Founded in 1995, The Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy is a coalition of seven trail organizations in southwestern Pennsylvania and western Maryland that is charged with promoting and enhancing the Great Allegheny Passage, a 150-mile multiple use rail-trail system between Cumberland, MD and Pittsburgh, PA. The GAP Trail is connected to the 184.5 mile C&O Canal Towpath in Cumberland and provides a non-motorized, nearly level trail system between Washington, DC and Pittsburgh, PA. The Great Allegheny Passage is a segment of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, one of eight nationally designated scenic trails.