Peony Women’s Bike Tours is based in Pittsburgh and we’re proud of our city and proud to be a gateway to the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP)! We know people come from far and wide to ride this amazing trail, but many don’t have the opportunity to visit our fair city while they are here. This ride is your chance to do both!
Difficulty Level: Moderate self-supported
Daily Distances: 35-45 Miles
Daily Saddle Time: 4-6 Hours
Total Riding Miles: 160 - 165 - City Tour (10 - 15 mi) + GAP (150)
Terrain: Trail (paved and crushed limestone)
Rider Limit: Minimum 6 riders | Maximum 9 riders
Price: $ 1800.00 includes:
Overnight lodging
Meals: 3 Breakfasts, 1 Happy Hour and 1 Dinner
Shuttle back to Pittsburgh
Guides: 2 guides, lead and sweep, carrying bike tools, patch kits, first aid kit, satellite radio and good humor
Details Below:
Day 0: (6/25) Arrive in Pittsburgh at your leisure.
You’ll have a room downtown directly across the street from Point State Park where the ride begins. Spend the day exploring as you will. We’ll meet at the hotel at 4:30pm to have introductions and a logistics briefing. We’ll walk together to a local restaurant for dinner.
Day 1: (6/26) Explore Pittsburgh (10-15 miles)
We’ll meet after breakfast and have a 3-hour bike tour of the city, courtesy of Bike the Burgh Tours. You’ll have a chance to bike through historic and modern buildings, two sports stadiums (GO STEELERS!) and more! After our tour, we’ll head to the iconic “Strip District” where many lunch options can be found. After lunch, you’ll be free to explore on your own, visit the Pittsburgh Heinz History Center, the Andy Warhol Museum, or the many local shops. We will suggest several dinner options for the group to decide. After our meal, we’ll drive up to the top of Mt. Washington for a spectacular view of the city at night.
Day 2: (6/27) Pittsburgh to West Newton (34 miles)
Our ride will start on Friday, from Mile Marker 150 (the Western Terminus of the Great Allegheny Passage) in Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh. From the headwaters of the Ohio, we'll ride along the Monongahela River (AKA the Mon) through the industrial suburbs of town, eventually transitioning to the parallel the beautiful Youghiogheny River (AKA the “Yough”). You’ll have a chance to view former steel mill sites and one of the last functioning mills in western Pennsylvania. Once on the Yough, we’ll reach the crushed limestone, have lunch at Betsy’s in Boston and continue through peaceful countryside, ending in West Newton. We’ll spend the night in one of two basic but all-we-need B&Bs in West Newton, and have a chance to dip our toes in the water or relax overlooking the river. We’ll end the day with a campfire under the stars (weather permitting). Several dinner options are available in West Newton.
Day 3: (6/28) West Newton to Ohiopyle (43 miles, Breakfast included)
On Saturday, the ride continues through the countryside and small villages. We’ll pass the Sagar Mosaics, home of the Ruins Project and ride by the Mosaic Memorial Wall, which is dedicated to the Darr Mine Disaster. We travel past Smithton, the childhood home of Shirley Jones (of Partridge Family fame) to Connellsville. Lunch will be in Connellsville then on another 17 miles to the popular river rafting town of Ohiopyle in Ohiopyle State Park. Catch a glimpse of kayakers and rafters or take a quick dip in the river. We’ll spend the night at the Ohiopyle Inn and Suites. Several dinner options are available.
Day 4: (6/29) Ohioplye to Meyersdale (40 miles, Breakfast and Dinner included)
We’ll have a grab-and-go breakfast on Sunday, (and an awesome coffee house with more options directly across the street.) We’ll leave the Yough and continue along the Casselman River riding through the Pinkerton Tunnel (the first of 4 tunnels on our ride) which provides a handy shortcut between a hairpin turn in the river. We’ll stop in Rockwood for lunch. After lunch, we will continue toward Meyersdale, eventually crossing over the 1,908-foot Salisbury Viaduct, a former railroad bridge with spectacular views above the Casselman River. After the Viaduct, we will travel a short distance into Meyersdale, where we’ll spend the night at Yoder’s Guest House, where we’ll have Happy Hour and Dinner together.
Day 5: (6/30) Meyersdale to Cumberland (32 miles, Breakfast included)
Our final riding day on Monday will bring many highlights including the Bollman Bridge (originally built in 1871), the Keystone Viaduct, the Eastern Continental Divide, the Big Savage Tunnel, and the Mason-Dixon Line. After climbing to the Eastern Continental Divide, we’ll enjoy our last leg as we pedal easily downhill the rest of the way into Cumberland. We’ll have time to grab a quick lunch before boarding the shuttle back to Pittsburgh.
Lodging:
Day 0 & 1: Wyndham Hotel; Pittsburgh, PA
Day 2: Plumer House or Railside Rest, West Newton, PA
Day 3: Ohiopyle Inn and Suites, Ohiopyle, PA
Day 4: Yoder’s Guest House, Meyersdale, PA
All rooms are double occupancy.
Single supplements, if available, are an additional $450. Please request this on your registration form and we will confirm availability.
Discounts:
Early Bird Discount for new riders: Sign up before 12/31/2024 and receive 5% off the total ride price. This discount is for new riders only.
Previous Rider Discount: 5% off total for previous PEONY riders
Local Participants: Local participants choosing not to stay at the Wyndham will receive a $200 discount.
Required:
A working bicycle capable of carrying gear
Bike rentals are available through Bike The Burgh Tours. Let them know you are riding with Peony.
Bike packing or touring bags; we have a limited number of panniers for rent if needed.
Helmet
Water bottle(s)
Spare inner tube for your tire size
Bike light
Rain gear
On and off-the-bike clothing
Swimsuit (optional)
Book this Tour
A non-refundable deposit of $250 is required at the time of registration
Full payment is due 60 days prior to the ride's start