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Print Friendly MapClosure Notice: The Carpendale Trail tunnel continues to be closed for safety reasons. Trail users may not enter.
The Carpendale Trail straddles the North Branch of the Potomac River between Carpendale in West Virginia and Cumberland in Maryland. The wooden bridge spanning 386 feet across the river is a highlight, as is the 1,500-foot-long tunnel through Knobley Mountain.
Although the Carpendale Trail is less than a mile long, easy connections can be made to two much longer trails. On the trail’s east end, it directly connects with the C&O Canal Towpath (near mile marker 183), which stretches nearly 185 southeast to Washington, DC. In Cumberland, the C&O Trail also in turn connects to the famed Great Allegheny Passage, heading 150 miles northwest to Pittsburgh.
Take I-68 to Cumberland, Maryland; use Exit 42 to Ridgeley, West Virginia.
I decided to park in Cumberland on my way home from a trip to WV and ride down the C&O towpath to ride this trail.
I was disappointed in the state of the trail. It appears as if no one is maintaining this trail.
The path on the Maryland side is now almost covered with encroaching weeds.
The bridge is in good enough shape to permit you to ride across to West Virginia for the time being but it looks a little iffy. If no one is taking care of this trail the wooden planks may need replacing. At some point it may become a dangerous crossing when these planks start rotting.
The tunnel is blocked off so you can go no further than the WV side of the bridge.
I would recommend that riders skip this trail until such time as it is maintained.
I did this trail as a little side trip off the C&O. I think its name is actually Knobley Tunnel Trail. Unmarked from the Maryland side, but it's right beside the remnants of a railroad trestle. My first tunnel on a bicycle - quite the experience! Incredibly humid!
This small trail connects the small town of Carpendale with the Co Canal barely a me from the Cumberland terminus. The tunnel is well lit. Good for bike and hike. The con- very Small parking area.
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