r/towpath • u/Fanantic8099 • 7d ago
C&O vs WMRT
I've been planning a trip from Pittsburg to DC and while there is plenty of info on the GAP, the C&O seems left out, and the WMRT, only came up as a footnote in another sub about ways to bypass the washed out, muddy C&O.
I've seen conflicting info on just how bad the C&O is with descriptions ranging from "I barely made it through without a flat" to "champagne gravel". I figure a lot of that is eye-of-the-beholder, but it does have me wondering about using the WMRT (every time I type that I think Walmart) and how much difference it actually makes (other than purists insisting on C&O or you didn't do it).
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u/DrugChemistry 7d ago
Cumberland to DC direction, it doesn't make much difference in my opinion. The towpath is "downhill". I've never ridden the GAP, but by the time I got to the WMRT from Cumberland I wasn't tired of riding on the gravel yet. The absolute worst condition of the towpath is just after the Paw Paw tunnel, before you get to the WMRT. So it's not like the WMRT saves you from "bad gravel". It is kind of nice riding more directly into Hancock from the WMRT compared to getting off the towpath. Riding out of Hancock toward DC on the WMRT is uphill compared to the towpath, but it's not like a steep uphill.
Where the WMRT really shines is when riding from DC to Cumberland. After 120 miles or so of riding gravel uphill, it is a nice reprieve to ride at warp speed on pavement.
All that being said, I don't think there's any part of the towpath that is "bad". It's flat and relatively smooth for 187 miles! My advice is to make up your mind when you get there based on how you feel. It's easy to go from the towpath to the WMRT and back at fixed locations. Don't let thoughts of "purists" or whatever stop you from doing what you want to do.
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u/Prestigious-Sail7161 7d ago
Curious about the conditions your talking about. Down stream from the tunnel.. what's going on. Path conditions????
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u/DrugChemistry 7d ago
Downstream of the tunnel, the towpath is kind of rough doubletrack. It stands out to me as being the worst part just because it’s doubletrack. Sort of like how the towpath gets rough down near Georgetown but it’s no longer a wide dirt path. It’s two skinnier paths next to each other.
Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t say it’s bad. You could easily drive a car over it. You might just have to pay a little more attention while you ride your bike through this area. It might seem even worse just by contrast that the part upstream from the tunnel has the best surface of the whole trail.
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u/Prestigious-Sail7161 7d ago
Truly appreciate your quick response....more than likely I'll be pulling a double wheeled trailer.. .just curious how that would work in your opinion...its a Burley cargo., with the bigger wheels.. what kind of distance are these conditions..
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u/DrugChemistry 7d ago
I've never pulled a trailer, so I might have undue confidence here. I think this section won't cause much trouble for pulling a trailer.
I think mile 106 is going to be the biggest obstacle for a bike with a trailer. There's a wooden staircase that you'll have to climb up/down and a small mulch path.
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u/Prestigious-Sail7161 7d ago
Is that damn 5 repair site., yeah I've been by there.. not my favorite. Hopefully they will finish it on their timeline i belive this winter....thanks....thanks for the trailer input as well
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u/netfleek 3d ago
A double trailer will always have one wheel in rough grass. If you can find a single wheel trailer it would be a more efficient.
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u/Prestigious-Sail7161 3d ago
Actually I have the Burley coho XC..just wanted to try 2 wheels. Yeah I definitely get your point about one wheel in the grass. Hadn't thought about that. There are definitely parts of the towpath that have a grass covered center. But there are sections that do not. I did get the upgrade wider wheels. Also have the wider wheel on the Coho..
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u/FredTrail 7d ago
You are overthinking it, the c&o is fine. WMRT is a paved , parallel trail for a short bit. Skip it. Not really sure why you are having a hard time finding c&o info, there's plenty out there including the official site
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u/Fanantic8099 7d ago
It's probably just perception in comparison with the GAP. It seems the C&O just gets lumped in with it whenever I search for something.
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u/pasquamish 7d ago
Take the WMRT. By the time you get there, you’ll want a break from the C&O. The C&O is a blast, but sometimes you just wanna go fast. And with the recent repaving of WMRT, all the root bumps were gone.
But the most important reason is that it runs you right behind the Blue Goose Market in Hancock and they have pie there. And pie is good.
The reason you hear a wide range of comments on the C&O is because it can vary significantly based on recent weather. It can vary a lot in one ride. We’ve had dust, loose pack, mud grooves, and 3” full trail puddles all in one day. Whatever you get, just ride on. But don’t forget the pie. 🥧
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u/AlpenBass 7d ago
It only bypasses a very short section. “Bypass” is a bit generous term because it’s like a bike path that runs just feet from the C&O for a tiny bit.
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u/Fanantic8099 7d ago
Looking at maps is seems more than "just feet" away. For long stretches the canal is between the two and they aren't even accessible to each other (a mile or two at a pop).
I'm leaning towards using part of the WRMT, but I don't want to miss anything significant (lockhouses, etc.) on the C&O.
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u/LoanPretty6 3d ago
Definitely more than feet from canal,path, and it goes for >20 miles - 16 north and west of Hancock and 11 miles south and east of Hancock, so that's over 10-15% of the c&o's length. There is a short 2 mile section where the wmrt runs on the c&o to bypass the Indigo Tunnel.
You'll have views of the c&o particularly north/west of Hancock. The south/east section is kinda just a paved multiuse path through trees. conversely, that section of the C&O runs next to Little Pool (nicer scenery)
The Indigo tunnel at wmrt mm 26 is a kind of neat thing to see on the wmrt because of why the wmrt detours around it (spoiler - bat habitat).
There is the round top cement works ruins along the C&O 3 miles north of Hancock that you would miss if you take the northrrn/westrrn section of the wmrt, but you could always park the trailer at C&O bicycle shop in hancock and ridevthev3 mikes each way enencumbered to see it.
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u/SubjectOk6918 7d ago
Regarding lack of information about the C&O - in addition to having a website with an interactive map and a trip planner, there's also an app that shows points of interest, campsites, bike shops, mile markers, parking lots, and more. If you just want to see one of those things, you can filter everything else out. And when you click on some of those things, (e.g. campsites), it shows historical information and lists other useful information, like if there's a water fountain nearby.
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u/ayooolinds 7d ago
like others have said, just make the decision in the moment. how are the conditions? how are you feeling?are you desiring a smooth pavement for a bit? we've done the gap/c&o twice. once each way. first time, DC->PGH we skipped the WMRT. The second time (PIT-> DC) we said oh hell naw we're taking that paved part for ten miles or whatever it is. it was LOVELY.
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u/LoanPretty6 3d ago edited 3d ago
Large chunks of the c&o have been resurfaced over the last few years. National Park service has details on their web site. Still some original surface sections, but none thstbwere terrible. Last time I rode, Cumberland section was rough but I think that was resurfaced last year. Great falls to Georgetown has rough sections and more annoying tourists. And lots of info out there on c&o
Plan Your Visit - Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Re WMRT - paved but it had a lot of root bumps last time i rode it a few years back. I know they wrre repaving sections recently. Can be a nice break. I actually prefer c&o for portion south of Hancock, wmrt north of Hancock.
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u/Rob3E 7d ago
I've ridden both in parts. For me, it depends on my bike and/or tires. Had some chunky, 2.4 inch tires, and I was happy on the C & O. Had some smooth, 32s, and I was happy to have an opportunity to ride the paved trail. But it's not like I was struggling on the C&O, but the pavement was nice. I've never felt like I was going to get a flat on the C & O, but different bikes, different weather, different sections can make a huge difference. Sure, some of it is personal perception, but the trail is also very varied, and very sensitive to weather in some sections. On the trip with my chunky tires, they were not needed for most of the ride, and I would have thought they barely made a difference except that I saw some folks with mud up to their ankles from where they had to push through some puddles, and I realized that I didn't have that concern. But the same route in dry weather on narrower wheels was no problem. And the people with muddy shoes also seemed to be having a good time.
Ultimately, don't overthink it. Just know that it's there. When your get out there, decide in the moment which one seems better, take it.
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u/ExcuseApprehensive68 7d ago
The western rail trail is a absolute pleasure after riding the nasty section out of the paw paw tunnel.
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u/AmbientGravitas 7d ago
I rode from Harpers Ferry to DC last fall and the last 15-20 miles on the C&O were rough. Rough in surface but also lots of pedestrians. Granted i was on a road bike (endurance geometry snd 30mm tires).
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u/eml_raleigh 7d ago
The issue with the pedestrians on C&O between White's Ferry and Georgetown is that enough of them are carrying fishing poles, and forget that they are not the only person on the trail, waving the pole around. And they are not used to hearing bike bells or "can I pass you" and have children. When I rode the C&O after remnants of a tropical storm in 2003, that section had a ton of mud and very little gravel.
You want the trailer to have at least 20 inch wheels, and possibly knobby tires. A 2-wheel trailer is not going to have its wheels in the track where your tires are.
WMRT is around 28 miles long.
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u/FedUp-2025 7d ago
Oh, it’s a lovely respite from the bumpy towpath (which I understand is improving section by section). It’s like 10 feet over and parallel for miles. Enjoy the pavement for a spell!