Find the top rated wheelchair accessible trails in Cumberland, whether you're looking for an easy short wheelchair accessible trail or a long wheelchair accessible trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a wheelchair accessible trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
I just returned from my third ride on the Western MD. I've ridden the entire trail and it's great to get in a half century ride. Starting from Little Orleans one can ride west a short distance to a gate at a high bridge over the Potomac River. West Virginia has not completed any of the proposed section to the west. Riding back east after a short distance you reach the blocked off Indigo Tunnel. The tunnel is blocked due to endangered bats. A zig-zag ramp leads down to the C&O Towpath. You ride the towpath about 2.5 miles and take a similar zig-zag ramp back up to the Western MD. Except for this detour the entire route is paved asphalt. There are areas of either frost or root heaves but not too bad. When the leaves are off there are nice views of the C&O Towpath, the canal and the Potomac. Most of the path is in the woods with a few fields here and there. At times the trail runs along a high, narrow path pretty high above the river. There are historical markers, some benches and a small shelter or two. The first, and only town on the trail is Hancock, MD. It is about half way between the endpoints. There are the regular amenities not far off trail such as a few fast food joints and a Sheetz. The top attraction for trail eats is Buddy Lou's right on the trail and at a cross-over to the C&O. Needless to say it gets busy in the summer. Buddy Lou's isn't open every day however so plan accordingly. There is also a bike shop in town right by the trail. After Hancock its a fairly straight run to the end at Big Pool. Some this section is close to I70 and some very close (less than 20 ft) so there can be a bit of traffic noise. This is my least favorite part and would probably rate the trail at 4.5 stars if I could. At Big Pool there is a parking area plus some benches, a restroom and a bike repair station. It's a nice place for a lunch break if you're doing a round trip. All together I can wholeheartedly recommend the Western MD. We have even used it as the half of a loop with the other half on the C&O.
I have done the C&O/GAP trip 4 or 5 times now and loved it every time. everyone is friendly and on the C&O you can go as little or as far as you want per day. Camping areas every 10 miles so you cant get yourself stuck.
I love the GAP but prefer the C&O because its more of a trail vs just spinning away road ridding like always. Much of the C&O feels like you are in the woods away from things but without ever really being far should you need help. its the perfect amount of "adventure" for normal people.
Don't over pack, towns and stops all along the trial. Its flat so its easy to over do it.... but once you hit the PawPaw detour you will question if you really needed the laptop, espresso machine, and mini fridge :)
Test ride your bikes loaded, make sure its still fun to ride and remove the silly stuff you really don't need.
Bring/try and keep 3 water bottles full in case a pump or two is out, and drink more than you think you need to
bring snacks and eat more than you think you need to
ride a bike with around 38c-50c (1.5"-2") tires and do not pump them up to the max pressure listed on the sidewalls. that number on the side of the tire is the maximum and not even close to ideal pressure (google tire pressures for dirt roads on bikes), not a rule, you can totally go with thinner tires, I had no problem with my 32c tires last time but it is far more comfortable with a bit more rubber between you and the trail especially if you don't ride all the time.
Makes me sad when I see people complain about the C&O trail surface, thats why I go.... We have millions of miles of road to ride starting at our doorsteps why make more. Just use the proper tire and pressure for a TRAIL and your golden.
In the last week of October 2022, while heading to N. VA. to attend a hobby show,
I decided to bring along the bike to sample some bike trails along the way.
First stop was the Cardinal Greenway. Next I transited to N.VA via Ohio, Pennsylvania,
W. Va & Maryland. Oct 27 2022, I took My first ride on the "Chesapeake & Ohio Canal
National Historical Park" towpath (here after 'C&O'). By comparison to other trails I've
done, this trail is packed gravel, so a change of wheels/tires was in order. The surface
reminded Me of the Forest Service roads at De Soto NF, so I felt right at home. My start
point was Carderock Recreation Area. The access road actually goes through a tunnel
'under' the canal & towpath! This is milepost 10.5. From there I went west toward mp 16.6,
Swain Lock (lock 21). On the way you will encounter 'the Great Falls' of the Potomac. Stop
and check out the walkway to the Olmsted Island & Falls Overlook. Spectacular, and this is
just 10 miles west of Wasington DC! I then visited the Great Falls Tavern Visitors Center, then
returned to Carderock for lunch. After a break, I headed east getting as far as mp 7 (lock 7),
before returning to Carderock. I was running out of time, & decided to save the rest of the
east leg for another day. [21 miles total, and lots of sightseeing!]
After visiting the 24th "International Paper Modelers' Convention" 2022 (the point of the road trip)
on Sunday, Oct. 30th, I decided to Return to the 'C&O', and complete the eastern leg. Starting at
the Lock 8 parking area, walking the bike down a flight of 'stairs', I started the ride at mp 8.3 in the
Seven Locks area, heading east. Soon encountered the Capital Cresent trail, which crosses the C&O
on an old railway bridge, then runs parallel into the city. Just for comparison, I rode the Cresent, which
is asphalt, into town, and the C&O out. With a brief hour of sightseeing by bike around the National Mall
(because I was there) then back to the start. 3 hrs/22 miles. Will return again, as this was just a recon
ride [the whole C&O is 184.5 miles] I only scratched the surface!
Not that hard of a trail not sure why people say it's not a good trail did 24.11 miles of it start to finish and then back to the start A+++ in my book
Deep, sloshy, watery mud track; not even a trail. What a shame the National Park hasn’t improved this area. The GAP trail going northwest toward Pittsburgh is a dream to ride.
I'll break this review into two parts. First up is the section from Elkins to the Corridor H construction at mile marker 16. We parked behind the Elkins train station and the trail starts there on small side streets in Elkins and quickly crosses Rt 92 and follows a sidewalk and ramp up to a pedestrian/bike bridge over Rt 250. After a short, curving downhill it heads out of town. The trail is paved for almost 4 miles. After that it is largely double track that is easy to ride. This trail features nice wooded areas, open farmland, fields, mountain views and parallels Leading Creek for quite a ways. There are a few very short shared use road sections that are really nothing. At Montrose the trail goes single track for a ways and a quarter mile section is all grass but there is an adjacent road that you can ride. After that it starts a gradual 2% grade up the ridge and then crosses over at the county line and drops towards Porterwood. At the 16 mile marker there are concrete barricades for the Corridor H construction area that you can easily go around. We went a bit further but it was quite muddy from recent rain and there was some construction activity so we turned around. We did meet a fellow who pushed his bike up through the mud and he said it was about a quarter mile long. If it had been dry and a weekend we would have gone through. This section was quite enjoyable.
The other section I have ridden by parking in Parsons near the old railroad depot. The trail is paved to Hendricks and up to about Porterwood. Other than some root heaves along the Black Fork of Cheat this is an excellent trail. The river is always nearby and on the Porterwood side there are plenty of Civil War signs about the battle fought here.
There are plenty of amenities in Elkins and Parsons has a decent amount also so you should be covered. Go and enjoy the trail. As noted in another review the trail website and Facebook page are woefully out of date or inadequate. Take these reviews as a recommendation to go ride this trail.
This is a must ride trail. Gravel path is well maintained, better than many asphalt trails I've been on in fact. Trees, rivers, waterfalls, butterflies, bridges 100ft+ above the canopy, if you enjoy nature, you can't miss this trail!
This is the best trail I have rode. Putts burgh to Cumberland md with many bridges and tunnels along the way. Great “patch towns” along the way. Connie to to cno canal and goes to dc
Aug 2022. Bicycled from Parsons to Elkins (22 miles) and back. The views were great and there were many changes along the way: small town, forest, rural homes, creek-side, farm-side, and historic downtown. More than half is shaded by trees. The path is mostly off-road dedicated trail, with a few segments on lightly-used rural roads. The trail surface is mostly dry, solid dirt with a thin layer of fine gravel; we found it easy. The grade is flat in the southern half and sloped north of Montrose, though never difficult because it's railroad grade. There are no amenities between Elkins and Parsons, so bring water.
Although there is an official two-mile trail closure between Montrose and Parsons due to Corridor H freeway construction, we went around the barriers and rode through with no issues other than a bumpy ride over coarse gravel.
It's hard to get accurate status for this trail. The Facebook pages are old, and the official web site is stale: It says there is construction from Gilman to Kerans, but in reality, that segment is now fully open.
Definitely worth your time!
Rode from Pittsburgh to Cumberland. Great bridges and tunnels. Slight uphill until the continental divided. Then hold on for a few miles. Connects to cno which I did not do yet.
Great trail. Shaded for most of the route. Asphalt for all but two miles. The two miles goes around a spectacular tunnel that is closed for some reason. Very little cell service in little orleans which made it hard to find a he parking spot. The trail potentially could go over the Potomac to paw paw and connect to the cno. That has been scrapped for now. Most roots are Marked on the pavement which helps. You are on your own from Hancock to little orleans. Very remote.
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