Anyone out there interested in hiking this flat easy trail in Sept 183 miles lots of trail towns, mainly for bikes but hikeable.

When exactly?

Anyone out there interested in hiking this flat easy trail in Sept 183 miles lots of trail towns, mainly for bikes but hikeable.

Hey E-Z, I'm interested. Post your dates. I have to plan ahead.

atrailhiker@hotmail.com

183 miles ??? - sure you don't mean the C&O Canal Trail? The C&O is about that long.

any 2 week period after Labor Day I thought it was the B/O Canal - you're right - start DC end

any 2 week period after Labor Day I thought it was the B/O Canal - you're right - start DC end

Gotcha and figured that.

Didn't hear from anyone so I'm thinking 09/05/06 start from DC end, still, I'm kinda flexable. Need to return before 09/26.

Didn't hear from anyone so I'm thinking 09/05/06 start from DC end, still, I'm kinda flexable. Need to return before 09/26.

From DC? It's uphill al the way! Don't forget to stop at Bill's!

75' in elevation gain could never stop me. stopping at Bill's is the highlight of the hike!

Maps of the C & O Canal

You can link up with the Great Allegany Passage and walk to Pittsburg now. Only one short section in MD that isn't finshed. 305ish miles with the C&O.

350 miles not 305. here is a web site for the trail. www.atatrail.org

Veteran-NICE maps-thanx.

Thank You, Vet.

Here's a link for the trail guide http://bikewashington.org/canal/canal_a.php
It's from the local 2 wheelers but very accurate.

I've done about every mile of it in spurts, and love it because of the history and there's plenty to see besides rocks and trees. There's train service from Brunswick and Harper's Ferry to DC daily incase you want to cut out early.

I did that ride in April and it was great. Lots of towns, lots of beautiful days, not a whole lot of rain or bugs. I've heard trail reports recently and the trail is in great shape. I saw a couple of hikers when I stopped in harpers ferry. Good times, good trail, good luck

Anyone know an outfitter or a place where I can get JetBoil fuel near Union Sta. in DC?

Go to this site (http://www.nps.gov/applications/hafe/hfc/carto-detail.cfm?Alpha=CHOH#) and download this link, Adobe Acrobat PDF »
October 2005 screen-viewable file (680k)

Anyone know an outfitter or a place where I can get JetBoil fuel near Union Sta. in DC?

There is only one outfitter in DC, and it is not real close to Union Station. However, you can take the subway from Union Station to get to it.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Hudson Trail Outfitters - <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Tenley Circle</st1:address></st1:street><o:p></o:p>
<st1:address w:st="on"><st1:street w:st="on">4530 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.</st1:street>
<st1:city w:st="on">Washington</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">DC</st1:state> <st1:postalcode w:st="on">20016</st1:postalcode></st1:address>

Telephone: 202-363-9810
Hours: Sun 11-6 M-Sat 10-9<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
From Union Station, get on the Metro Red Line going towards Shady Grove. Get off at the Tenleytown-AU (<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">American</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>) stop. Call HTO to find out exactly where they are located relative to the subway stop.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
To return, take the Red Line towards Glenmont. Get off at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Metro</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place> and get on the Orange Line towards Vienna/Fairfax or the Blue Line towards Franconia-Springfield. Get off either of these trains at Foggy Bottom-GWU. From the Foggy Bottom-GWU stop you are only a short walk west to the start of the C&O Canal Trail.<o:p></o:p>

Thanks LIS great info! I was planing to walk to the start from US so riding around a little won't matter as long as I end up close to the trail. Thanks again----EZ

If riding around the metro first doesn't matter, you can go to the REI in College Park, MD instead if you prefer. It is close to the Greenbelt Metro station on the green line.

Store info:
9801 Rhode Island Ave
(Hollywood Plaza)
College Park, MD 20740
(301) 982-9681

Store Hours:
M-F: 10 am - 9 pm
Saturday: 10 am - 8 pm
Sunday: 11 am - 7 pm

This google map will show you the way from the metro to REI.
Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&sll=39.010414,-76.919253&sspn=0.009771,0.014634&saddr=9700+53rd+Ave,+College+Park,+MD+20740&daddr=9801+Rhode+Island+Ave,+College+Park,+MD+2074 0+(Recreational+Equipment+Inc)+%4039.013511,-76.921499&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=39.012565,-76.915991&spn=0.00977,0.014634&t=h&om=1): Note that the path on the map starts just west of the metro rail tracks. To get to the west side of the tracks you must go through a tunnel under the tracks. Looks like about 1 mile round trip. The walk is through a residential neighborhood where friends of mine live.

For good measure, here is a map for the metro system: map (http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm)

thanks for the info hiker5 but the first option looks like it'll work better---thanks again ---EZ

No problem, I just wanted you to know that the option was there.

I actually used to be the bike shop manager at that HTO. It's about 2 blocks north on Wisconsin ave on the left hand side. Good staff, decent knowledge. The jetboil stuff is all the way in the back. Watch out for Bruce and don't join the club. =)

Leaving tomorrow, catch the 7:15 from PennSta. arrive Union Sta. 10:25 Plenty of time to get fuel and arrive at trailhead and get some miles in.

Have a great hike!