Explore the best rated trails in Scalp Level, PA, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Armstrong Trails and Ghost Town Trail . With more than 37 trails covering 4439 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
I try to bike here every year and look forward to the added 2 miles or so connecting Red Cut to Saxton. Riders should note it's not the smoothest trail, the section north of Tatesville is 4 miles of slight uphill southbound that taxes in the summer heat, and if you like human interaction you will be disappointed. Also, when passing though Hopewell, remember this, I HOPE I can find the trail, WELL, I guess I'll just ride until I find it. The southern end is indeed down a nondescript gravel road off Rt 915 leading to Coopers Sawmill Rec area and a private seasonal camp. The northern end continues from Broad St, and in any event the town is so tiny you won't get completely lost. So enjoy the solitude this hidden trail can provide, and if you like busy paved trails, then Pittsburgh has much to offer you.
The Brady Tunnel opened Fall 2024 following renovation. Very dark inside (due to its doors) so you need a light. Trail closure at mile marker 55 at Mahoning Creek (since April 2025) You can detour by using nearby road, road bridge and grass path to reconnect to the trail. We parked at the Redbank trailhead on Redbank Road, just past St. Marys Redbank church. This is the intersection of Redbank Tr mile 0 and the Armstrong Tr approx mile 63. Trail surface is crushed limestone. Some of it very well packed down, some of it washed away leaving nothing but packed dirt, and some of the trail is double tracked. We didn't have any trouble on our hybrids. We went South to Mahoning and turned around and up to the Brady Tunnel passing the Redbank Coaling Tower. We went though the tunnel and continued approx 5 miles through the Sarah Furnace area. We also went towards East Brady passed the Phillipston turntable. Nearest trail services are in East Brady, otherwise you're on your own. Trail mostly shaded, follows the Allegheny River. Very peaceful., scenic and historic. See photos. Our next plan is to ride another segment of the trail.
Riding on this was a bucket list trail. Had hoped to ride further on it but had time restraints. Great trail. The rest stop in Meyersdale is wonderful. Plan someday to return and ride more of it.
The trail was ok. My goal was to do the full trail 32 miles out and 32 miles back (Blacklick to Ebansburg), however the incline heading east was more than I could take on a very hot day so I turned around at mile 22. There were a lot of signage explaining towns that were once in a location. I think I pictured in my mind these abondoned towns were there were at least foundations left or something. It got boring after a while. Glad I did it, don't need to do it again.
Rode from East Brady to Kittanning. Very nice trail, well marked and extremely well maintained. It was worth the 2.5 hour drive to ride it.
Nice trail, a tree down across the trail about 4 miles up from parking lot when I'm writing this.
I just finished a two-day solo tour (Cumberland to Williamsport, Williamsport to DC) and had an incredible experience despite the rain and the tough going over a few stretches. I hear a lot of criticism about the C & O, particularly when compared to the GAP (which I have also done). I appreciate the contrast and hope that the C&O retains its historic character as a more rugged towpath (not a rail trail). That said, the conditions on the east side of Paw Paw and from White’s Ferry to DC were challenging (again, I like the changing surfaces). Highlights: wilderness character, Paw Paw Tunnel, sycamores between Harper’s Ferry and Antietam, Great Falls, Monocacy, Point of Rocks station and the towns.
My son and I rode the C&O the first week of June '25 as part of a ride from Pittsburgh to Washington DC.
I am going to preface this review making it clear that it was an unusually wet Spring and significant damage has occurred due to flooding. Kudos to the efforts to repair the damage and keep the trail open. There were numerous detours off of the trail but it was open and passable. However, had I not taken this into consideration, and had not just completed the GAP as a comparison, I would have rated the trail 2 stars.
Here are my key issues rated from most, to least, significant:
1) The terminus of the trail in Georgetown is inaccessible due to construction. We rode 334 miles in 5 days to unceremoniously end our accomplishment carrying our bikes up a series of stairs, only to encounter detour signs that literally pointed in all four directions. After a half hour walking through urine-laden alleys searching for mile 0, a bicycle cop told us that we were as close as we could get. Our victory picture was taken next to a detour sign, each of us providing a middle-finger salute.
2) The trail surface through the Paw Paw tunnel can only be described as interconnecting pot holes filled with 6" of water. Had there not been other traffic in the tunnel, it may have been rideable. Just accept that you will get the opportunity to stretch your legs for a half-mile walk in the dark. Your shoes will eventually drain and dry by the time you arrive in DC.
3) For 15-20 miles south of the Paw Paw tunnel the trail is unmaintained. The riding surface is basically sunken truck tire tracks, separated by a hump of uncut weeds. The tracks themselves were devoid of any gravel which ensured that you were riding in either water or mud. The weeds on both sides of the trail had yet to be trimmed and had encroached into the tracks. The good news is that we were concentrating so hard on keeping our bikes upright in the slop, we didn't have time to think about the ticks. Anyone who has hiked the Adirondack high peaks knows exactly what I am describing.
4) Most of the trail repairs have been made with loose, coarse, crushed stone. I was fortunate to be riding a mountain bike with 2" tires at 60psi. My son was riding a gravel bike with 40mm tires which mean he was riding sideways much of the time. He ended up riding a combined total of 400 miles considering the lateral component of his travel.
5) Where washouts had yet to be filled with the previously mentioned stone, you have to cross crevices 6-8 inches deep. Not such a big problem if you were travelling slow enough to identify them before jamming your arms through your shoulders and ramming your saddle through the softer tissues of your rear end.
6) Having camped in Assateague for half my life, I thought that I knew aggressive mosquitoes. However, since the trail is totally devoid of any breeze, the stabbing critters locate you as soon as your bike comes to a halt. The good news is that we saved time taking breaks.
I will be posting a 5-star review for the GAP next. If you average the two scores together, the total trail experience was a 4. That still makes the ride from the 'Burgh to DC worthwhile. Just be prepared for the unexpected challenges.
We stayed in Punxsutawney and could access the trail from our B and B. We rode east to Winslow, an uphill grade but doable on our e-bikes. Saw chipmunks, squirrels and a very long black snake crossing the trail. After a break for lunch in town we rode west to the Fordham trailhead. Several interesting sights along the way- the coke ovens, a couple Minions and another snake. The trail is wide 8-12’ with a cinder surface with no roots or potholes the whole length. Total 16 miles on a shady trail, sometimes along the Mahoning Creek. I bet it’s gorgeous in the Fall.
Enjoyable trail. Coming from the east, we tried to find the trailhead off Winslow only to find that the road was closed. And google maps routed us to a two track just down the road that you couldn’t really get a car in. We eventually made our way to the west end at Villiere where there was parking at the trailhead. We had a trailer with five bikes. We rode as far as Punxsutawney and had dinner and beers at The Burrow.
Great trail..been riding it for years, from various trailhead sites. Disappointed to see a roofing company has placed several advertising placards along the trail in Ebensburg near the West Street crossing/entrance. This ruins the scenic beauty of the trail. Please remove before “others “ show up.
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