We recently cycled the C&O/GAP trail and stayed at Little Orleans Lodge because it is fairly close to the trail. Yes, Steve the owner is a nice guy and clearly knowledgeable of the surrounding area. The establishment and service though, was very poor. The property and yard itself was strewn with junk and garbage. The room appeared clean, but the carpet was filthy leaving debris on our feet and belongings.The bed was lumpy and squeaked with every move. Chairs on the adjoining deck were laden with green slime. The shared bathroom had only a single towel for our long awaited showers. The shower drain was filled with hair. Though breakfast was advertised as included, no direction had been given for where and when it was to be served. In trying to locate Steve for towels the evening before, I caught a glimpse of a tremendously filthy, junk-laden kitchen; we were very concerned about eating any food prepared there. When morning rolled around (and feeling really hungry), we followed the smell of bacon to a dining table strewn with piles of personal stuff/junk/garbage, including many bottles of medication, all of which were literally shoved to the end of the table so we'd have a place to sit (,,,we all stood in dismay).

We derive no pleasure in reporting this entire experience; it was really quite sad. We do though, feel others need to be aware of what to expect from this business.

Little Orleans Lodge is located approximately 8 miles from US 40 in Little Orleans, Maryland. This lodge is ideally situated near the C & O Rilroad/bicycle path. Steve, the owner of the lodge, was not on the premises very much when I visited. He was busy trying to corral some livestock which escaped!! Katie, Steve's reservation's manager, aptly prepared meals, took reservations, visited with guests, and took care of any of the other numerous bits and pieces required for operating a lodge!! Cory, Steve's son, possesses an innate ability to share enthusiasm with the guests at the lodge. It's a given that he cares deeply about Little Orleans Lodge and its immediate environs. He was able to provide all sorts of information and trivia about the animals, landscape, plants, animals, geological formations plus all sorts of other interesting odds and ends about the locale. Cory immediately sensed that I was averse to the typical "tourist" attractions when I said that I opted to kibitz with the locals near Fallingwater which was designed for the Kauffman family of department store fame. In fact, I waved at the entrance of Fallin gwater and drove on by!! Again, many thanks Katie & Cory!!

We stayed at the Little Orleans Lodge while bicycling the C&O canal. The owner, Steve Huebner, is an amazing wealth of information about local history, wildlife, geography, and the C&O canal trail. He has a wonderful dry sense of humor and goes out of his way to be helpful. For example, he volunteered to drive us to the nearby restaurant for supper (and pick us up afterwards), saving us the bicycle ride up a steep hill in the rain. When we left, Steve gave us all sorts of useful tips on where to stop for lunch, what to see on the trail, and so on. Earlier, when I made the reservation, he loaned us a copy of his DVDs and a book about the trail. We also used him as a shuttle service to take us from the end of the trail in Cumberland MD back to our car in the Washington DC area.

Steve wakes up at 3 am to bake bread, and the breakfast consisted of absolutely delicious French toast. The building is not a fancy Victorian mansion, nor are the rooms full of the antiques of a traditional B&B. This is a lodge, located in a secluded and wild place, designed to assist bicyclists, hikers, and bird watchers. I appreciated the magazines laying around—Audubon, Birder, National Geographic…definitely in the character of the place.

From the point of view of a bicyclist riding the C&O canal trail, Little Orleans is in an ideal location, 45 miles from Cumberland. In rainy and muddy conditions, 45 miles is a good day’s ride on a fat-tired bike with loaded panniers, while riding all the way from Cumberland to Hancock, a 63 mile stretch, might be a bit much.

We stayed at the Little Orleans while cycling the C&O Canal Towpath. It was cozy, clean, and comfortable and located in a beautiful setting. The owner, Steve, was charming and very helpful. We had gotten caught in an all-day downpour and were wet, cold, muddy, and dispirited. Steve picked us up, along with our bikes, let us wash them off and do our laundry. He was knowledgeable about the bicycle route and surrounding area. Drove us to his favorite overlook and to dinner at a great restaurant in Hancock. Even lent us shoes because ours were soaked! Breakfast was quite good and made to order, since we wanted oatmeal--better and more healthful than the fat-laden, overly-rich frou-frou fare often served at B&Bs. Highly recommended--don't miss it if you're cycling the C&O.