Top 7 Stops of the first 50 Miles of the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail with under a 3 Mile Hike/Bike ride!
The Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail is a total of 149 miles. If you only have a short time to see the trail or the weather is bad or have young children, below is the top 7 short hikes/biking that are must sees in the first 50 miles.
The stops can be as long or as short as you want to make them with the longest being 2.1 miles to reach the site but you do have to get back to the car. The total mileage of seeing all 7 points is just under 10 miles or 8.5 if you park close to the Salisbury Valiant and 10 or 8.5 miles back to your car.
Some of these make great day trips and others are great for stops without much walking for those short of time, young children with you, or those not crazy about walking, hiking, or biking.
Also check out my other post on the GAP Trail for the history on most of these items and the trail that you will be walking/biking.
1. The Starting Point and Cumberland, MD
The starting point of the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail is in Cumberland, MD. It has a great museum, a railroad station, George Washington’s Headquarters, Fort Cumberland which had a church built over it and was used as a last stop on the Underground Railroad, and so much more.
2. The Narrows, Lovers Leap, and a Railroad Bridge
The Narrows are along the trail but you can see them from the Narrows Parking Area as well because you will be driving through them.
Across the street from the trail is this little parking lot and picnic area next to Kline’s Restaurant. You are in the Narrows as you are parking. Just cross the street and the GAP Trail can be picked up behind the gas station.
Walk to the turn in the trail down the way which is about a quarter of a mile. Not far at all and you get to Lovers Leap, see my GAP trail post Mile 1-5 for more information and history.
Around the corner from Lover’s Leap is this wonderful Railroad Bridge less then a mile from the parking area. I believe that the whole trip is just about a mile long because as you enter behind the gas station, you are on Mile 1 of the trail and the Railroad Bridge is just past the Mile 2 marker.
3. Cumberland Bone Cave, Helmstetter’s “Horseshoe” Curve, and Brush Tunnel
Park at the Cash Valley Road Trail Access. Walking to the right and across the street takes you to the Cumberland Bone Cave but walking towards the left you get the Helmstetter’s “Horseshoe” Curve.
The Cumberland Bone Cave is closed to the public but to view from the outside. The Cave was discovered in 1912. Between 1912 and 1916, over 40 species of mammals where uncovered. 28 of them were extinct including the Saber-toothed cat. For more information, see GAP Trail 1 to 5.
The Bone Cave is just past the 4 mile marker from the parking area which is just after the 5 mile marker. So, this would be under 1.5 mile walk to the Cave. But I did see some parking closer to the cave in the residential areas as I was walking by.
Helmestetter’s “Horseshoe” Curve is the most photographed point on the GAP Trail. To really see it, you have to walk up the hill and look back but it is just feet from the parking area but about .25 miles of walking up a little hill to really see it. For more information, see GAP Trail 5ish to 10ish.
A little over a mile past the Helmestetter’s “Horseshoe” Curve is Brush Tunnel. It is just past mile 6 marker.
4. Frostburg Parking Area, Fat Boys Shack Pizza, and Very Pretty Rock Walls
Frostburg parking area is great. They have a hill of art work.
So, I fell completely in love with Frostburg or the Pizza.? But it was one of my favorite stops. Up from the Frostburg Parking area is a museum and a train station that has a train that goes from Cumberland to Frostburg next to the trail. A great way to see the trail but not actually have to walk the first 15 miles.
About 3/4 of mile from Frostburg towards Cumberland is this wonderful valley of rocks with two railroad crossings over head. One on each side of the valley of rocks. I loved walking in between the Rock Walls are just fantastic. See GAP Trail 10ish to 15 Plus.
This little area was one of my favorite places on the trail.
About three miles uphill is the Borden Tunnel but if you are in a hurry then it is not worth the time. The next tunnel up the way is! See GAP Trail 15ish to 20 plus.
5. Eastern Continental Divide and Big Savage Tunnel
The Eastern Continental Divide and Big Savage tunnel are just down from the Deal Parking Area towards Frostburg. See GAP Trail 20ish to 24ish.
The Eastern Continental Divide is about a mile from the Deal Parking Area.
The Big Savage Tunnel is about 2 miles down from the Deal Parking Area with the 22 mile marker in the middle of the tunnel.
But remember the tunnel is about .6 of mile long but worth walking through as the view of the valley below.
Plus there is wonderful picnic area and bathrooms.
6. Bollman Bridge, Keystone Viaduct, and Salisbury Viaduct
Meyersdale is a great place to visit and to park for a bit.
Meyersdale has a great little visitors center with a bit of historical items as well.
From the Meyersdale Parking Area, Bollman Bridge is just 1.6 mile towards Cumberland. It is the oldest standing iron railroad bridge in the United States. See GAP Trail 28ish to 32 for Bollman Bridge and Keystone Viaduct.
The Keystone Viaduct is 2.1 mile from the Parking Area and only 1/2 mile past the Bollman Bridge.
It was built in 1911 and beautiful to walk across with railroad track, a 2 lane road, and the Flaugherty Creek below. See GAP Trail 32 to 36 Plus.
The Salisbury Viaduct is 1.5 miles towards Garrett from Meyersvale, i.e. the opposite way from the Bollman Bridge and the Keystone Viaduct. But also know that there is a parking area just next to the Salisbury Viaduct as well.
It is over the Casselman River, a freeway, and a bunch of other fields.
7. Rockwood
Rockwood has two parking areas and great rock walls that are just off of them. (Check both GAP Trail 36ish to Almost 44 and GAP Trail Almost 44 to 50.
The visitor center on the trail head host both humans and the areas wild cats. Check out the planter for the third cat in this picture.
This weeping wall is just past the visitor center across from the picnic area.
On the other side of the street is a different parking area with a bit of art work plus benches which over look the Casselman River.
Plus weep rock walls which are just steps from the parking area.