MEMBERS OF THE ALLEGHENY TRAIL ALLIANCE
Youghiogheny River Trail
North
At the beginning of this century, coal mining and Coke making
ruled the Yough from Connellsville to McKeesport; the trail is
punctuated with traces of the mines and thousands of coke ovens whose
smoke once blackened this now green valley. From the mansions of
the mine owners to the company houses where the miners lived, there is
literally a surprise around every corner.
The Yough River Trail North is being built by the Regional Trail
Corporation and maintained by volunteers of the Mon/Yough Trail Council,
the Westmoreland Yough Trail Chapter, the Yough River Trail Council, the
Fayette County Horse Owners Association and the Whitsett Yough Trail
Chapter, totaling over 1,000 volunteers.
Allegheny Highlands
Trail (MD)
From the C&O Canal Towpath at Cumberland, Maryland to
the Mason - Dixon Line, the Allegheny Highlands Trail Maryland Section
climbs the escarpment of the Allegheny Front. From Cumberland to
Frostburg, the trail will be rails-with-trail project, running alongside
the western Maryland Scenic Railroad. When this section of the
trail is completed, trail users will be able to ride the train up the
mountain and their bikes back down.
This Section of the trail will be built and maintained by the Allegany
Highlands Trail Association of Maryland in conjunction with the State of
Maryland, Allegany County, and the cities of Cumberland and Frostburg.
Allegheny Highlands
Trail (PA)
Scenic Somerset County is the setting for the Pennsylvania
segment of the Allegheny Highlands Trail. The trail is now open
along the Casselman River from Garrett through Rockwood to Pinkerton
Neck and features friendly small towns and spectacular scenery.
The trail will cross the Eastern Continental Divide near the tiny
settlement of Deal - from there it's all down hill to Pittsburgh!
The Allegheny Highlands Trail is a joint project of the Somerset County
Commissioners, the Somerset County Planning Commission and the Somerset
County Rails to Trails Association, a volunteer organization of about
400 members.
Steel Heritage Trail
Just as its name implies, the Steel Heritage Trail will run
through what once was the steel producing capital of the world.
Many of the old mill sites and railroad yards are now returning to
nature or are being redeveloped, but the trail user will see plenty of
working mills, bustling railroad lines and strings of working barges on
the Monongahela River. The trail passes by several historic sites,
including the Pinkerton's Landing from the Homestead Strike of 1892.
The Steel Heritage Trail is a joint project of the Steel Industry
Heritage Corporation, developer of the Rivers of Steel Heritage Area and
the Steel Heritage Trail Council, a growing organization of over 100
volunteer members. Five miles of trail from McKeesport to Clairton
are scheduled to be opened in 1997.
Youghiogheny River Trail
South
It's pronounced "YOCK-a-GAIN-ee" and from Confluence
where the Yough (Yock) joins the Casselman down to Connellsville, the
scenery is nothing short of spectacular. Centerpiece of the trail
is popular Ohiopyle State Park with its white water rafting, camping,
mature forests and breathtaking views of the Yough Gorge. Visitors
can be assured of excellent services in Confluence, Ohiopyle and
Connesville.
The Yough River Trail South is owned and maintained as part of Ohiopyle
State Park by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources.
Three Rivers Heritage Trail
From the water amusement park at Sandcastle to the Carnegie
Science Center with its World War II submarine, from Three Rivers
stadium where the Steelers and Pirates play, to the Heinz plant where
the world-famous ketchup is made, the Three Rivers Heritage Trails offer
the trail user a thrilling kaleidoscope of city life with the beautiful
skyline of downtown Pittsburgh always in view. The western end of
the Pittsburgh to Cumberland Trail will be at Station Square, an old
railroad station complex given new life as a restaurant, shopping and
entertainment center.
The Three Rivers Heritage Trail is a project of the Friends of the River
front, a volunteer organization of 400 members, in association with the
City of Pittsburgh.
Montour Trail
Turn right at McKeesport and you'll go down the Monongahela
River to Pittsburgh; turn left and you'll come to the Montour Trail at
Clairton. The old Montour Railroad that the trail follows was
built to follow the mines of the Pittsburgh Coal Seam and it rolls over
the hills in a semicircle around the city of Pittsburgh. Sometimes
rural, sometimes suburban, sometimes wooded and isolated, the Montour
Trail is a constantly changing treat.
The Montour Trail is being built by the Montour Trail Council, and
all-volunteer organization of over 800 members. It is maintained
by the Three Friends of the Trail groups.
The above information is provided by the Allegheny
Trail Alliance.
