Explore the best rated trails in Cumberland, MD, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Great American Rail-Trail, Mid-Atlantic and Carpendale Trail . With more than 24 trails covering 4638 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Rode from Cumberland to DC in Sept 2026. Trail surface has been upgraded most of the way with crushed stone. A big improvement over the dirt, mud, and single track I encountered 6 years ago when I last rode this trail. The only sections without smooth crushed surface were just East of the Paw Paw Tunnel (5 miles), between Hancock and Licking Creek (10 miles) and between Great Falls and Georgetown (15 miles). You can bypass the rough section East of Hancock by using the Western Maryland trail. You can bypass the last 5 miles into Georgetown on the Capital Crescent trail.
Just completed the C&O Canal Towpath in September 2026, riding west from DC to Cumberland. Overall, this was an awesome trip and I’ll definitely be recommending it to others. I thought I was pretty well prepared, but there were a few things I learned along the way. I lost the trail in Georgetown thanks to a combination of detours and GPS error, so keep an eye out when you’re leaving DC. If you’re taking Amtrak, also expect that your train could be delayed by up to an hour or more. I was running 40s at 35 PSI, and I’d say the trail felt reasonably smooth about 75% of the time. The rest ranged from chunky and rough to exactly what you’d expect from an old canal towpath. One thing I absolutely wish I had packed was something for stings. Near the end of the trip, I had something chasing me and managed to get stung right in the neck. Definitely not how I pictured finishing the ride. Also, if you’re planning on stopping in Harpers Ferry, check the current construction situation before counting on it as a stop. Of all the towns I passed through, Brunswick was probably my favorite. It was clean, nice, and felt like a great place to stop and reset for a bit. One unexpected bonus: in three days, I never had to use a port-a-john. That alone deserves a five-star rating. Overall, I loved the trip. The scenery, history, towns, and feeling of being completely disconnected for a few days made it well worth doing. I’m already looking forward to doing it again!
Went out today (6Sept26) on my recumbent trike and I went to the Connellsville trailhead by the Martins grocery. That is the old train station and is well set up with lots of parking, restrooms, and camp sites. I took the trail toward Ohiopyle and it was just peaceful as can be. A good many riders on the trail, but everyone was courteous. The trail is well maintained, although maybe a little narrow in spots. Try it out sometime for yourself. Enjoy!
This is one of the most beautiful bike trails I have ridden. We rode this trail on a Monday. It was recently paved and runs for 24 miles before connecting with the C&O Canal Tow Path. Many times, we would ride for 4-6 miles before passing another biker. About 90% of the trail is shaded and very flat. We parked at the eastern end in Big Pool less than ½ mile off interstate 70. There are primitive restrooms at this location. Additional porta pots are around the 9 and 20-mile markers plus restaurants and gas stations in the town of Hancock. There is a bike shop in Hancock just off the trail and I was told by another biker they rent ebikes. Even though this trail is over 100 minutes from my home I plan to ride it 1-2 times a year.
We biked it. The part of the trail closer to town had thicker gravel which was a little tougher and the rest was mostly packed dirt. Mostly away from the road with nice farm views and lots of birds. Flat ride. Plenty of parking at Friendship Park at the end of Boquet St. An easy walk or ride from downtown diamond (square) area.
My wife and I rode the whole trail and we didn't see any Indians. Lol. Awesome trail except it needs work where it crosses rt 31.
We were just passing through the area and wanted to do a quick bike ride. Began at the Big Pool trailhead (MM0). Cycled about 8.5 miles before turning around. This section of the trail was nicely paved and shaded. As others mentioned, the one drawback was at about MM2, the trail parallels the freeway and it is quite noisy. However, we were aware of this when we started. If I was passing through the area again, I would try another section of the trail.
I am happy to report that the Allegheny Highlands Trail is 100% open and in great shape. We departed Hendricks not fully knowing if the trail was open, closed or just in very rough shape. We were delighted to find out that the trail was not only open all the way but the smoothest part of the trail was where the bridge construction was. The repair to the trail is complete and there is a nice layer of crushed stone to take you through where the construction site was. From Hendricks to Hambleton, the trail is paved but has quite a few cracks and ridges. Nothing too bad and very passable. The rest of the ride from Hambleton to Elkins is a mix of pavement and crushed stone and the trail is excellent shape the whole way. There a few parts with high grass and vegetation that crowds the trail but again, nothing that hinders passage. The thing I loved most about this trail is the variety of towns and countryside. It is truly a ride through the back yard of Americana culture and a window to way people live in rural America. The town of Parsons had some great little restaurants and be sure to grab a cup off coffee at The Sunrise Coffee Company. Elkins was a great place to stay the night and offered great food and a free concert in the park with Top Shelf performing. Great band!
After finishing this trail I was surprised to see that it received a 2 star review. While this is not a well groomed urban trail nor a remote back country ride, this trail offers a pleasant ride through the back yard of America with wonderful little towns along the way and absolutely beautiful countryside. The wild flowers alone were a spectacular addition and the small towns offered us a place to grab some lunch along the way. The best part of all is that the trail exists for our enjoyment and is absolutely free to anyone who wishes to wander its path. That alone deserves more than 2 stars.
Discovered this comfortable place with great accommodations for two bike travelers. They offer a pullout sofa if you do not wish to share a bed. Indoor bike storage with a comfy bed and a hot shower! Distillery right next-door and two restaurants to fuel up in the morning to get back on the trail. Close to the panhandle of West Virginia. Their name is Harmony Trail Haven on Airbnb.
We went on a Sunday at the end of May. The weather was perfect and the trail was impeccable. We didn’t go the entire way- we went 15 miles up and then turned around so we didn’t see the tunnel. The honeysuckle was in bloom and the entire trail smelled heavenly. We stopped for lunch at Buddy Lou’s - it’s right on the trail and we highly recommend it. We sat outside on the balcony for lunch and could watch the other cyclists and runners on the trail while we ate in the sunshine. The trail is pretty shaded in many spots so even in warm weather you’d have a comfortable ride. I was surprised, considering the perfect weather and what a great trail it is that it wasn’t busier. This is 10 out of 10 for a great trail experience.
The GAP trail was amazing. The nicely maintained 150 mile trail along the Pennsylvania mountains and rivers and then the descend into the Cumberland Valley was the best! We took it easy planning to only ride around 30 miles a day staying in Airbnb’s along the way. We rode it in 5 days and spend an extra day in Cumberland and did a 15 mile out and back along the C&O. We rented bikes ahead of time with the Golden triangle in Pittsburgh. they fitted the bikes out for us and provided a shuttle ride back to Pittsburgh for the bikes and us. We are looking forward to doing more trails in this area.
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