Paw Paw WV to Senecaville OH via GAP

[Twitch]

Planning to knock out another 4-5 days next week on our cross country journey.  Wondering if any has current status or conditions of the route from Paw Paw WV up to Pittsburgh and then west through Wheeling WV?  Stores open?  Campgrounds?  Restaurants?  How’s the trail? 

Thanks for any information you have.

[John Nettles]

I think "The GAP" has a forum that might be a more informed group.  However, let us know how it goes as we are thinking about this for the fall.  John

[Johnny10000]

Should be fine although it rained in SW PA pretty good yesterday.  Paw Paw to Cumberland on the C&O could be muddy if it rained there but passable as long as you accept you will get muddy.  The campgrounds on the C&O are open but the water pumps are still locked and you may want to bring toilet paper.

Cumberland to Pittsburgh on the Great Allegheny Passage is crushed limestone rail trail so it will be in better condition than the C&O.  Drains pretty good.  Panhandle Trail (Pittsburgh suburbs to Weirton, WV) will be fine.  First 7 miles are crushed limestone.  The next 17 miles are paved asphalt.  Finally, the last 4 miles as you enter West Virginia are crushed gravel but a bit rougher of a ride.  That trail is run by four different groups/municipalities.  The last chance to grab food/water is Burgettstown before you get to Weirton as it's pretty remote.  I've never ridden in eastern Ohio. 

How are you connecting from downtown Pittsburgh to Panhandle Trail?  Most might take Neville Island to get on the western end of the Montour Trail, which then intersects with the Panhandle Trail but I've never done it.  You could also exit the GAP at McKeesport and connect to the eastern end of the Montour Trail at Clairton.  From McKeesport you take the Clairton Connector (https://steelvalleytrail.org/map/) and avoid Pittsburgh altogether.  I quite enjoy going all the way to Pittsburgh as the last miles into Pittsburgh are mostly paved with lots of bridges, trains and of course a cool skyline approach.  it just depends what you want. 

As John N. suggested, here's a good forum that is more localized to get you to Pittsburgh:  https://bikecando.com/forum.aspx

The counties you are going through in PA all went Green today (June 5) so you should be fine.  At worst, there will be some minor restrictions (take out food, facemask). 

Happy riding!
John

[smithroadie]

Do you know of the rail trails in West Virginia running along the Ohio River into Wheeling?  See https://www.traillink.com/state/wv-trails.
From Paw Paw on the C&O to Cumberland, then GAP to McKeesport, then Clairion Connection to the Montour Trail then Panhandle Trail to Weirton all good.  Once in Weirton, riding south on Rt 2 starts with 4 lane with shoulders but get very narrow with not shoulders for about 1.5 miles into Follansbee, WV, but south of there you can catch the Wellsburg Yankee Trail which connects with the Brooke Pioneer Trail which connects with the Wheeling Heritage Trail.  Once in Wheeling, you planning on taking Rt 40 west into Ohio to get to Senecaville?

John Supan
Wheeling area native