Looking for advice from Pittsburgh, west to TA.

[Symmachus]

I live in the DC area and wonder if it’s better to take the classic TA route from Yorktown west or ride the C&O canal and GAP trails to Pittsburgh and west to eventually link up with the TA in Missouri. Is there a bike friendly way to get there from Pittsburgh ? Thanks, bike gurus extraordinaire!


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[John Nettles]

Google the "Eastern TransAm Express Bicycle Route".  It is a non-ACA but fairly well designed route going from DC to Walden, CO where it connects with the TA. 

[TCS]

Sections of Adventure Cycling Association's own 'Chicago to New York' and 'Underground Railroad' cycletouring routes will take you from Pittsburg to the TA just across the river from Cave-In-Rock, Illinois.

https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/interactive-network-map/

[aggie]

Last summer/spring I started my eastbound tour on the TA in Newton, KS.  I left the TA and continued east on hwy 54 at the Lizard Lips Cafe.  I went to Iola, KS where I went north on the Prairie Spirit Rail Trail.  That trail ends in Ottawa, KS where you take the Flint Hills rail trail to Osawatomie, KS.  From there you take roads to Clinton, MO which is the beginning/end of the Katy Trail.  The Eastern Express leaves the Katy Trail in Boonville.  The Eastern Express uses the same route at the ACA NYC to Chicago route from Pittsburgh to Zanesville, OH.  I used the ACA NYC to Chicago route from Indianapolis, IN to Columbus, OH.  I rode hwy 40 from Indianapolis to Terre Haute, IN.  Since I was eastbound I left the Eastern Express in Terre Haute.  The Eastern Express route bypasses Columbus, Dayton, and Indianapolis.  It may be easier to follow John's advice to take the Eastern Express for DC to Walden, CO.  The web site for the Eastern Express is https://www.easternexpressroute.com/

I really enjoyed riding the rail trails in KS, MO, IL and especially OH.

[John Nettles]

Aggie,  while I know that the Prairie Spirit Trail is chat/crush limestone and is in fairly decent riding condition for "regular" touring tires, what is the condition of the Flint Hills Trail?  I keep getting conflicting reports.
Tailwinds, John

[aggie]

Ottawa to Osawatomie isn't too bad.  Don't know about the rest.  The big difference is Prairie Spirit is a state park and it is $4/day to use.  The state rangers keep in very nice condition.   I met one on my ride and he did ask to see my permit.   I understand Flint Hills is volunteer so it isn't maintained as nicely as Prairie Spirit.  I rode the trails on 700x30 tires with no problems.

[John Nettles]

"I rode the trails on 700x30 tires with no problems."

Great!  That is what I am looking to hear.  Tailwinds, John

[Symmachus]

Thanks guys, very helpful advice. I’m taking a look at the Eastern Express TransAm route as recommended and I’m intrigued. It would be awesome to take advantage of the C&O, GAP and other trails available.
Eric


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[impulsepp]

Thanks guys, very helpful advice.


Vegus

[rootchopper]

I've done something like this in 2018 and 2019. DC to Pittsburgh via the C&O Canal and the Gap Trails. From Pittsburgh take the ACA NYC to Chicago route west. This intersects with the Northern Tier in Indiana. Take that west until it intersects with Route 66 in Odell IL. Follow Route 66 southwest to Marshfield MO where it intersects with the Trans AM.

Don't rule out cutting some corners. You can bypass Pittsburgh by heading west from West Newton PA to Wheeling WV and pick up the Chicago route there.

Good luck

[Twitch]

I recently rode the Terre Haute to St Louis portion of the Eastern Express and it was fine. In some spots there is a little less shoulder than ideal but even for a novice traveling with kids like myself I found it reasonable. I haven’t hit the OH and IN portions yet.

[jobrien1956]

rootchopper wrote the following
You can bypass Pittsburgh by heading west from West Newton PA to Wheeling WV and pick up the Chicago route there.

Does anyone have any more detail on taking this approach to getting from Wheeling, WV to West Newton and the C&O?

Thanks

[HikeBikeCook]

I am planning on using this route for our TransAM next spring and having ridden the GAP plan to totally avoid Pittsburgh. The trail goes down hill past West Newton as far as scenic, the final trail miles are paved, hilly, sharp corners and lots of fast local riders to contend with - and that's the good part. After your cross the bridge in McKeesport it is open hot blacktop with numerous bridge crossings - up a ramp, 90 degree turn, over the river, 90 degree turn, down a ramp - weave around day riders and pedestrians - not fun with a loaded bike in 90 degrees and no shade. Any way, did not look at cutting from West Newton directly to Wheeling (but I will now). I do have a route that leaves the GAP in West Newton follows RT 136 over the hill, crosses the Monongahela River on a bike route designated bridge in Monongahela and then heads over the toeh Cecil Henderson Campsite on the Montour trail.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/40.2113869,-79.7701567/40.1973658,-79.9184379/40.3126367,-80.1717081/@40.0489747,-80.8502549,9z/data=!4m45!4m44!1m0!1m40!3m4!1m2!1d-79.9527072!2d40.1982644!3s0x8834fd7d5a501077:0x7418365f31accfb3!3m4!1m2!1d-79.9650586!2d40.1974468!3s0x8835027fc2314367:0x8a1cfbf48d7c42b1!3m4!1m2!1d-79.9994815!2d40.1957543!3s0x88350205c1950e65:0xe91e801e408ff56c!3m4!1m2!1d-80.0141613!2d40.1976859!3s0x883501fc07837c9b:0x9acc6f729a2e12a!3m4!1m2!1d-80.0165139!2d40.2024777!3s0x883501fd900a2105:0xcd37815150b4a724!3m4!1m2!1d-80.0142016!2d40.2036324!3s0x8834fe0200ed511d:0x4c6edf8fcdf81c9f!3m4!1m2!1d-80.0258658!2d40.2171081!3s0x8834fe11b525c2a5:0xb224ae66fc5e52df!3m4!1m2!1d-80.0490124!2d40.2419247!3s0x8834fe53f4f5ac63:0xecee3e17db9ad06c!1m0!3e1?hl=en-US

[HikeBikeCook]

Just a quick look at West Newton directly to Wheeling. I have no Google ridden this or done any sanity checks but could save a few miles.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/40.2113869,-79.7701567/40.1973658,-79.9184379/40.0673869,-80.721335/@40.0855312,-80.515507,13z/data=!4m50!4m49!1m0!1m45!3m4!1m2!1d-79.9527072!2d40.1982644!3s0x8834fd7d5a501077:0x7418365f31accfb3!3m4!1m2!1d-79.9650586!2d40.1974468!3s0x8835027fc2314367:0x8a1cfbf48d7c42b1!3m4!1m2!1d-79.9994815!2d40.1957543!3s0x88350205c1950e65:0xe91e801e408ff56c!3m4!1m2!1d-80.0123245!2d40.1956395!3s0x883501f89a4bec6d:0x1369c4ae91627ceb!3m4!1m2!1d-80.017016!2d40.1924375!3s0x883501f0666dc175:0xf3035fa8e4cab486!3m4!1m2!1d-80.0226364!2d40.1917073!3s0x883501efa667e8f7:0x832e9ea96a31ee63!3m4!1m2!1d-80.0366101!2d40.1814725!3s0x883501beda16fd1d:0x6db403dcd3f17a9f!3m4!1m2!1d-80.0926557!2d40.1844395!3s0x883500715f396f71:0x92c5e7cf47aefbb5!3m4!1m2!1d-80.1412629!2d40.1834663!3s0x8835aafccb71fd73:0x319398bbe37b7ba!1m0!3e1?hl=en-US

[SandyE]

Hi Hike/Bike/Cook,
Was just reading your entry in the ACA discussion forum about modified route from West Newton to Wheeling from the Eastern Express route. I’m planning on doing the Eastern Express this year and was wondering if you actually rode your alternate route to Wheeling and what you thought of it. Also, do you have a journal from your trip?

Thanks!