Explore the best rated trails in Swissvale, PA. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Lincoln Avenue Rails to Trails Greenway and Five Star Trail. With more than 48 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.
Most of the surface a strange packed sand. It had rained a bit the night before and the trail was almost impossible to ride on my hybrid with 700x32 road tires. Would need a gravel/mtb/fat tire bike to ride. Disappointed because I've not seen other trails around here with this surface that makes it hard to ride.
Most of the surface a strange packed sand. It had rained a bit the night before and the trail was almost impossible to ride on my hybrid with 700x32 road tires. Would need a gravel/mtb/fat tire bike to ride. Disappointed because I've not seen other trails around here with this surface that makes it hard to ride.
Like a long slow roller coaster ride
WOW!!!…no boring flat straight rail trail here….this trail has it all:
- curves….and more curves
- varying grades….typical easy RR grade but some felt like maybe 3% to me…see the elevation pic…I wonder if there is even a flat spot?
- Tunnels…3 of them!
- Viaducts
- A short section of trail-with-rail
- Spur trails
- A connection to the Panhandle Trail
- Lots of shade
- Historical signs….lots of them….with wonderful pictures…nice to learn some history and get out of the saddle for a few minutes…THANK YOU!
- A campsite at Boggs
- And even a SuperFund Cleanup Site near the end in Coraopolis
- And best of all, it looks like a crew of volunteers that are always working on the trail surface
A great ride through varying terrain and scenery and learned some history along the way. Can’t ask for much more than that. Thank you…bikin-Mike…Sep 2022
See Elavation Pic
Low MM0 Coraopolis
High MM12 Rt 22
Low MM13.5
High MM15
Low MM17 McDonald Viaduct
High MM19.25 Peacock Cut
Low MM23 Cecil
High MM25 National Tunnel
Early November we parked in Emlenton, mile marker 97 and biked to Sunnyslope at mile marker 110. We went through the two tunnels, Rockland and Kennerdell. Bring a light! Round trip and ride this day was 27 miles.
Hadn't ridden the panhandle in about 5 yrs. It is in much better condition than it was last time. WV has what looks to be very new blacktop. Good trail, without heavy traffic.
I haven't been on this trail in about 5 yrs. It is much improved since then. WV now has pavement . Not all the way but within a few miles of Weirton.PA/ Allegheny County still gravel but in nice condition.
In early October, my brother and I did few sections of the trail. We had parked at Cecil Park (Cecil Township). This is a very nice area with a large paved parking lot and pavilions. The one thing we really enjoyed about this trail are the mile markers. Every 1/2 mile there is one and there are many information boards explaining the history of the railway, the coal industry and other points of interest. Plus, the trail is maintained. We started going west (Cecil Park is 22.6). Venice Bridge followed by Gilmore Junction were the first points of interest. This was where the train had switched off the main line for the Westland Branch. We went a few miles on the main part of the trail to MM20. Points of the interest were at Galati Road and the Peacock Cut. At one time there was a tunnel here but because of the ground being unstable and water leaks it was abandoned. The trail runs where the tunnel would have been; you can see on each side where it had existed. We went back and did the entire Westland Branch. This is 4.1 miles and for the most part you are riding next to an active rail line. The trail is uphill for about 2 miles of this section and then it is downhill and it is very open - no areas of shade. There are some nice areas of the countryside that made for picture taking. This is a quiet / peaceful section. From Cecil Park east to MM30, there are a lot of things to check out. There is the National Tunnel (623 feet long), more rail and mine history, the Greer Tunnel (235 feet in length), a small trestle bridge and some rail cars on display near the end of our trip (MM30). We found a camp grounds right off the trail as well. We finished our day with some awesome subs at Nobby's Pizza. Which is next to the trail. About 0.2 miles west of the Greer Tunnel. The Tandem Connection Bike Shop is right there as well. Definitely would do this section of the trail again. The Fall season provided many beautiful pictures.
This is second time doing trail with the wife. First time was a year or two ago, and in summer we were in better shape. We parked in the lot off rt 286 across from the volunteer FD.
Next 4 miles take you thru Saltsburg, past the community park and into a trail cover by trees (for the most part).
At Elders run, you make a left hand turn up the hill. This is the Dick Mayer section of trail, which is about 1 mile of "up" on mostly hard packed dirt, then 1 mile down-whee. The climb is vigorous and be ready to gear down, some small sections are pretty steep-the wife had to walk the bike a little bit. This section is combo of hard packed dirt and crushed limestone gravel. It will jolt you a bit if you dont watch out for exposed rocks, ruts, etc. I would not want to do this trail after wet weather
Once you get to the state park and Conemaugh Dam, lots to do and see. Dam overlook, dam itself, the park, people in the park etc.
Leaving the park you go down an asphalt road (pretty steep) and back up around to the bridge which takes you across the Conemaugh River. You will come to the barricaded Bow Ridge tunnel. You need to head left and up again to the Bow Ridge section of the trail. pretty steep again, very low gears, and long. Loose gravel too, so again not amenable to wet weather travel. again, the Bow Ridge section is about a mile uphill, and then a mile down to a very steep switchback that ends with steps which take you to the other end of the Bow Ridge tunnel)closed). From there you ahve about 5 miles of flat across bridges spanning the Conemaugh (first bridge surface not in good shape, will jar you pretty good) and secluded valleys between.
The trail is fun because it is different, and scenery a good mix of small city, forest, hills, a state park, the dam, steps, bridges, etc. You have to walk the bike for some sections, depending on your experience level biking.
A lot of the trail is still green, leaves aren't changing much but goldenrod is everywhere! Trail is 7.5 miles and runs along the North Shore. At the trailhead on the Northshore, the bike rental is operating out of trailers since there was a fire at their building in the Spring. Happy to see they are up and running.
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