This makes a great place to rest for a few minutes while enjoying a nice waterfall. On the way, between mile markers 37 and 38, is a small waterfall next to a bench. This very cool mural welcomes visitors to Rockwood.įrom Rockwood, it is 12 miles to Meyersdale, a great place to stop for the evening. They also offer sandwiches, grilled items, and a variety of locally-made chocolates. Back on the trail, don’t miss the unique art piece and nice overlook of Rockwood that’s located next to the parking area. The Rockwood Mill Shoppes is located in a restored opera house and serves good quality pizza. This small town is located across the Casselman River from the trail and has restaurants, a hostel, several bed and breakfasts, and a bike shop. Less than 10 miles further down the trail is the borough of Rockwood. If you love PA waterfalls, you won't want to miss this waterfall book from Jim Cheney, author of Uncovering PA, featuring more than 180 great waterfalls. "Waterfalls of Pennsylvania" by Jim Cheney
While I’ve heard this detour was quite scenic, the tunnel saves riders over a mile in distance and offers another unique feature along the trail. Before that, a 1.5-mile detour along the river was required. On the Pinkerton Neck, there is a tunnel which was opened to bike riders in the fall of 2015. The view from these bridges definitely rivals the views from the double bridges in Ohiopyle. This is because of the relative height of the bridges over the river below. The first bridge is known as the Pinkerton High Bridge, while the southern bridge is known as the Pinkerton Low Bridge. Known as the Pinkerton Neck, this unique piece of land creates a large bend in the river below. The Pinkerton Low Bridge with the Pinkerton Tunnel in the background. This section of the trail features two bridges over the Casselman River with an 849-foot tunnel in between them. The first major point of interest along the trail is the Pinkerton Bridges and Tunnel at mile marker 52.
The ride from Confluence to Meyersdale is very scenic, with several bridges crossing the waterway, the first long tunnel of the trip, and even a waterfall. This stretch of trail is one of the most remote parts of the GAP, and it’s worth noting that your cell phones are unlikely to work outside of the trail towns.
These 31-miles take you in a shape that could be best described as a half circle, as you ride along the Casselman River around the base of Mount Davis, Pennsylvania’s highest peak. Leaving Confluence, it’s a 31-mile ride to Meyersdale, my recommended place to spend the night. There are three long tunnels on the GAP between Meyersdale and Cumberland, Maryland. However, it works just as well in the opposite direction, with the recommended stops being the same. In case you missed the previous installments of this series, I’ve already covered the trail from Pittsburgh to Connellsville and from Connellsville to Confluence. This guide is being written as if you were biking from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland. (On the other hand, if you are traveling from Cumberland to Pittsburgh, expect a very difficult, but doable, climb until the continental divide and then a very gradual descent until Confluence.) However, once you reach the Eastern Continental Divide at mile marker 24, you’ll have a very fast downhill, losing nearly 1,800 feet of elevation on your way to Cumberland. While it’s not a steep uphill, the constant climb can get tiring. However, in the next 38 miles, you’ll gain 1,000 feet of elevation. If you’ve come from Pittsburgh, you’ve only gained 600 feet of elevation in your first 80 miles. This is because of the elevation that you’ll gain (and lose) over this portion of the trail. Whether you’re biking the Great Allegheny Passage from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland, or Cumberland to Pittsburgh, the 62 miles of trail between Confluence and Cumberland will be both the most challenging and the most exciting of the trip. If you’re planning your trip on the trail, don’t miss my top tips for those biking the GAP. Read Part One: Pittsburgh to Connellsville and Part Two: Connellsville to Confluence. This article is part two in a three-part guide to biking the Great Allegheny Passage. We will make a small commission from these links if you order something at no additional cost to you. Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links.
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