GAP Trail tunnel detour?

[peterharris]

I'm planning a short trip up-and-back on the Great Allegheny Passage Trail the few days before Thanksgiving (probably Nov 21-23). I'm going north from Cumberland to Rockwood then returning a couple of days later - that part of the trail has me going through the Big Savage Tunnel. In reading the website and maps put out by the trail organization, I see conflicting information about the annual closing of that tunnel (due to weather, I presume).

Their web-based maps say the tunnel is closed from late November through early April and that there is NO easy detour. But their annual TrailBook says the tunnel is closed from early December to early April and that there’s a seasonal detour. I e-mailed the trail org a few weeks ago about the conflicting information but haven't heard back from them.

Does anyone have any experience/information about this? I'm less concerned about exactly when the tunnel closes (although early December would be better) than I am about knowing what the seasonal detour is. I've searched their website and the TrailBook high and low and can find no information about the "seasonal detour." Not being familiar with the area, I'm reluctant to guess at what a detour might be.