Biking Guide: Youghiogheny River Trail
Location
Allegheny, Westmoreland, and Fayette Counties
The northern section of the trail is owned and operated by the non-profit Regional Trails Corporation with help from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Heritage Preservation Commission. The southern part is developed and managed by Ohiopyle State Park. Three major volunteer organizations support the trail, with participation from a variety of others.
Location: South Versailles and Elizabeth Townships, Allegheny County; Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County; and Perry, Franklin, and Dunbar Townships, Fayette County
Trailheads: McKeesport, Boston, West Newton, Cedar Creek Park, Smithton, Dawson, Connellsville
Length/Surface: 43 miles planned; 20.2 miles complete Boston-Smithton; 5.2 miles complete Dawson/Dickerson Run-Connellsville
Description: Busy to uncrowded, wooded, shady, flat
Restrictions: Horses ok along trail---stay off improved surface; no motorized vehicles; no snowmobiles
Available: Rest rooms, water, bike rental, food, swimming, fishing
Driving time from Pittsburgh: 45 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes
Trail Notes...
The trail will eventually begin in McKeesport’s proposed McKee Point Park on the east side of the Youghiogheny River at its confluence with the Monongahela River. McKee Point Park is Pittsburgh and Lake Erie (P&LE) milepost 15; if milepost 0 existed, it would be under the Smithfield St. Bridge in Pittsburgh. The trail is planned to run through McKeesport Riverfront Park, cross to the west side of the Yough at the 15th St. bridge, and remain on the south side all the way to Connellsville and on to Confluence. For now, however, the trail begins at the Boston Riverfront Park (mile 19.1). Volunteer trail monitors carry first-aid kits, basic tools, and cellular telephones. Flag one down if you need assistance or have questions.
Location:Confluence to Ohiopyle to Connellsville, Henry Clay and Stewart Townships, Fayette Counties
Trailheads: Confluence, Ohiopyle, Connellsville
Length/Surface: 28 miles, crushed limestone
Description: Busy to crowded, wooded, mostly shady, flat to gentle grade
Restrictions: No motorized vehicles; no snowmobiles; no horses
Available: Rest rooms, water, bike rental, food, wading, fishing
Driving time from Pittsburgh: 1 hour 30-45 minutes southeast to Ohiopyle; 1hour 15 minutes southeast to Connellsville.
Trail Notes...
George Washington followed the Youghiogheny to Ohiopyle in 1754 in his search for a water route to Fort Duquesne (now Pittsburgh), but he gave up when he encountered the falls and rapids below. Modern visitors cycle this route through the Appalachians on the former route of the Western Maryland Railroad. This trail has been named as one of the best walking trails in the world. Writing in the October 1994 issue of Travel and Leisure Magazine, Rita Ariyoshi named the Youghiogheny River Trail among 19 paths from France to New Zealand as “The World’s Best Walks”. It’s a popular trail, and hence can be a busy one. In nine years from 1986 to 1995 the number of user-days grew from 45,000 to 200,000. Check out the Northern Section of the Youghiogheny River Trail
This information provided from and with the permission of Mary Shaw and Roy Weil. For more information on bike trails in Western Pennsylvania, order their book, "FreeWheeling Easy in Western Pennsylvania," the definative guide to local biking.
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