Skip to main content

GAP and C&O Canal Trail Ride

This ride leads you along some of the country’s most scenic rail trails, winding through charming small towns. You’ll follow smooth dirt roads and peaceful trails with hardly a car in sight as we journey from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., uncovering America’s history along the way. Each evening, we’ll rest at inns and hotels conveniently close to the trail. Every day brings new rewards—from stunning rivers and vibrant fall colors to the unforgettable thrill of arriving at the nation’s capital!

Can’t join us for this one?

Accommodations
Inns and Hotels
A limited number of single supplements are available for an additional fee.
Total Mileage
340 Miles
Group Size
26
This trip is limited to 26 participants.
Range of Daily Mileage
40-75 miles
You’ll have options to shorten or lengthen daily mileages.
Fundraising Commitment (Choose your beneficiaries in Registration)
$2,900
Registration fee $100 until December 1, 2024
Recommended Bike Style
Gravel bike, Hybrid bike, or Road bike with larger tires
Trip Length
5 days

Introducing our newest adventure! Ride car-free on this epic journey and make a difference by choosing from our list of 100+ amazing beneficiaries.  Join us for a ride with purpose.

Experience the full journey along the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Rail Trail and the C&O Canal from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC. Enjoy 340 miles of car-free riding on one of America’s most iconic rail trails. This inn and hotel-based trip is limited to 25 participants and welcomes riders of all levels.

Starting in Pittsburgh, the Great Allegheny Passage is a breathtaking 150-mile trail adventure!  Soar over valleys, weave around mountains, and ride alongside the Casselman, Youghiogheny, and Monongahela Rivers on a smooth, car-free crushed-limestone path. This route follows historic footpaths and old railroad corridors, offering a front-row view into America’s history. Then we join the iconic C&O Canal Towpath, you can experience the thrill of riding all the way from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C.! 

More Details

This is more than a bike trip – it’s an inspiring journey with like-minded people united by their passion for sustainability and adventure. You can choose from our full list of beneficiaries and proceeds will be distributed to the Climate Ride grants program based on your beneficiary selection. You will have access to our superb personal fundraising software and the full support of our team. Participants may select their beneficiaries from our list of more than 100 extraordinary non-profit organizations.

By joining us, you’ll experience epic cycling, amazing scenery, and dynamic fellow riders & speakers that all combine to make this charitable event exciting, informative, and fun.

Our professional Climate Ride staff takes care of all the details, so you can focus on riding your bike on carefully planned routes on scenic back roads. It’s challenging yet doable, and you have all day to make it to the next rest stop. On the road, the Climate Ride support team is always nearby to assist you, keep you happy and healthy, and make your ride worry-free and memorable. You’ll settle into your new home at the beautiful Highland Lodge, a classic Vermont B&B with recently renovated cabins.

We provide daily cycling mileage to suit all types of cyclists, including shorter options as needed. We welcome every level of athlete – what’s most important to us is to welcome you into the Climate Ride community and provide a cycling experience that will inspire you to bike for the rest of your life. This is a fully supported ride which means you can focus on pedaling and making connections with your new friends while we take care of everything from overnight details, meals, snacks, luggage transport, and much more to make your trip as enjoyable as possible. Learn more in the FAQ.

What’s Included
  • Double occupancy rooms are included from Night 1 on September 18 through Night 4 on September 21 (a limited number of single rooms available for an additional single supplement fee).
  • All meals are provided from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 5, with the exception of one dinner on your own.  Breakfasts will be hosted by our hotels, inns, and B&Bs. 
  • Luggage transport
  • Professional guides and bike mechanic
  • Aid stations along the route

Not included:

  • Bike rental
  • Transportation to/from ride start and end
  • One dinner and any additional beverages
  • Gratuities for guides
  • Single supplement fee if needed: $375
Getting to and from the Ride & Bike Rental

Pittsburgh is easily accessible by plane, bus, train or car from Washington DC or other cities on the East Coast. If you plan to travel by train with your bicycle, we recommend booking your ticket early to ensure space for your bike. Some Amtrak schedules from DC to Pittsburgh allow you to bring your bike onboard without boxing it making it easy to arrive to the start of the ride by train.

Bike rental is available at https://www.wheelzupadventures.com/rentals/ making it easy for those who wish to rent a bike for the week. They can pick up your bike rental in DC at the end.

After our ride ends in DC, you can extend your stay, meet with your representatives or senators or catch a train, ride, or flight home. We recommend booking travel on September 21, 2025 no earlier than 6:00 PM.

What type of bike should I bring and what are the roads like?

The ideal bike for this trip would be a road bike or gravel bike with 700×32-38C tires. There are a variety of surface types along the route that may include dirt, pavement, crushed limestone, and mud depending on the weather. The climbs are gentle and even an older road bike with rim brakes and a compact double groupset would suffice as long as there is clearance for a wider tire.

Fundraising Beneficiaries

Cyclists can choose from the more than 100 incredible beneficiary organizations in our network! One of the things that make Climate Ride such an effective charitable event is that you can select the organization(s) you wish to benefit through the Climate Ride grants program. Our beneficiaries were selected for their work on the environment, conservation, sustainability, climate education, and active transportation advocacy. At the end of the year, Climate Ride grants the proceeds from our events to these hard-working organizations.

Fundraising and Transfer Deadlines | Important Dates

Fundraising Deadlines:

$500 to be raised by:6/18/2025
$1,500 to be raised by:7/17/2025
$2,900 to be raised by:8/18/2025

Transfer Deadline:

July 17, 2025

More Questions?

Be sure to review our general FAQ and policies or contact us!

Chris McEntee, Northeast Ride
Climate Ride Northeast

If you’re considering doing a Climate Ride, or questioning whether you have the physical ability to do it—I’d say to you, “If I can do it, you can do it.” I’m not a competitive cyclist; I rode on a hybrid bike, not a fancy road bike. You’ll be welcomed, you’ll be encouraged, and you’ll enjoy it. Anyone who’s determined and in reasonable shape can finish this ride.

Sarah Hadler
Maine

Climate Ride Maine was a joyous and rewarding experience! After completing the fundraising and the ride, I come back to my community, feeling strong and empowered and happy. I work in the field of bicycle education and advocacy, and it might sound strange to take time off to go on a long bike ride while raising money and bringing attention to organizations that are doing fine work in the areas of sustainability, health, and transportation advocacy, but for me, it was the ideal vacation! I got to be deliriously active (in a good way) every day while contributing to the bigger solutions around climate action, all in the company of some pretty wonderful people.

Anonymous

Best week of my year! Incredible to spend a week with over 100 people passionate about improving the world and their local communities, who also love biking! I made some great connections and am energized to keep going and reaching and working for change. And I will do this again for sure!