportation to/from ride start and end
- One dinner and any additional beverages
- Gratuities for guides
- Single supplement fee if needed: $375
Getting to and from the Ride & Bike Rental
Pittsburgh is easily accessible by plane, bus, train or car from Washington DC or other cities on the East Coast. If you plan to travel by train with your bicycle, we recommend booking your ticket early to ensure space for your bike. Some Amtrak schedules from DC to Pittsburgh allow you to bring your bike onboard without boxing it making it easy to arrive to the start of the ride by train.
Bike rental is available at https://www.wheelzupadventures.com/rentals/ making it easy for those who wish to rent a bike for the week. They can pick up your bike rental in DC at the end.
After our ride ends in DC, you can extend your stay, meet with your representatives or senators or catch a train, ride, or flight home. We recommend booking travel on September 21, 2025 no earlier than 6:00 PM.
What type of bike should I bring and what are the roads like?
The ideal bike for this trip would be a road bike or gravel bike with 700×32-38C tires. There are a variety of surface types along the route that may include dirt, pavement, crushed limestone, and mud depending on the weather. The climbs are gentle and even an older road bike with rim brakes and a compact double groupset would suffice as long as there is clearance for a wider tire.
Fundraising Beneficiaries
Cyclists can choose from the more than 100 incredible beneficiary organizations in our network! One of the things that make Climate Ride such an effective charitable event is that you can select the organization(s) you wish to benefit through the Climate Ride grants program. Our beneficiaries were selected for their work on the environment, conservation, sustainability, climate education, and active transportation advocacy. At the end of the year, Climate Ride grants the proceeds from our events to these hard-working organizations.
Fundraising and Transfer Deadlines | Important Dates
Fundraising Deadlines:
| $500 to be raised by: | 6/18/2025 |
| $1,500 to be raised by: | 7/17/2025 |
| $2,900 to be raised by: | 8/18/2025 |
Transfer Deadline:
July 17, 2025
More Questions?
Be sure to review our general FAQ and policies or contact us!
