My hub. and I on a lark decided to bike the GAP on August 11th 2009 while in PA. visiting relatives. What a blast!! I had brought my mt. bike along just in case and he rented one in Ohiopyle. He is 6'6" and got a bike that fit him well. Since we didn't realize how fun it would be we didn't arrange for a pick up crew so we had to bike out and back. However, we started in Ohiopyle, parking at the trail head by the RR station. We biked toward Confluence and on to Fort Hill and then we returned the same way. That route is just under 40 miles round trip. We then biked past Ohiopyle a bit over the bridges above the Youghiogheny river toward Connellsville as a cool down. It was such a nice ride! We saw very few people once out on the trail. The grade is mostly very gentle and the surface pretty smooth except for a few places where it appears old lumps of coal popped up from the surface. We ran along side the Yough. River for quite awhile in dense forests and then we opened out into grassy areas. We crossed some long bridges over the Casselman River as we worked our way to Fort Hill. We could in some spots see the white water and the kayackers taking their runs. We crossed roads in only one or 2 places so it was a very relaxing trip. We stopped for a lot of pictures and had a lot of fun. I am glad we carried extra water with us as I didn't see any place right on the trail that had fresh water. You could bike into Confluence which had well marked signage for food and drink if you needed a refill. While in Ohiopyle we ate in a really nice little cafe and I had a great steak sandwich. One bummer is we couldn't find any( NOT ONE!) bike trail shirt or hat in Ohiopyle to take home as souvenirs of our trip. We did order some online on the GAP website though, so all is well. We hope to return next summer and bike the trail for 3 days and get to see the Eastern Continental Divide and Big Savage Tunnel. Oh, from Fort Hill back to Ohiopyle it is really an easy ride - downhill all the way except for one hill. SO go have fun!!!!

My wife and I enjoyed a cool August day on the GAP at Ohiopyle, PA last Friday. We parked at the train station trailhead and headed out Northwest. The two bridges crossing the Youghany river are as spectacular as they are different. The 2nd, at least 150 feet above the river, crosses a section of whitewater being enjoyed by a slew of rafters and kayakers. The trail is suspended on the hill side well above the water. You can hear the rushing rapids and hear shreeks of joy from the rafters but only catch an occasional glimpse of the river below.
This R2T has a very well groomed crushed stone surface, with very little of the original ballast stone popping through. The only "issue" I had was the fact that the State Park had just brush hogged the shoulders of the trail and managed to really trash the whole thing with grass, sticks and stones kicked up by the mower. I would have thought a large tractor mounted leaf blower would have come along for the ride to finish grooming the trail. We turned around after 6 pleasant and shady miles to have lunch at one of the many trail side establishments in Ohiopyle.
After lunch we headed out in the opposite direction. It was almost like being on a different trail. This time you are riding right along side the slower moving river, with several old open orchards and many views of the water. The bottoms were getting sore so we turned around after 4.5 miles at a picnic/camp site.

Just finished biking both ways between the PA/MD border and Spring Gap in 3 rides. Would have gone farther but it got too hot. The GAP is in great shape, the views are great. The B&O was wet & muddy from rain the previous night, but worth it. Walked through the Paw Paw tunnel. Should have had a flashlight! Stayed at 3C's cabins in Flintstone, a great new place for close access to this trail section.

Biked the GAP from PA/MD border to Confluence last fall. Another great ride. The scenery there is the best.
Stayed at Country Dreams B&B. Good food & great hospitality.