Coming back up is only 2% harder than going down! Rising. It’s called the Clairton Connector. Information. The GAP is a multiple purpose, non-motorized trail from Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, MD where it will join the C & O Canal Towpath to Wash-ington, DC. There was a discussion of other possible route changes for the connector that others might want to elaborate on. Bird watching is another favorite activity. As of 2012, MTC maintained net assets in excess of $9,300,000.00. The Montour trail started with a beautiful railroad trestle high above a meandering creek below. For access to GAP trail: Unfortunately, the trail is incomplete past South Park. A total of about 47 miles, the trail has a road that leads directly to the Pittsburgh International Airport and also has a connection to the GAP Trail mentioned above. card classic compact. We envision a Pittsburgh where people can thrive without needing to own a car. The Great Allegheny Passage was once called the Yough River Trail. Take the first right you can and then the next right also, which I believe is Water Street. In the next year or two a calibrated wheel will be taken to the trail surface and they will migrate short distances. The trail surface is different, with much of the towpath resembling a two-track dirt road. From that point going east, the trail drops 1,754 feet in 24 miles to reach Cumberland and, going west, it drops 1,664 feet in 126 miles to reach Pittsburgh. Information. 03/19/2020 at 4:19pm # After the GAP got to McKeesport, it was obvious that Pittsburgh could be a great stop on coast-to-coast trail. The MTC is a non-profit all-volunteer group which builds, operates, and maintains the trail. Come into town on W-Main (Nobelstown Rd) Switch over to E-Main and after you go under the parkway bear left -Bell Ave. this intersects with Idlewood then jog over to onto Chartiers where there is a bit of bike path. On your way from Pittsburgh, PA, to Washington, DC, the multitude of natural, cultural and historically significant sites will astound you. Participant. Connecting People and Places in the Potomac Heritage Trail Corridor Potomac … Don't ride on sidewalks. Construction started on the C&O Canal in 1828 and was in operation until 1924 when railroads made canal transportation obsolete. View Trail Rules. GAP Closure mm 120 - 131 starting Nov 16. Horses are permitted only on the grassy areas between Boston & Connellsville; Rockwood & Garrett; Frostburg to the State Line. There are chemical toilets at the campgrounds and GAP access areas, but limited potable water. Winter snow allows cross-country skiing and snow shoeing. Montour Trail - VIDEO TOUR 1 - Mile 0 to Mile 6 - Duration: 31:59. bigkill1 1,506 views. The section of the GAP from Cumberland to Ohiopyle is a segment of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, one of eight nationally designated scenic trails. The road changes names to West 5th Street as you start uphill toward the Mansfield Bridge. The Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) was built on the abandoned rail beds of the West Maryland Railway and the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad, and it was completed in 2013. View the Elevation Table. jlfunder wrote:Come into town on W-Main (Nobelstown Rd) Switch over to E-Main and after you go under the parkway bear left -Bell Ave. this intersects with Idlewood then jog over to onto Chartiers where there is a bit of bike path. Montour Trail is a 36 mile moderately popular paved path trail located near Rennerdale Pennsylvania. Is this something people do ? Of note, regarding the connector, there was a very positive meeting with Glassport Borough officials last fall, regarding establishing Monongahela Avenue as the official route of the connector. To subscribe or unsubscribe, contact ATA: Phone: 724-853-2453 • Fax: 724-832-8519 atamail@atatrail.org • www.atatrail.org. On average it takes 2 hours9 minutes to complete this trail. Advertise Your Business to Trail Travelers! Well then, that’s pretty much what I would have suggested, that’s the best way I have found, more or less. The GAP from here to Connellsville follows the former route of the Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Youghiogheny Railroad, known locally by its initials as the P Mickey. I continued on the Montour Trail until it joined the Steel Valley Trail that connects to the GAP. I’ve never ridden it, but the map shows a Clearview Park Trail that would let you get off Route 60 (Crafton Blvd) for about a mile. Montour access to airport will permit riders ont he Montour Trail to directly access the passenger terminal at PIT. Forming a semi-circle around Pittsburgh, the Montour Railroad also connected other railroads, including the Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh & West Virginia, the Baltimore & Ohio, and the Union. This will take you on a 46 mile ride to Clairton Pa. That is where you can meet the GAP trail. For more detail, please refer to the full policy. There are plenty of locations along the trail to park a vehicle, small business establishments to get a meal or drinks, bike shops (i.e. They are working on the terminus at Coraopolis now, and filling in a few of the remaining gaps in South Park (a few will remain at that end). 14. pinned by moderators. On closer inspection it would appear that I failed to notice the difference between little colored rectangles and little colored circles… Now, where did I put my glasses. Note that GAP mileage sign post were placed before the entire trail was completed. At the end of the trail, take a left and follow River Road to the Clairton-Glassport Bridge. What I was really trying to say is that the Clairton Connector bit was marked as under development; but that there’s a trial there already. You will ride a few miles more off the trail to buy supplies or go … A trail junction after the bridge marks the Clairton Connector, which links to the Montour Trail via 5 miles of roadway. The steepest westbound grade is from Cumberland to Deal at 1.75%. From there, it connects to the C&O Canal Towpath to Washington, DC.. Once you ride the GAP approximately 150 miles, you will meet the C&O Canal Towpath. It connects to the Montour Trail system in Clairton, a town southeast of Pittsburgh. to abide the rules of the road. The trail is nearly level with the average grade of less than 1% Montour Trail - VIDEO TOUR 1 - Mile 0 to Mile 6 - Duration: 31:59. bigkill1 1,506 views. It’s doable but its not trail riding or anything close. The Great Allegheny Passage ® (GAP) rail-trail offers 150 miles of hiking and biking from Cumberland MD to Pittsburgh,PA. Within the next few years, 100 miles of trails are in the pipeline to be completed, representing nearly 6% of the gap miles on the trail. Hot. You share the trail with bicycles and moms with kids so it's fairly busy. Erie to Pittsburgh 3 Rivers Heritage Panhandle Trail Montour Trail Sheepskin Trail Mon River Trails C&O Towpath 911 Memorial Trail Great American RT. Quite safe and except for the hill from the the trail up to California Ave it’s mostly flat. The map at their website is a bit aspirational: The Carrie Furnace hot metal connection does not as yet exist; the continuation of Duck Hollow exists, but it’s (public) status is still a bit vague. Mile marker 0 is located less than a mile from our old factory location. Hubby and I enjoyed the cooler fall weather by taking a walk on the Montour trail. We also make day trips, riding various trail segments between the Heritage & Montour Trails and the GAP Trail, down to about Ohiopyle. Thanks for the comments. The Montour Trail is almost complete with just a few areas left to develop. The Great Allegheny Passage trail is open daily, dawn to dusk. highway 60 to the West End Bridge. The Montour Trail is a multi-use recreational rail trail near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And hats off to the Montour Trail Council, the volunteer group that made the trail possible; read their unique story in March’s Trail of the Month. The Montour Trail website has instructions for the remaining bypasses. The Montour trail will, when completed, connect McKeesport to the Pittsburgh International Airport and Coraopolis. Montour Trail Council Steel Valley Trail Council Mon-Yough Trail Council Westmoreland Yough Trail Council Somerset County Rails-to-Trails Association Allegheny Highlands Trail of MD Friends of the Riverfront Conservation Volunteers Parks and Forest Conservancy Whitsett-Fayette Yough Trail Council Yough River Trail Council Mason Dixon Line JOINA TRAIL GROUP HELPCOMPLETE THECONNECTION … share. You will then take a right on River Road, which will lead you up to a stop light where you will take a left on 5th Street. Tun left. Erie to Pittsburgh 3 Rivers Heritage Panhandle Trail Montour Trail Sheepskin Trail Mon River Trails C&O Towpath 911 Memorial Trail Great American RT. It covers only the direct route; a future edition will include distances along the Montour Trail to Pittsburgh Airport. I continued on the Montour Trail until it joined the Steel Valley Trail that connects to the GAP. Posted by 15 days ago. McDonald Viaduct on the Montour Trail | Photo courtesy RTC 1 McDonald Viaduct. In addition, sections of the trail system are open to equestrians. Stop at stop signs. 1 comment. In recognition that some people have special needs, individuals should be encouraged to use the Passage while at the same time respecting the wish for a quality experience for all users. Not sure how you would be getting to Clairton, but if it would be from the Montour Trail, you will also have to deal with the lack of trail and a very dangerous crossing of route 51, from the Large Hotel area. Although there was an area under temporary constuction the trail is well maintained, thanks to people like Budd Halpin and his wife. The Montour connects to other rails-to-trails in western Pennsylvania and beyond: the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) and the C&O Canal Towpath, a completed trail system that stretches 300+ miles from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC. In Cumberland, the GAP connects to the 184.5 mile C&O Canal Towpath, and together, they provides a non-motorized, nearly level path between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. It was formerly the Montour Railroad. Hot. This will take you down into the marina, near where the two rivers meet and you can then go off in whichever trail direction you desire. A contractor has completed construction of abutments for the first of two bridges that are needed to span the gap and expects to place the 100-foot bridge structure on Wednesday or Thursday. The chart shows distances along the trail. Posted by 15 days ago. You are now a "vehicle" and should proceed single file, with traffic. (4 miles) Typical rail-trail conversion with an even and level surface of crushed limestone. save • Posted by just now. The towpath is overall much less improved than the GAP, as it was built for mules and not railroads. I leave the GAP and jump on the Clairton Connector Trail and then on to the Montours Trail. To do this, first you would get on the Montour Trail. 31:59 . I’m still not sure where you’re hitting Steuben St. The Trail is complete from Mile 0.0 near Coraopolis to Pleasant Street in Library (MP 35.7). United Airlines Landing In Pittsburgh International Airport - Duration: 13:36. The C&O Canal towpath is a bit rougher dirt and gravel surface with muddy sections after rainfall. And by the end of 2020, new trail mileage is expected in eight of 12 states along the route, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana and Washington. It’s doable but its not trail riding or anything close. The Clairton-McKeesport connection is decent, though you do have to fight traffic in a few spots. The main line extends between those two towns, and branch trails extend into Bethel Park and Westland. The Montour Trail picks up right at the airport and carries you a bit of the way into the city on car-free trails, but it's not particularly well-signed and I seemed to lose it at some point, taking congested and pothole-ridden roads instead. 14. pinned by moderators. Take advantage of towns along the way for water resupply. When you're traveling with group, please call ahead to the restaurants in our small trail towns so that they will be prepared to serve you in a timely manner, which will ensure that you have a great dining experience. The Official Guide to Traveling the C&O Canal Towpath and Great Allegheny Passage. The Ohio valley is a critical gap in the Great American Rail Trail, but Friends of the Riverfront is excited to bring focused efforts to this region’s connectivity opportunities. The Great Allegheny Passage ® (GAP) rail-trail offers 150 miles of hiking and biking from Cumberland MD to Pittsburgh,PA. I rode it a lot of times during weekends, Wednesdays after work, and during my lunch. Does anyone have any experience with the the links- are they crazy, benign, or just typical PGH roads; (i.e, vertical and shoulder less). Linking them could open a 70 mile loop mostly on trail. Shuttle arrangements from the trailhead in Pittsburgh (Point State Park) will be necessary. 31:59 . This study is the first and only comprehensive look at the C2P corridor within the IHTC. JF, It exists already. This 185 mile trail will lead you into Washington D.C. Eventually, this trail segment will extend 47 miles from Coraopolis, Pennsylvania to Clairton, Pennsylvania. After a 12-month assessment of route options using 34,000 miles of existing bike trails nationwide, RTC has identified the remaining 90 trail gaps to be filled. save • Posted by just now. Pittsburgh to DC on the Famous GAP & C&O Canal Rail Trails Conde Naste magazine included this unique trail system in its “most beautiful rail-trail list” and you’ll quickly see why. One trail that stands out was the Montour trail. Now that it is connected to the Great Allegheny Passage, bicycle traffic has increased tremendously. Be prepared for ruts, tree roots, mud and mosquitos. The Montour Trail Council is an original member of the Allegheny Trail Alliance and has partnered with other trails in the Pittsburgh region. The GAP crosses the eastern continental divide and ends in Cumberland, Maryland at the C&O Tow Path, which finished in D.C. My trip along the Montour Trail was a rewarding experience. I stay on Crafton Blvd (alternatively marked “60”, “Lincoln Hwy” on google) until it rejoins Noblestown Road, which I find to be a wide, lovely and peaceful downhill into West End. The greenway connects with the 184.5-mile C&O Canal Towpath at Cumberland, Maryland to create a 334.5-mile route between Pittsburgh and Washington, DC. For this particular one, the say: “Gill Hall Road to Large Mile 44 40° 17.574? Hot New Top Rising. From here's the trail dips and dives, never at more than a 1% grade, through the South Hills. This will take you on a 46 mile ride to Clairton Pa. That is where you can meet the GAP trail. I joined the trail from the Panhandle Trail that originates in Weirton, WV. GAP Closure mm 120 - 131 starting Nov 16. You then have to pass through the borough of Glassport before reaching McKeesport. card. At the other end you can cheat: I take the bus to Coraopolis. The trail surface is smooth since it is paved or crushed limstone. THREE RIVERS HERITAGE TRAIL MONTOUR TRAIL STEEL VALLEY TRAIL YOUGHIOGHENY RIVER TRAIL NORTH YOUGHIOGHENY RIVER TRAIL SOUT ALLEGHENY HIGHLANDS TRAIL (PA) ALLEGHENY HIGHLANDS TRAIL of MD Volume 4, Number 3 Fall 2003 TRAIL NEWS made by Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources. The trail has it all, says Ned Williams, president of the nonprofit Montour Trail Council: more than a dozen bridges – highlighted by the nearly 1,000-foot-long McDonald Viaduct near mile 18, three railroad tunnels, woodlands, gently rolling hills, urban sections and connections to the Great Allegheny Passage, Panhandle Trail and Pittsburgh International Airport. There is construction going on right now as they are re-painting the bridge (and probably a lot more than meets the eye). Stay on the main street, Monongahela Avenue, all the way through town. card classic compact. Register Now. I ride from McKeesport PA to McDonald PA in this video. To do this, first you would get on the Montour Trail. 28 Photos. Packed with itineraries, lodging and dining options, and a weatherproof map of both trails. The trail offers access to Panhandle Trail, which brushes by Settlers Cabin State Park, and the trails at South Park (South Park Connection to Montour Trail). The GAP and 3 Rivers Heritage Trail people need to start planning some long term connections to these other trails. Be considerate when you chain your bike. Road bikes are not advised. It is a registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation, relying on corporate, foundation and government grants and private donations for funding. The GAP spans two states in its 150-mile course along scenic rivers and across mountain passes. Great Allegheny Passage. Project Scope. The Montour trail started with a beautiful railroad trestle high above a meandering creek below. Town streets are not bike trails and cyclists are encouraged (by law!) Once you ride the GAP approximately 150 miles, you will meet the C&O Canal Towpath. It exists already. By far the most widely used section of the trail, featuring the Enlow Tunnel and the new airport connector branch. Near the Big Savage Tunnel, the trail crosses the Eastern Continental Divide. Related Searches. share. Treat the town properties as you would want visitors to treat where you live. THREE RIVERS HERITAGE TRAIL MONTOUR TRAIL STEEL VALLEY TRAIL YOUGHIOGHENY RIVER TRAIL NORTH YOUGHIOGHENY RIVER TRAIL SOUT ALLEGHENY HIGHLANDS TRAIL (PA) ALLEGHENY HIGHLANDS TRAIL of MD Volume 4, Number 3 Fall 2003 TRAIL NEWS made by Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources. Back on the Montour Trail, the trail turns east and into Allegheny County and carries a rider across the original section of completed trail. For now, you can bike the Montour-Trail Airport Connector as a combination of public and airport roads for 6.5 miles to join the Montour Trail (mile 8) at Enlow. The new Montour Trail Airport Connector connects the Enlow Ball Park (aka Five Points) trailhead of the Montour Trail to the Airport, a distance of a bit over 6 miles. It's level for the most part so easy to navigate. From Cumberland to Washington, DC, you drop 625 feet to sea level on the C&O Canal towpath. From here's the trail dips and dives, never at more than a 1% grade, through the South Hills. This video shows some of the major construction projects on Montour Trail (formerly Montour Rail Road). If you’re not keen on crossing the bridge into McKeesport, head under it and up along River to the 19th St bridge, where you can pick up the GAP. Once you come out of Glassport, you will be entering an area with quite a bit of traffic that isn’t at all suited to bicycle or pedestrian travel. Go Right on Crafton where you hit Highway 60 Which runs into E. Stuben St and then to W End Bridge. 14. The Montour Trail is managed and maintained by The Montour Trail Council (MTC). The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. ; the Panhandle Trail — a converted railroad line that stretches from Weirton, West Virginia, to Carnegie. The trail system is universally accessible between dawn & dusk. We spent the next five days exploring Pittsburgh and the surrounding bike trails. Another way is to follow the GAP to McKeesport, then follow the signs to the Montour trail. I keep looking for loop routes around PGH that do not involve suicidal highway sections and it occurred to me that the GAP and Montour trails almost meet at two places: Mckeesport and West End Bridge. Those sections are marked as “future trail (not accessible)” on the SVTC map […]. Fishermen take the trail to favorite fishing spots. The actual trail follows a number of back streets in town, but it is confusing, some parts have very rough pavement, and there are some mean dogs and rough-looking people back there. edmonds59 wrote:How did you get from Carnegie to 60? As existing trails are extended and new trails built to fill in the gaps, a branding and naming process could occur to create more marketable names and unique brands for each corridor. It’s surfaced with wood chips, and intended as a walking trail, so maybe it’s not worth bothering with. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowable by law. Accessibility: The trail surface is part asphalt/part gravel and typically at least six feet wide. You know, it’s actually the OTHER end of the Montour trail that is the issue. The new Montour Trail Airport Connector connects the Enlow Ball Park (aka Five Points) trailhead of the Montour Trail to the Airport, a distance of a bit over 6 miles. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Montour Trail (moderate) The Montour Trail , which carves a "C" shape right around the city, connects the two towns of Coraoplois, PA (the north) and Clairton, PA (the south). From downtown Pittsburgh, you'll want to get on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, a charming walkway right along the water. The GAP crosses the eastern continental divide and ends in Cumberland, Maryland at the C&O Tow Path, which finished in D.C. My trip along the Montour Trail was a rewarding experience. It's well-maintained and has markings to alert you to how far you have traveled along the trail. Those wanting to take a guided group tour of both the Montour Trail and the GAP can register online for the trip, which will take place this June 21-26. Connecting Pgh to McKeesport was difficult, and eventually, due to a lot of work by Bike-Pgh and various individuals, as accomplished. Rail-Trail conversion with an even and level surface of crushed limestone with partially asphalt surface, for! Engines ( as well as Segways ) are strictly prohibited i enjoyed the cooler fall by! Predictable application of the GAP trail: Unfortunately, the trail: Unfortunately, the trail part. 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