Distance: 24 miles | Climbing: 620 ft | Terrain: Easier | Bavarian Inn
The trip begins with a 10:30 a.m. orientation meeting at the Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown. If you live nearby, you can meet us at the inn. If you are traveling from afar, there’s a shuttle from a hotel near the Baltimore/Washington International Airport at 8:30 a.m. to the start in Shepherdstown. Meet the others in the group at lunch before getting fitted to your bike and heading out for your first ride on the C&O Canal Towpath. Though you begin your ride in West Virginia, as soon as you cross over the Potomac River (less than one mile into your ride!), you are in Maryland. Stretching 185 miles in length, the C&O Towpath passes 74 lifts that were constructed to make the river navigable over its 605-foot change in elevation. You get to cycle 45 miles of the towpath, so you get a great feel for how the canal functions. When you return to the hotel, familiarize yourself with the grounds, make yourself at home, and then join the group for a tasty dinner at the Bavarian Brothers Brewery.

Distance: 27 miles | Climbing: 870 ft | Terrain: Easier | Bavarian Inn
After a filling gourmet breakfast, shuttle north to Williamsport, where you begin cycling a different section of the C&O Canal. The ride starts off following the towpath, where you see lots of locks — each with its own story to tell. About two-thirds of the way into the ride, you turn off the towpath and head toward Antietam National Battlefield. You meet your fellow riders at Antietam for a group picnic … and then are guided by a Civil War enthusiast, who gives you a fascinating overview of the events that happened at the battlefield. The Battle of Antietam, which took place on September 17, 1862, was a major turning point in the Union’s favor. With 22,727 dead, wounded, or missing, the single-day battle was (and continues to be) the bloodiest day in U.S. history. After the tour, feel free to explore the battlefield at your own pace. You can either cycle back to the inn on your own or get a lift in the van. Tonight, you are on your own for dinner. Consider going for a swim at the inn’s gorgeous infinity pool before heading to town for dinner. Before calling it a night, perhaps sit out by the firepit, where you can enjoy the evening sky while roasting s’mores.

Distance: 27 miles | Climbing: 640 ft | Terrain: Easier | Bavarian Inn
After breakfast, start riding directly from the hotel following the C&O Towpath toward the south. You head to Brunswick, where you’re on your own for lunch. Afterward, you pedal to Harpers Ferry — a National Historic Park that is the site of the John Brown’s famous raid of the Federal Armory, the event that triggered the Civil War. Spend the afternoon as you wish, visiting the monuments, hiking the trails, or exploring the town. Meet the van in the late afternoon to shuttle back to the inn. This evening you dine on German and American fare at the elegant Potomac Room, while enjoying stunning views of the nearby river.

3-Mile Hike or Optional Bike | Distance: 25 miles | Climbing: 1,130 feet | Terrain: Intermediate
Enjoy your final breakfast at the Bavarian Inn as you decide how you would like to spend your morning. You can join your leader to hike the Final Attack Trail, a 3-mile route that begins at the Burnside Bridge and takes you by key spots that were critical in the historic Antietam battle. If you’d prefer to bike rather than hike, you can cycle a 25-mile loop that will take you along the canal, over to Antietam, past the Burnside Bridge, and back to the hotel. After checking out of the hotel, head to a final celebration lunch before saying goodbye or shuttling back to the optional starting hotel near Baltimore/Washington International Airport.