Review of The Allegheny Passage Trail
Photo of Woodcock Hollow from 2009
Let me start by saying that this was the most beautiful ride I have done. The variety of landscape, along with the grade of the trail, made the ride a pleasure.
On Saturday we rode 104 miles from West Newton, PA to Frostburg, MD (Average 13.1mph). The elevation of West Newton is 769'. The eastern continental divide is 96 miles to the east. So you climb for 96 miles on a slight grade, cross the divide, then drop 500' in 6 miles to Frostburg. The divide does not have a marker, it is only a tunnel underneath a road crossing. We left at 9:30AM and arrived in Frostburg at 8:30PM to a friendly face. My wife surprised us by joining us for the evening. We ate at Giuseppe's Restaurant. Very good food and service. We decided to stay at the Days Inn which was several miles from the trailhead. If you decide to stay at Days Inn call ahead and arrange pickup. My wife drove us over to the hotel, so we avoided climbing the switchback up to the rail station and a fairly steep climb to East Main Street/Route 40. There is an inn, the Trail Inn & Cafe, at the top of the switchback. Some highlights of the ride, include Ohiopyle, the Salisbury Viaduct, the majestic wind generators dotting the hills from Garrett to Myersdale, the Big Savage Tunnel at sunset, and the Western Maryland Scenic Railway. Lunch in both directions was at Sisters Cafe in Confluence. Good homemade food at reasonable prices. Out of the way location though.
On Sunday we rode 104 miles from Frostburg to West Newton. We left at 7:45AM and arrived at 6:30PM. We ran into rain for about 15 minutes before Rockwood. We met a man and his son who were traveling from Boston, south of McKeesport, to Washington D.C. standing under the overhang of the Rockwood visitor building. I will be adding more details when I get a chance. Editors note: I never did add anything.
Great Allegheny Passage website
