Noble Invention Bike Touring

The Katy Trail follows the corridor of the former MKT railroad through central Missouri and alongside the Missouri River. This route was also used by the Lewis and Clark Expedition on their historic trip to map the West in the 1800s. The Katy Trail forms part of the American Discovery Trail, a series of roads and recreational trails that run coast-to-coast across America’s mid-tier. Enjoy Missouri cattle and farm country and follow the Corps of Discovery Expedition route.

The Katy Trail is a crushed gravel rail-trail which has some rolling elevation at the western end between Clinton and Boonville, then flattens out once it reaches the floodplains of the Missouri River around Rocheport.

The Katy Trail is one of the first long-distance rail-trails in the U.S. and is well-maintained by the state parks office. Aside from being a popular destination for cyclists, the Katy Trail is also used by hikers and horseback riders who enjoy the off-road nature of the route. The trail crosses diverse habitats and conservation areas, with excellent birdwatching opportunities and plenty of wildlife, plus more than 25 scenic trailheads and four lovingly restored railroad depots.

Our self-guided itineraries are designed to provide riders with a comfortable pace to enjoy the trail, while ensuring quality overnight stays in towns which offer access to restaurants and bike services. Extra nights in Hermann and St Charles can be added to any itinerary to allow for more time to discover the history and wineries of the area.

Running from the Ohio River in Cincinnati to the shore of Lake Erie in Cleveland, the Ohio to Erie Trail (OTET) cuts diagonally across the state and through several topographic zones. The trail system is a varied and challenging mix of relaxing bike trail, rolling rural roads, vibrant cities, and green forests.

While the OTET is primarily paved and 90% off-road on dedicated trails, there are two on-road segments which require biking with traffic at speed. The trail is best for cyclists comfortable with biking on-road and on mixed surfaces. The OTET is not flat and has several climbs – and descents – as it traverses the state.

The Ohio to Erie Trail passes through three major cities – Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland – and travels from a major U.S. waterway to one of the Great Lakes. Biking the trail offers a look in at the small town character and Amish heritage of central Ohio. Much of the OTET also forms part of the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route.

Our Ohio to Erie Trail itineraries are designed to give you the best touring experience along a route with varied terrain and accommodations. Riders can start their trip in Cincinnati or Cleveland and shuttle at the beginning or end of their journey.

The Katy Trail follows the corridor of the former MKT railroad through central Missouri and alongside the Missouri River. This route was also used by the Lewis and Clark Expedition on their historic trip to map the West in the 1800s. The Katy Trail forms part of the American Discovery Trail, a series of roads and recreational trails that run coast-to-coast across America’s mid-tier. Start your bike tour in Rocheport for a shorter adventure focused on the Corps of Discovery Expedition route.

The Katy Trail is a crushed gravel rail-trail which flattens out once it reaches the floodplains of the Missouri River around Rocheport.

The Katy Trail is one of the first long-distance rail-trails in the U.S. and is well-maintained by the state parks office. Aside from being a popular destination for cyclists, the Katy Trail is also used by hikers and horseback riders who enjoy the off-road nature of the route. The trail crosses diverse habitats and conservation areas, with excellent birdwatching opportunities and plenty of wildlife, plus more than 25 scenic trailheads and four lovingly restored railroad depots.

Our self-guided itineraries are designed to provide riders with a comfortable pace to enjoy the trail, while ensuring quality overnight stays in towns which offer access to restaurants and bike services. Extra nights in Hermann and St Charles can be added to any itinerary to allow for more time to discover the history and wineries of the area.

Connecting Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania to Cumberland in Maryland, the Great Allegheny Passage stretches for nearly 150 miles through the Appalachian Mountains. It traverses rugged natural terrain and is dotted with small towns, offering plenty of opportunities for cyclists to rest along the way. We offer four, five and six-day self-guided bike tours.

With most of the trail converted from abandoned rail beds, the surface is ideal for hybrid and/or touring bicycles, with an average grade of less than 1%. At the highest point of the trail, you’ll cross the Eastern Continental Divide, after which the trail drops around 1,750 feet over 20 miles before reaching Cumberland.

The Great Allegheny Passage incorporates defunct corridors of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, and the Western Maryland Railway. Highlights along the route include Ohiopyle State Park and “Fallingwater” designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, as well as one of only two surviving cast-iron truss bridges in North America.

Our Great Allegheny Passage itineraries are designed to give you ample time to take in the sights along the way and experience the region’s natural beauty. It’s also possible to add on an extra night in Pittsburgh at the start or end of your trip to discover the Gilded Age sites and museums of this historic city.

The Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath travels over 330 miles between Pittsburgh, Pa., and Washington, D.C.

The Great Allegheny Passage runs through the Appalachian Mountains and traverses rugged natural terrain dotted by small towns. It was the first inductee to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Hall of Fame and the forested canopy of the GAP offers relaxed cycling to invigorate the senses and unplug from your cares.

The GAP is followed by the incredible history and bustling energy of the C&O Canal Towpath. The canal stretches for 185 miles along an historic transportation corridor that utilized the Potomac River to travel from the East Coast into the interior.

With most of the Great Allegheny Passage being converted from abandoned rail beds, the crushed gravel surface is ideal for hybrid and/or touring bicycles, with an average grade of less than 1%. It runs slightly uphill as you ride south, then slopes downward into Cumberland at a grade of about 1.75%. The GAP is well-maintained and kept clear by volunteers and local municipalities (we provide information on how to further support these organizations with your trip materials). The C&O Canal Towpath is a dirt surface and bumpy, similar to a forest road, and is managed by the National Park Service. There is little to no grade on the towpath beyond the slight elevation changes at each lock. The majority of the trail is shaded and it is entirely off-road.

In additional to truly stunning scenery, highlights along the route include internationally-renowned architectural masterpiece Fallingwater, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright; Civil War-era national parks and battlefields; cast-iron truss bridges and historic stone aqueducts; and the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

Our Great Allegheny Passage – C&O Canal itineraries are designed to give you ample time to take in the sights along the way and experience the region’s natural beauty. It’s also possible to add on an extra night in Pittsburgh at the start or end of your trip and to add time around sites like Antietam National Battlefield.

Hugging the north bank of the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal operated from 1831 to 1924 to transport coal from the Allegheny Mountains. In 1954, U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas led an eight-day hike along the C&O Canal Towpath to try and save it from being transformed into a parkway. His success saw the former canal designated as the Chesapeake & Ohio National Historic Park in 1971.

The C&O Canal Towpath is a dirt surface and bumpy, similar to a forest road, and is managed by the National Park Service. There is little to no grade on the towpath beyond the slight elevation changes at each lock. The majority of the trail is shaded and it is entirely off-road.

The C&O Towpath lead through Civil War-era national parks and battlefields; historic stone aqueducts; and the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

Our C&O Canal Towpath itineraries are designed to give you ample time to take in the sights along the way and experience the region’s natural beauty. It’s also possible to add on an extra time around sites like Antietam National Battlefield.