Allegheny Bike Route

[dubovsmj]

just wondering if anyone out there has done the somewhat new Allegheny
Loop trail and/or if they used the "print at home" option or if they had
ACA print the map for them...

[bike_E]

I', hoping to do the Allegheny Route this month and would be interesting in hearing your logisitical plans.  Do you have a vehicle drop off and pick up?  Found locals to drop you off?

[rcrampton]

I'll be doing the Alleghany route in October so I'm also curious to see what you guys here in this thread.

My parents are dropping my brother and I off and picking us up. We'll ride however many miles we ride but looking to do a little under 300 miles over 8 days.

[dubovsmj]

i've got a friend down there in radford area that i would just be starting out from and be able to leave car down there...seeing i live up in harrisonburg, va it's not far drive down there anyways....i'll prob be looking to do the loop sometime in the fall i reckon and haven't planned too much out yet...so big help this "reply" was eh?

[jdmcpartland]

Coincidentally I'm headed to the Great Allegheny Trail today and wondered where the Loop is located? I plan to start at Rockland and then head up to McKeesport & then back to Rockland and points South.

[FredHiltz]

Hi JDM. Too late, but when you get back you can see an overview of the loop on the ACA web site. How was the ride? You certainly had fine weather.

Fred

[amy]

We just returned from 8 days on this route - 350 miles.  Parked car at Tangent Outfitters in Pembroke.  Rode CCW.  Gravel was rocky and slowed us down more than expected.  "Smaller" hills wore us down.  Paved climbs about as expected.  Some camping and some hotels.  Depot Lodge in Paint Bank and Old Clark Inn in Marlinton both wonderful.  Laurel Forks campground worth the downhill.  Not all campgrounds have water - be careful.  Traffic light but may increase as leaves turn.

[rcrampton]

Amy, would it be reasonable to find stealth camping areas along the trail? Or would you pretty much have to stick to the campgrounds shown on the ACA map?

[amy]

In the National Forests there are definitely places you would be able to camp, but I don't know what the rules are and I know some of the route is in Wilderness.  I'd check with the Forest Service.  Along the Greenbrier Trail there are quite a few sites already & all maintained - I wouldn't advise your own.

[CMajernik]

I want to make a clarification from the last post. The route does NOT go
through any wilderness (bicycles are not allowed in wilderness areas) - it
uses a gravel road that winds alongside the Laurel Fork Wilderness
boundary.

Camping is allowed anywhere in the national forests as long as you follow
the policy of "Pack it in, Pack it out. Leave no trace." There are
occasionally restrictions on certain areas so it's best to check with the
specific national forest.