Recap: Great Allegheny Passage Three Day Getaway
This trip was a quick way to get out into nature on the bike for a few days and what better trail than the Great Allegheny Passage. I met my friend Mitzy who drove up from Florida at the Connellsville, PA trailhead. The trailhead is about a three and a half hour drive from Columbus and has a lot of parking. The hotel next door has bathroom access and offers a shower for hikers/bikers.
After we setup our bikes we rolled out for a 46 mile ride to Rockwood, PA to stay overnight at Husky Haven Campground. The forecast called for a lot of rain on day one of our ride. Fortunately the meteorologists were wrong and we had only some sprinkles along the way. Our lunch stop was Ohiopyle, PA at Falls Market Restaurant & Inn and we sat outside on the patio. Most of the other businesses in town were closed for vacation before the leaf peeping crowds descend on the area.
Trail conditions were perfect for all three days. The gravel/limestone bed was dry and fast and we encountered only a handful of people on the trail on day one. I couldn't get my camera out fast enough for the man pedaling a recumbent bicycle that had a metal frame fashioned in the shape of a train. I only got a photo from the back of his trailer that looked like a tender car.
We booked our campsite with Jean at Husky Haven Campgrounds and spent a little more for a shelter due to the uncertainty of the weather. We were happy to have a place for our bikes and to store gear. The campsite had a fire pit and larger fire ring and we took advantage of the free firewood to have a nice evening fire before heading to bed. The shower house, including electric access, wifi and washer/dryer are across the river in town easily accessed by the bridge. Bring earplugs for this campground because it sits across from an active rail line and trains like to announce themselves multiple times at the crossings in Rockwood. Editors note: Husky Haven campground closed permanently on October 31, 2022.
The next morning we ate breakfast and headed toward the Big Savage Tunnel with our stove and mugs for some outside coffee. At the depot in Meyersdale, PA we met Robert, retired military who lives in DC, who was riding an out and back to Pittsburgh, PA over a week. We rode with him to the tunnel overlook stopping only to see the world famous Dick Stiffey bench. We made coffee, ate snacks and had great conversation with Robert before he headed off toward Cumberland, MD. The mountain was in the cloud for most of the morning which kept the temperature comfortable but diminished the view.
A group cyclists with an Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) tour played leapfrog with us as we headed back to Rockwood. Our late lunch/early dinner was at Rockwood Mill Shoppes & Opera House (closed as of December 23, 2021) where we sat outside eating our pizza. We talked with a number of the ACA tour guests while waiting to shower. Back at the campsite we had another nice bonfire and talked to Peter and his wife Gretchen from Colorado who were riding from Pittsburgh to Cumberland as they traveled slowly west toward home. Our roundtrip ride from Husky Haven Campground to the overlook on the south side of the Big Savage Tunnel was 44 miles.
On day three we headed back to Connellsville. PA. We broke camp after breakfast and rolled down the trail with a nice tailwind and slight downhill. Back in Ohiopyle we had lunch at the same place as day one. Another great day on the trail and we were both a little sad for our short getaway to end. We avoided the rain for all three days and temps were in the mid 70’s during the day and low 60’s at night.
Great Allegheny Passage Pack list
Arkel Handlebar Bag
Compression bag w/35 degree sea to summit Ember quilt
Zip bag –Camp Shorts/Thin wool t-shirt/ Thin wool long sleeve/Wool underwear/Wool Socks/ wool cycling cap
Zip bag - Alternate Day Clothes - Shirt/Bib/Socks
Food in bear bag & drybag (in Odor Free Bag)
2 Dehydrated breakfast packs
2 Dinner meals
8 Coffee packs
Arkel Front Pocket
Hand Cleaner
Camp headlamp (check batteries)
Wallet/Cash/ID/Med card/Debit Card
Electronics - Battery/cables
Spoon in bag
Porcelain Rocket Frame Bag
Tent Poles & (11) Stakes
Hygiene – in Orange dry bag
Tylenol/Imodium/Sleeping pill/Med Pills/Ear plugs
Toothbrush&paste/Deodorant
Camp towel/camp soap
First aid kit
Flask with Bourbon
Firestarter stuff
Feedbag L
Bottle
Feedbag R
Camera/phone
J-paks top tube bar – snacks
Snacks - honey stinger products/bars
Left Fork Front
Sea to Summit Dry River Bag
Ti double wall mug with Soto stove inside
Sea to Summit cooking kit
230g canister
Left Fork Back/ Right Fork Back
Water bottle
Right Fork Front
Sea to Summit Dry River Bag
Nemo Sleeping pad
Big Agnes Pillow
Sea to Summit silk liner
Inflatable seat
StoS Clothesline
Ortlieb Saddle Bag – 16L
Big Agnes Tent & footprint
Merrell shoes in mesh bag
OR Rain jacket
SKS Toolbox - Under BB cage
Bottle of lube
Tools in bag
Derailleur hanger
Chain links
Multitool
Park boot
Zip ties
Velcro strap
Floating
Bike shoes
Dew rag
Helmet
Garmin GPS
Camera
