By flashknit on September 15, 2009
We road the entire length from West Virginia to Walker's Mill and back Labor Day weekend. A very pretty trail but not many facilities on the western part. No water available on the western end so make sure you have a full bottle. The beginning 6 miles or so are very rough with big loose stones so you have to watch where you are going and even then you will hit the rocks. We have hybrids so it kept us busy trying not to get a flat.
Hunner's Deli in Sturgeon is yummy.
By jstech on September 29, 2008
The trail now connects through Burgettstown. I rode the entire length recently while traveling from Pittsburgh to Columbus. (Actually, it was one leg of a cross-country trip: http://www.john.stechschulte.net .)
By Troy Bogdan on October 12, 2005
"This trail is 29 miles from Walkers Mill (Near Carnegie), PA to 1 mile short of Weirton, W.V. I have bicycled the entire length of this trail, and for the most part it can be divided into three sections. Section one runs from Walker Mill to the Village of Primrose. This section is complete for almost 9 miles (8.8 to be exact). This is a very nice section that has lots of interesting things to see, along with many amenities. Some of the highlights are . . .
Mile 0 - Walkers Mill - This is a nice little park that is next to a quarry pond. There are lots of benches and pavilion shelters between here and the first quarter of a mile. There is even a windmill along this section of trail that when spinning provides oxygen to the fish in the pond.
Mile 5.75 - Sturgeon - Permanent restrooms and Hunner's Deli, good place to get lunch (Pizza, Hoagies and more) or a Powerade (Closed on Sunday).
Mile 7.25 - McDonald Trail Station, open on weekends, has historical items on display and free trail maps!!
Mile 8.21 - McDonald Trestle. This is where the Montour Trail intersects with the Panhandle. It is fairly easy to get from one trail to another, but will be better once the connector trail, including the ""Rob Run Bridge"" is finished (which is currently under construction, and soon to be finished). The trestle is one of the highlights of the Montour Trail, and you ride right under it on the Panhandle Trail.
Section two, which runs from Primrose to Burgettstown (a distance of 8.2 miles) is not yet completed, and has a very rough trail surface and is not at all enjoyable except for the bicyclist who enjoys really rough terrain, and wet terrain, because in one section the trail is always covered with water from mine drainage (just after Primrose). The surface is mostly railroad ballast made of large rocks,and it gets worse the farther you go, especially after Bulger. Although there are a few things to see on this section of trail, mostly it is not that interesting, and it really hurts the body to ride 8 miles on big, hard rocks. Ride this section at your own risk. Some things you will see on this section are . . .
Mile 10.5 - Midway - Small town with a convenience store and an air pump (Sorry no Presta Valves), (Which you might need, since this trail is so rough).
Mile 11 - Radio controlled airplane club - sometimes they are flying over the trail. Landing strip not far from the trail, look for the windsock.
Mile 13.5 - Bulger - Small village with an interesting veterans memorial and two artillery cannons. Nice place to stop and rest.
Mile 17 - Burgettstown - Small town with a Restaurant (The Pennsy, claiming to have the best breakfast in town) and Convenience Store right next to the trail.
Section three runs from Burgettstown to Weirton, and has a pretty decent trail surface for most of the way. Mileage from Burgettstown to the trail end is about 12 miles (12.44 exactly). This interstate section of the trail enables you to bike from Pennsylvania to West Virginia and has a really nice picnic area at the state line (mile 24.67) with an old train marker from the P.C.C.&St.L.R.R.
Highlights are . . .
Mile 25.22 - Colliers, WV - There is parking and a little picnic area here.
Mile 26.88 - Pond and Wetlands - Look for the beaver lodge.
Mile - 28.49 - Harmon Creek - This is the main trailhead for the Weirton side of the trail. From here they have mile markers that run almost every quarter mile all the way to mile 4 (From our side Mile 24.38). They also have lots of benches and an interesting use of an old signal bridge to hang the ""Panhandle Trail"" sign on.
Mile 29.44 - Dead End - This is the end of the trail. There is a huge pile of gravel and on the opposite side of the pile are train tracks. There is a picnic table here.
Overall, this trail is really good on the two ends, and when the middle section gets completed, this trail will be an excellent opportunity for recreation and adventure between Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Let's hope the construction for the middle section get underway soon, but in the mean time, be sure to take advantage of this trail's opportunities on either end, and for you hardcore people, get out on the middle section too!
Updated October 12, 2005 - Troy Bogdan"