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There is an official Allegheny Trail Alliance
page
for Open and Closed sections.
Note: Most people who ride these trails are trying to avoid traffic; you won’t want to ride bikes on the detours, and we concur. However, some people will decide to bike the detours anyhow. If you do ride the detours, be careful, and wear your helmet.
There are currently two significant gaps in the trail between Pittsburgh PA and Washington DC:
Southside Pittsburgh PA - McKeesport PA, (about 16 miles)
The 16 mile segment from Southside Pittsburgh to McKeesport is not yet open to the public, so through-trips must detour on roads. Since this is near the end of the trail, we recommend that you start or end your trip in McKeesport. The various routes between Southside and McKeesport are narrow, no shoulders and high speed traffic.
Dam Four Detour on the C & O Canal
(PDF) (2.7 Trail Miles)
The 2.7 mile segment from Dam Four to McMahon's Mill has fallen on hard times.
Part of the trail is washed away, part is covered with rock falls, and all of it
is covered with poison ivy. The Park Service has looked into fixing this
section, but it is an issue of usage and money. There is a standard detour (PDF) on
rolling country roads. Also, during times of high water the trail floods and
there is
an extended detour (PDF).
Frostburg MD - Deal, PA (9.3 Trail Miles)
The segment from Frostburg to Deal (9.3 miles) is closed during the winter (Dec 15, 2006 through April 15th 2007). The doors on the Big Savage Tunnel are closed and locked to prevent ice build-up from damaging the tunnel. We recommend driving these roads
Wide Water near Great Falls, VA (0.7 Trail Miles)
The short stretch where you had to carry your bike over rocks and which was closed last year (2005) for construction, was officially opened April 29, 2006. No longer will you have to climb the hill and traverse the stairs to the Aqueduct.
Cumberland MD - Woodcock Hollow (9.33 Trail Miles)
The 9.33 mile segment from Cumberland MD to Woodcock Hollow MD was opened to the public December 14th 2006. The trail is passable for the entire 9 miles. You may take bikes on the train (warn them that you’re coming). We definitely recommend this alternative – the train ride is great, and the road ride isn't. On this road detour there is a very busy half mile with absolutely no shoulders and lots of high speed traffic. A detour is no longer necessary. However there is a page describing this detour, in case there is a future trail disruption that requires the detour.
Woodcock Hollow - Frostburg MD - (5.86 Trail Miles)
A portion of the bike trail along the Western Maryland Scenic RR between Cumberland and Frostburg was surfaced in 2005. The trail from Frostburg use to (2005) end at Woodcock Hollow Road. A detour is no longer necessary. However there is a page describing this detour, in case there is a future trail disruption that requires the detour.
Deal - Meyersdale (about 12.0 miles)
Trail is now completed in this section. A detour is no longer necessary. However there is a page describing this detour, in case there is a future trail disruption that requires the detour.
Ft Hill - Confluence (about 8 miles)
Trail is now completed in this section. A detour is no longer necessary. However there is a page describing this detour, in case there is a future trail disruption that requires the detour.
Ohiopyle High Bridge (0.02 Trail Miles)
Repair work to the High Bridge at Ferncliff in Ohiopyle State Park
began Monday, January 9th 2006 and is now finished. If the bridge is ever
closed, bikers can travel the Great Gorge Trail to Kentuck Rd - then State Route
381 into Ohiopyle where you can pick up the other side of the bike trail." See
the
State Park map
(PDF 583 KB).
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