Great Allegheny Passage - Youghiogheny River Trail (North):
Pennsylvania
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Description:
For up-to-date information on the Great Allegheny Passage, visit the Allegheny Trail Alliance Web site and to discover Trail Towns along the Great Allegheny Passage, visit the Trail Town Program Web site


The YRT North Section is a 43-mile limestone surfaced trail built along the "railbanked" right-of-way of the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad between McKeesport and Connellsville. The north section of trail has been completed from just north of Boston down to Connellsville and is open and free to the public!

The trail continues to Confluence for 66 continuous miles of one of the most beautiful trails in the country. The trail is designed as a non-motorized, shared-use, recreational trail for bicycling, walking, fishing and canoe access, hiking, nature study, historic appreciation, cross country skiing, picnicking, and horseback riding.

The smooth surfaced trail is accessible to people of all ages and all physical abilities. The trail parallels the West Side of the Youghiogheny River and connects many small towns and rural open spaces along the entire river valley.

This trail is part of the Great Allegheny Passage, a 152 mile bicycle and walking trail that will eventually connect Pittsburgh with the C&O Canal in Cumberland, MD, on non-motorized trails.

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Parking & Trail Access:
Look at our Web site under "Access Areas"
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Reviews: [2 trail ratings]
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Smithton to Connellsville
By oneguy on May 31, 2010
On Saturday of the Memorial Day weekend my wife and I did an out and back of 37 miles from Smithton to Connellsville. The only thing better that the weather was the condition of the trail, it was in perfect shape with thousand of beautiful flowers in full blossom. As we expected the trail was full of bikers and walkers and the Youghiogheny River was packed with rafters. The annual Geranium Festival in Connellsville was an interesting mid-ride break which hilighted the charm on the small towns along the GAP. Overall a great day to be riding the Great Allegheny Passage.
Great Trail, but many fallen trees needs to be cleared.
By hetrick on March 21, 2010
21 March, 2010
Just to note that the trail is impassible in both directions from Sutersville due to fallen trees. There are many, many trees that are going to have to be removed, and I can only imagine that this is true for a very long section of the trail because of the heavy February snowfall.

This is a great trail, and hopefully it can be restored soon to where is can be safely travelled.

It's not clear who to contact for additional information regarding the status of other segments of the trail. youghrivertrail.com web site domain name expired at the end of February.

Riding the Yough
By Jeff Kertis on July 22, 2005
"This trail runs along the youghiogenhy river from Mckeesport to Confluence. At Confluence the trail connects with the Allegheny highlands trail where follows the Casselman river. For the entire length the trail is limestone and usually in good condition. There are no tunnels along the trail. The scenery doesn't vary a whole lot along the length of the trail.

From Mckeesport to Cedar Creek park the trail passes through many old neighborhoods and old industrial and coal mining remains are visible all along the trail. There is almost no tree cover, but in late april and early may, many wildflowers are visible along the trail, especially near Dravo Cemetary and Cedar Creek park.

Between Cedar creek and Connellsville the trail gets more remote. There is almost nowhere along the trail to stop for food or water, services are at least a mile off of the trail.

The section between connelsville and ohiopyle is very remote and contains 4 major bridges. It is also nearly completely tree covered, and usually cool in the summer. It also has a noticable grade."
9/9/2009 We shared our lunch with some local, ducks who turned out to be “hams” for the camera at the riverside park at Ohiopyle
Trail Facts
Trail End Points: Connellsville to McKeesport
Counties: Allegheny, Fayette, Westmoreland
Trail Length: 43 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Crushed Stone
Trail Activities: Bike, Fishing, Wheelchair Accessible, Horseback Riding, Walking, Cross Country Skiing
TrailLink ID: 6017093