May News Along the Great Allegheny Passage
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Stay Safe While on the GAP
The Great Allegheny Passage remains open for biking, hiking, running, and exploring this spring, and travel restrictions will be eased in Maryland and sections of Pennsylvania beginning Friday, May 15. The visitor center along the GAP in Ohiopyle State Park has reopened for limited foot traffic. The West Newton Visitor Center and Meyersdale Visitor Center remain closed out of an abundance of caution. Many lodging properties are welcoming guests; call ahead to check their status and make reservations. Restaurants are still limited to curbside or takeout service. Some essential retail establishments are reopening with limited capacity. Please call ahead before making your plans, wear a mask, and be generous with tipping -- for the livelihood of neighbors who rely on tourism.
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Plan a Visit with TrailGuide
Plan your next biking or hiking adventure from Washington, D.C. to Pittsburgh with the new edition of TrailGuide: The Official Guide to Traveling the C&O Canal Towpath and Great Allegheny Passage, now available at www.gaptrail.org! With mile-by-mile descriptions of both trails, town directories, 20 popular itineraries, and a detailed weather-resistant map, TrailGuide is your best starting spot for trip-planning. It includes robust indexes of services like overnight lodging, restaurants, bike rental, shuttle services, and a what-to-pack list, information on Amtrak, and finding the endpoints of both trails. Just $10 plus shipping, and proceeds provide emergency and enhancement grants along the corridor.
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GAP Relay Goes Virtual!
Thanks to the team at P3R and the generosity of UPMC Health Plan, our June 19-20 GAP Relay has been transformed from an in-person into a “virtual” event out of an abundance of caution regarding large group gatherings. You can still run legs on the Great Allegheny Passage and submit your times and distances to race organizers online, or run on your home treadmill, or in your neighborhood. Check out the relay legs online and pretend you’re actually on the Pinkerton High Bridge or on the Port Perry Flyover. Your team’s progress will be monitored through August 31, 2020, and we’ll announce winners this fall. Proceeds from this event benefit the Allegheny Trail Alliance, so register today to keep the GAP in great shape.
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Help with Trail Counts?
You can help our team by taking two hours this spring, summer, or fall to help us count bicyclists, runners, and walkers on the Great Allegheny Passage! Conservative estimates of trail traffic help us make cases for maintenance funding with private donors, and convey trends to local and state leaders interested in tourism impacts. All you need is a folding chair, and pencil, and a watch or cell phone. Our first count is Friday, May 29, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, and the next is on Tuesday, June 23 from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm. For a full list of dates and FAQ’s, click here. To sign up, please contact Doug Riegner.
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GAP Featured in Rails-to-Trails Magazine Cover Story
The Washington, D.C.-based Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is featuring the Great Allegheny Passage on the cover of its latest Rails to Trails magazine! With some spectacular photos and interviews with stakeholders, author Amy Kapp describes how the GAP and those who travel it bring flourishing to Southwestern Pennsylvania and Western Maryland. The GAP is pleased to be a key link in the Great American Rail Trail, a long-term vision to connect local trails and establish coast-to-coast nonmotorized path.
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