4-day Sky Meadows VA/MD Bikepacking Adventure

$215.00

Thu Jul 16, 2026 8:00 AM - Sun Jul 19, 2026 2:00 PM

Come join us for a thrilling, long weekend bikepacking adventure along the gravel C&O Canal, heading towards the scenic and remote Sky Meadows Campground, and finishing with the urban and paved W&OD Trail! This event is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore nature, be moderately physically active, have plenty of time to stare at the trees, and make new friends. We'll start and end our journey at Georgetown Waterfront Park and pedal our way through picturesque trails, enjoying the beauty of the canal, forests, remote county, remote campsite, Virginia and surrounding landscapes.

Whether you're a seasoned bikepacker or new to the sport, this event is designed for people of at least a moderate fitness level. Pack your camping gear, snacks, and a sense of adventure as we embark on this unforgettable trip together. This trips starts off on the flat C&O Canal, then peels off into Virginia where we gain elevation heading to the Sky Meadows campground, then we will find our way through the gravel roads to the paved and flat W&OD trail. It's a 4 day trip which will include all sorts of surface and city planning types. Don't miss out on this opportunity to spend several days cycling through some beautiful and varied landscapes, all just outside of Washington D.C.!

Thu Jul 16, 2026 8:00 AM - Sun Jul 19, 2026 2:00 PM

Come join us for a thrilling, long weekend bikepacking adventure along the gravel C&O Canal, heading towards the scenic and remote Sky Meadows Campground, and finishing with the urban and paved W&OD Trail! This event is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore nature, be moderately physically active, have plenty of time to stare at the trees, and make new friends. We'll start and end our journey at Georgetown Waterfront Park and pedal our way through picturesque trails, enjoying the beauty of the canal, forests, remote county, remote campsite, Virginia and surrounding landscapes.

Whether you're a seasoned bikepacker or new to the sport, this event is designed for people of at least a moderate fitness level. Pack your camping gear, snacks, and a sense of adventure as we embark on this unforgettable trip together. This trips starts off on the flat C&O Canal, then peels off into Virginia where we gain elevation heading to the Sky Meadows campground, then we will find our way through the gravel roads to the paved and flat W&OD trail. It's a 4 day trip which will include all sorts of surface and city planning types. Don't miss out on this opportunity to spend several days cycling through some beautiful and varied landscapes, all just outside of Washington D.C.!

The Details

Date/Time:

Thursday, July 16th, 2026 8:00 AM → Sunday, July 19st, 2025 2:00 PM (stay up to date in the Signal groupchat for time changes)

Days/Nights:

4 days/3 nights

Start/End Location:

Georgetown Waterfront, Washington D.C. → Georgetown Waterfront, Washington D.C.

Total Mileage:

175+ miles, 7000ft elevation (route here)

Cost to Participate:

Camping Admission: $215 (early bird) $230 (regular)

Type of Adventure:

Unsupported, group bikepacking on a variety of paths and to a variety of campsites, some rustic sites (no electricity or potable water), and others nicer sites (electricity and potable water).

Terrain:

The entire C&O Canal is slightly chunky/loosely packed flat gravel, and when we branch off into Virginia, it will be a variety of wide-shoulder busy roads and gravel, low traffic, hilly, rustic gravel roads. We will finish the route on the W&OD Trail which is a multi-use, paved trail as we approach Washington D.C. A gravel bike is ideal for this adventure. We will effectively be biking on all types of surfaces.

(check out this overnight trip I did to the Sky Meadows campground along the W&OD Trail here)

(check out my C&O Canal + MOCO trip video here)

Difficulty:

Intermediate. While the terrain and elevation profile is largely easy to ride on, the first three days are long days. There are no shortcuts for this trip, so you need to be able to complete 3 long days in a row. The fourth day is relatively short, that way you can sleep in and have time to catch a train back home as you please. Decent fitness is required for this trip- this is not a race, but with lunch, rest and refill stops planned along the way, a 10mph pace with all these stops included will result in about 9 hours of moving per day.

Gear Required:

A full gear list and detailed itinerary will be emailed to all participants before the start of the event. You should expect to carry everything that you think you will need on your bike for this trip. That includes, but is not limited to, a fully functioning bike, a tent, biking clothes and camping clothes, food and water, spare bike parts and tools, etc.. If you would like to see everything I brought to New Zealand for a 3 month tour (different from bikepacking, but packing lists are similar) you can watch a full breakdown here https://youtu.be/g60vVx2L2i8?si=nXkYML5pjf_DU2Yz.

FAQ

What will our lodging be for this trip? We will first camp at a primitive hiker-biker campsite on the C&O Canal near Brunswick, MD (picnic tables, well-water and a portapottie). Our second night we will camp at the Sky Meadows campground, a primitive site (picnic tables, well-water and a pit toilet). Our final night we will stay at Lake Fairfax Campground. The first two sites do not have any power.

How Do I Know If My Bikepacking Rig Will Work? I will send out a Google Forms that must be completed to ensure that your bikepacking rig is well suited for this trip. I know some people will be new to bikepacking, so I want everyone to have a basic guideline of what is expected to be in your setup! You can find some informational videos on this playlist I made to help you prepare for the trip!

Can I Rent a Bike/Gear? Short answer- no. This trip is dependent on you packing/bringing your own bike and gear. I will send out a gear/equipment list before departure to all registrants. I do have a limited bike/gear supply closet, so if there is something you need, I might be able to offer a bit of help!

Who Is This Trip Targeted For? Anyone can join, but this route is specifically suitable for beginner/intermediate cyclists/bikepackers, or people who simply want a bit of a chiller bikepacking trip, one with more downtime to enjoy the surroundings, but still some hours of pedaling to get a sweat going.

What Happens If It Rains? Unless there is torrential downpour and a gigantic storm looming, this event is rain or shine, so pack accordingly!

How Do I Get To/From The Event? You can take the Amtrak or fly into Washington D.C. the day before if you are coming from a further destination. The Amtrack/Marc (for Maryland folks) can take you to Union Station where you can ride about 3 miles to the Georgetown Waterfront Park. If you plan on driving in, I have no idea where you should park your car in D.C., I know others in the past have just parked it on a random neighborhood street in Georgetown-ish area before. I will tell everyone which Marc Train I plan on taking that morning- I think I usually catch a 7:15am?

What is your refund policy? If you cancel your trip 5+ weeks before our departure date, then you will get a full refund. If you are a no show or cancel less than two weeks before departure date, you will not get a refund (unless special circumstances occur).

What are the chances/conditions that this trip will be canceled? All trips require a minimum of 5 guests to sign up. If fewer than 5 guests sign up, then the trip will be canceled and I will refund all tickets. I recommend booking a refundable Amtrak ticket.

Do you have any other videos to help me know what this event may look like? Yes! Please check out past group trips here, and other videos such as biking across the United States, New Zealand, and other adventures. To see a version of this trip (it's not the exact same as this one), check out my video here of my overnight trip from Washington D.C. to the Sky Meadows Campground.