Roaring Run Trail:
Pennsylvania
Trail Map
  • Get Personalized Driving Directions!
  • Find Trail Side Shops with Google Search!
  • See Users’ Geocoded Photos!
  • Get a Print-Friendly Map and Get Outdoors!
Description:
The out-and-back Roaring Run is the third incarnation of this pathway. First to occupy the waterfront site was the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal towpath, which operated between 1825 and 1850. The Apollo Industrial Track was eventually built on the unused towpath, and the trains carried coal from the Leechburg Coal mining station.

Kovolchick Salvage Company of Indiana, PA, donated the right-of-way to Roaring Run Watershed Association, a group formed in 1982 to help preserve this historic area and clean up pollution from former mines. The group opened the trail in 1991.

Beginning at the parking area on Canal Road, Roaring Run parallels the Kiskiminetas River to the southeast. At mile 1.5, you can see the stone remains of canal Lock No. 15. A 16-foot-high dam once stood here; it was destroyed by a flood in 1866, but during low water some remnants are visible. About midway down the trail, you'll come to the Rock Furnace Trail, which heads north 1.5 miles to Brownstown Road.

The trail is in excellent condition and well maintained as it meanders next to the beautiful Kiski River. It will eventually connect to the West Penn Trail 2 miles upriver, creating a trail system from Ebensburg to Apollo.

... Click to read more
Parking & Trail Access:
Take the Pennsylvania Turnpike to Exit 75 for New Stanton. Follow the turnpike Route 66 extension to its end in Delmont. Follow Route 66 North from Delmont to Apollo. After crossing the bridge in Apollo, turn right on Kiski Avenue. Follow Kiski Ave. for 0.7 mile, which then turns into Canal Road. Proceed to the marked trailhead parking at the end of the road.

... Click to read more
... Click to read more
Reviews: [1 trail ratings]
[View all reviews for this trail]
[register/login to Submit a Review of this Trail]
Roaring Run Trail is completed to the Village of Edmon
By erinalex in January, 2012
In 2009 the Roaring Run Trail was completed to the village of Edmon, making the trail five miles in length.
The last one mile of the trail is built upon an old logging road. This section is tar and chipped. There is a very significant climb at the Edmon end, making this section much more condusive to hiking, but if you are in really good shape you can pump your bike up it! (I can't!) There is a 15 vehicle parking area at the Edmon trailhead. The stonework remains of the Pennsylvania Mainline Canal towpath bridge over Flat Run stream can be found 3/4's of a mile downriver from Edmon. There is a really cool wooden arch bridge to carry you over Flat Run. This section of the trail is very beautiful as it overlooks and runs very close to the Kiskiminetas River. There is a short trail to scenic "Flat Run Falls" where the tar & chip section meets the crushed limestone rail-trail end of the Roaring Run Trail. After a rain or snow melt this falls is very scenic. There is a bench there to view the falls and the wild rhodedendron that fills the small valley. Another cool place to explore in the 650 acre "Roaring Run Recreation Area".
Great trail for family outting
By biggnogg in April, 2011
Just finished exploring this trail with my wife and daughter, what a wonderful trail. There are lots of rest areas to stop and take in the scenery. The trail has more than adequate parking and the trail users were all very friendly. Even with some of the gentle grades on the trail I had no problem pulling my daughters buggy behind my bike. Lots of neat things to see on this short trail, will definitely be stopping by again.
Roaring Run Trail
By erinalex in July, 2008
You can visit two trails on one trip: the "Roaring Run Trail" and the "Rock Furnace Trail". The former, a 4 mile Rails-to-Trail project follows the Kiskiminetas River upstream from its ample parking area (105 vehicle parking capacity) located at the end of Canal Road, in Apollo PA, to the site of the former Leechburg Mining Company coal loading station. Along this trail remnants of the Pennsylvania Mainline Canal (circa 1825-1850) can be found. These remnants include stone survey markers, a portion of the canal lock at the mouth of Roaring Run, and the bridge abutments for the tow path that crossed Flat Run. The construction of the remaining one mile of trail to the village of Edmon is slated for the very near future, with engineering already completed. There is currently a rugged hiking/mountain biking trail to the village of Edmon. The hope is to someday soon complete the two mile "missing link" between the end of the Roaring Run Trail in Edmon and the West Penn Trail, a Conemaugh Valley Conservancy project, creating a 50 mile long trail system from Apollo to Ebensburg PA.

The "Rock Furnace Trail" follows Roaring Run from its confluence with the Kiskiminetas River 1 1/2 miles to a 10 vehicle parking area off Brownstown Road. The trail is hilly after crossing the 72' suspension bridge over Roaring Run. This trail also has historic remnants. The remains of the Biddle Iron Furnace (also known as the "Rock Furnace") can be found directly across the trail from the giant "Camel Rock". This furnace operated in the canal era as well, 1825-1850. The stream here is beautiful, with small cascading waterfalls, and an abundance of native plants. It is the jem of the "Roaring Run Recreation Area", the 653 acre park owned and maintained by the Roaring Run Watershed Association. Additionally, there are over 15 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails throughout the Recreation Area. The park is located approximately 35 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Browse Trails by Activity: