Camping, GAP Trail
Ride the GAP Trail from Connellsville, PA, to the Continental Divide and back. We may choose to not make advance reservations for some nights so you should be prepared for adventure. This has been planned to allow you to ride either 3 days or 5 days. Please let
Ron Townsend
know if you are planning to go by July 7th to be included in any group reservations. After that date, we will try to accommodate you on our group reservation, but if not you may be on your own to reserve spots at campgrounds.
Subject: GAP TRAIL bike / camping trip 9/6 - 9/10
To: swnewsgroup@silverwhellscycling.com
GAP overview info:
( Vermilion to Connellsville 3 ½ hours est)
1. The trail as we depart from Connellsville PA is less than 1% grade, until we reach the Continental Divide which separates the rivers flowing east to the Chesapeake or west to the Mississippi. Once we begin the return it’s a down grade the whole way back. ya hoo!
2. If anyone wants to you, during our return at Connellsville from Rockwood you could depart for home, or spend the night camping and then return home the next day.
3. There are hotel accommodations available at each location if camping is something that’s not for you.
Night Before Trip, there are local hotels and/ or camping if you do not want to dive in that morning. Vehicle Parking will be in/on a small strip mall parking lot. Lighted all night, patrolled by local cops.
Note- remember this is a camping trip and while there will be places for dinner if you donot want to cook your own, you should to be safe plan on having breakfast (coffee) and lunch on the trail.
Day 1 Depart from Connellsville, PA at 11 am, heading south/east for 28 +/- miles. We will stop at OHIO PYLE a very popular river rafting trip drop-in area for lunch/snacks/break, then on to Confluence, PA. A small town with a few restaurants, shops, hotels and oh yea, a Bar. Camping will be at Peddlers Lane Camp-Ground #814-964-0410. Bathrooms and showers
Price $10.00 per site multi tents ok.
- Day 2 Confluence, PA to the Continental Divide, (which is just before Frostburg, MD +/- 47 miles) lunch/snack/ rest - Photo op) turn around and ride to Rockwood, PA +/- 28 miles. *** Note after leaving Confluence, PA we will go through Rockwood, PA (19 miles) we can stop at the camp location -Husky Haven #814-926-2024 and drop any gear.(tents, Pannier (s) this will make our trip much easier. Husky Haven $25.00 non-refundable reservation, Group Camp site $10.00 per person.($25.00 is deducted from total per-person camp fee) On site Chemical Toilets and Hot Showers are1/4 mile away at the guest house.
- Day 3 Rockwood to Connellsville, PA, again stop at Ohio Pyle ( the Yough or the Youghiogheny River was used in River Rapids training for the US Olympic Team, great rafting) then on to Connellsville, PA. *** Here is where anyone could shorten the trip into a two/three day trip (our cars are here we can also drop things off or pick up new stuff). Campers going on will camp at the Adelaide Camping, #724-628-4880, $15.00 per site allowing multi tents per site, no reservations required if coming from trail. I am told they guarantee space, it’s a large field. Call ahead if arrival will be after 8:30pm or see security guard. (I have camped here) bathrooms and showers available. Connellsville has small restaurants, Pizza shops, Bar's and hotels.
- Day 4 Connellsville to Buena Vista, PA a 33 mile ride. This site is at a first come first serve location, and sites are behind the local cemetery so I guess there is always room... can you say scary? We may see the confluence of the Yough and the Monongahela Rivers.
- Day 5 return from Buena Vista, PA back to Connellsvile, PA. Pack up cars and head for home.... Lots of fun.....
PS there will be a scheduled trip meeting to iron out any questions/ issues.
Let me know,
Ron T.
Event Link:
https://ridewithgps.com/events/70705-gap
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8/23/19
Gap Trail Cycle/Camping trip date (9/6 -9/10) is closing in, please let me know if you are planning on attending, no matter if you are camping or hoteling it, call me at #216-554-7091 or email me (bpdnsadea42@gmail.com). I am aware bikers who are planning on biking along as far as the Continental Divide (day 2). They plan to separate and continue down to Cumberland, MD and return via Amtrack.
The Cobblestone Hotel/Suites (Tammy) #724-603-3580 @325 First Street (on the trail), Connellsville, PA has agreed to allow all of our cars to park on their lot. Our departure time is 11am. Camping the night before will/can be at KOA/ Riversedge, #724-628-4880 reservations not required when biking off the trail $15.00 per person, (which is 3 miles west/down river (I will be camping). We will bike back the 3 miles to the Cobblestone Hotel by 11am.
There was one correction brought to my attention, the trail is NOT a 6% grade as stated, it is approx.1% grade.
*** Also, I just learned that the Riversedge Campground ( which is where we will be camping on our return route, has a river float which leaves from town center near the hotel, so bring your bathing suit or other attire if you which to cool off...
Ron T.
