Western Maryland Rail Trail--Great!

Hi, all. We're just back from a wonderful trip to the Western Maryland Rail Trail (http://www.hancockmd.com/WMRT/info.html). For anyone (like me) who's just starting and wants a long, stress-free ride, this is it. We had the glory of this weekend's late Indian summer -- clear, temps in the high 60's, last leaf color, but I bet it would be a wonderful ride any time of year (even winter for you die-hards). Really good for me, 24 miles the first day, 20 the second, at 10-12 mph. It was easy riding, but I'm proud of myself. I was a little sore, and the last 3 miles both days I was ready to be done, but not too tired to enjoy dinner out on day one, and to cook it on day 2.

The trail is 20+ miles of flat, curving along the edge of the C&O Canal, so you get a little history, a little geology, and if you're lucky birds and deer. Clean, paved, beautifully maintained, with only a few cross roads, most little-used. Even on this gorgeous Saturday, this late in the year there was hardly anyone else in sight for most of the rides. For mountain bikers, the parallel Canal towpath offers easy mountain biking (it is flat, but beautiful views) and even less traffic. Hancock is in Western Maryland in range of WV, MD, PA, and VA. This was wonderful, and well worth the 1.5-hour drive for us.

Thanks for all the support you all give new riders!

K

Sounds like a great ride. That's good to know, if I'm down visiting my Aunt and Uncle who live in the area.

The rail trails are great. I went riding on the Harlem Valley rail trail on Saturday and did 16.5 miles. Great weather.

The towpath along the C&O is lovely and you can ride it the whole way into Georgetown! I didn't realize that there was a paved "sister" out there in Western Maryland. A paved trail that isn't busy on the weekend? Sign me up!! Also, you might want to check out that old, closed section of the Penna T'pike that they turned into a multi-use trail. I think it's in the central part of the State. Anyway, you go through at least one tunnel and it's not lit at all. :eek: We've been planning to go up there since we're native Pennsylvanians who miss our home state.

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Originally Posted by kmoty

Hi, all. We're just back from a wonderful trip to the Western Maryland Rail Trail (http://www.hancockmd.com/WMRT/info.html). For anyone (like me) who's just starting and wants a long, stress-free ride, this is it. We had the glory of this weekend's late Indian summer -- clear, temps in the high 60's, last leaf color, but I bet it would be a wonderful ride any time of year (even winter for you die-hards). Really good for me, 24 miles the first day, 20 the second, at 10-12 mph. It was easy riding, but I'm proud of myself. I was a little sore, and the last 3 miles both days I was ready to be done, but not too tired to enjoy dinner out on day one, and to cook it on day 2.
The trail is 20+ miles of flat, curving along the edge of the C&O Canal, so you get a little history, a little geology, and if you're lucky birds and deer. Clean, paved, beautifully maintained, with only a few cross roads, most little-used. Even on this gorgeous Saturday, this late in the year there was hardly anyone else in sight for most of the rides. For mountain bikers, the parallel Canal towpath offers easy mountain biking (it is flat, but beautiful views) and even less traffic. Hancock is in Western Maryland in range of WV, MD, PA, and VA. This was wonderful, and well worth the 1.5-hour drive for us.
Thanks for all the support you all give new riders!
K

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Sounds like a wonderful ride. I will have to keep it in mind if Im ever out that way. Well done. :)