Bikepacking Clinics and Adventures
Trek Gahanna x Bikepacking Clinics
Clinic #1
– The kinds of bikes that are perfect for trips like these, what aspects of those bikes work and what are some of the things on a bike that might make a trip like this more difficult.
– Different gear for on the bike, their uses, and access and loading points on the bike for different types of gear.
– How you would prepare and train for a Bikepacking trip
Clinic #2
– How to plan a good route ahead of time, loading routes into your Garmin or other navigation device
– How to pack your bike to maximize space as well as keep your overall bike weight at a minimal
– The kinds of things you should pack on your trip
The Rides
THE PRACTICE RIDE // coming soon!
THE GROUP RIDE // coming soon!
Join us at TOSRV!
Bikepacking Trip Information – Experienced bikepacking leaders will provide guidance and support to first-time bikepackers on all our outings. The trip Leader is Penny Marchal.
GAP Trail Adventure
Bikepacking GAP 3
Bikepacking GAP 2
GAP Tour Bikepacking
Enjoy incredible scenery and some of the best riding you can imagine on this popular destination trail.
June 4-9, 2026 (4 riding days – 4-5 nights)
Tour Capacity – 25 riders
Join Outdoor Pursuits for our GAP Trail Bikepacking Tour. This tour will be approximately 150 miles, starting at Cumberland, Maryland, and ending in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Experienced bikepackers will lead you through some of the most breathtaking scenery in the United States. This is a self-supported ride, meaning riders are responsible for carrying their gear. Overnight accommodation is included in the price. Dinner on June 5th and breakfast on June 6th are included, but you will be responsible for all other meals. General Information about the GAP Trail can be found here
Daily Mileage – We ride 31-52 miles per day. Routes and GPS tracks are available.
Point-to-Point Logistics – Riders check in at the Traveler’s Rest Hotel in Pittsburgh. This hotel caters to GAP cyclists, and we’ll enjoy a group dinner & breakfast there before boarding a shuttle bus to transport us to Cumberland, Maryland. We’ll ride the GAP trail westward to finish where you’ve left your cars near the Traveler’s Rest Hotel. Transport of riders, bicycles, and luggage is included in the tour registration. Safe and monitored parking for your car is provided in Pittsburgh at the Station Square parking facility 1/2 mile from the Traveler’s Rest Hotel. We’ve arranged a discount price of $20 for the week.
Terrain – It feels flat because it is a rail trail. There will be gentle elevation gains and losses. The trail is either paved or tightly compacted pea gravel.
Overnight Lodging – After the initial hotel stay in Pittsburgh and shuttle to Cumberland, this is a bikepacking trip. Riders are expected to carry their tents & sleeping bags for three nights of primitive camping. The registration fee includes the cost of three group camps that we’ve reserved. All campgrounds cater to GAP cyclists; you’ll find them beautiful and comfortable. Meals are on your own (except for the opening and closing dinners).
SAG (Support and Gear) – We will have a support vehicle at camps and on the nearby roads for anyone who needs serious assistance. We strongly suggest that you ensure your bike is in good condition before leaving home, and that you have any potential concerns looked at by your local bike shop before the ride. It’s no fun to have your ride cut short by a preventable mechanical issue.
Pricing – Early bird registration is $650 through March 31st. Registration will increase to $700 on April 1st. Registration includes the first night’s lodging at the Traveler’s Rest, two meals there, the cost of overnight camping the next three nights on the trail, the shuttle bus ride, and bicycle transport from Pittsburgh to Cumberland.
Weather – Typically, we have highs in the low 80s and overnight lows in the mid-60s. Afternoon rain is always a possibility. Be prepared for both higher and lower temperatures as that can and does sometimes happen.
Itinerary:
June 5th – Meet at Traveler’s Rest Hotel at 6:00 p.m. A unique hotel that loves cyclists. We have rented the entire hotel. Our overnight accommodation includes dinner on June 5th and breakfast on June 6th. For those wanting more private accommodation, a block of rooms is available at the Holiday Inn. You will be responsible for the costs of renting a hotel room from the Holiday Inn. https://www.sstrpgh.com/
June 6th – 32 Miles
Shuttle arrives at 9:00 a.m. to load our bikes, gear, and us to travel to Cumberland, MD for our GAP start. We will be dropped off at Mile “0”. From here we will ride to Meyersdale, PA. This will be the day with the largest elevation change, but after that, it is all downhill (mostly). Overnight accommodations are at Maple Festival Park Campground. https://www.pamaplefestival.com/
June 7th – 31 Miles
Travel to Confluence, PA. Accommodations at the Outflow Group site. A beautiful campsite on the Youghiogheny River. https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233679
June 8th – 52 Miles
Travel to West Newton, PA. This will be our longest day in mileage on the GAP. We have accommodations at the GAP Trail Campground for our final evening. This campground caters only to cyclists and is a wonderful place to spend our last night out. https://gaptrailcampground.com/
June 9th – 35 Miles
The final leg of our GAP Trail. We will travel to Pittsburgh and back to our cars.