Find the top rated birding trails in Bethel Park, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
rode cumberland to pittsburgh rain on day one heavy fog day 2.
camped in connellsville day 1 then finnished at the point in pittsburgh,great ride. 6hrs on thursday 4hrs friday. 1st time on trail will not be the last.
flew in from arizona . cant wait for the next time,pittsburgh to dc.
I would recommend this trail to anyone who wants a well maintained trail with a slight incline. Thanks to the volunteers.
There’s nothing really special about this trail as mentioned by other reviewers. It runs through the urban part of Wheeling and parallels Rt 2 in sections so closely that you almost feel like you’re riding on the shoulder of the road. The other trails in the region such as the Panhandle, Montour, or GAP have more of the scenery and character which we enjoy.
Love the trail, but surface could use a little TLC though, many gravely spots for folks with three wheels on the ground.
Brings back a lot of childhood memories, I was always riding my bike on this trial, started the trial in West Newton, PA!!!
We have done this trail multiple times and have always been thrilled with the greenery and condition of the asphalt. At mile five don’t miss the opportunity to take a quick jaunt down to the historic covered bridge.
We parked at Star City parking lot and headed to connect to Deckers Creek Trail. I was glad they had marked the bumps on the asphalt portion with orange. Once we were out of town we started the 1000 foot climb which was gradual. Once we were on the cinder part of the trail we really warmed up to this trail. While you do hear traffic, you are surrounded by beautiful woods and rock formations. You do pass some industry but I really enjoyed the woods, rocks, and creek. Be mindful of some of the bridges as there can be an inch or two rise. It took us about 3 hours to go to end of trail (about 23 miles) when normally we go 10 miles an hour. There are no bathrooms until about mile marker 13.
Normally trails from rails are great for our disabled son, who walks with some difficulty. Not this one. It was eroded and rutted, making for a very uneven and difficult walk. There is abundant poison ivy on at least one side of the trail for much of its length. And everywhere the trail is overgrown with invasive plant species, honeysuckle and bush honeysuckle, English ivy, Japanese knotweed, etc. The electric company had massacred the trees along the side where the electric lines run. All in all, it was a mess, narrow, pitted, and not pretty. Honestly, the walk down from the top of the trail along the adjacent street was far more enjoyable. We'll never go back to this trail again.
I love walking on the Panhandle Trail and have been doing so for well over a decade. I usually start where the trail intersects with Scotch Hill Road and walk to Sturgeon and beyond. Unfortunately, the rains this year have washed away much, and in some places all, of the crushed stone between Scotch Hill Road and Sturgeon, so now I start at Sturgeon and walk to McDonald and beyond. It would be great if the aforementioned section could be fixed.
I went onto this trail at the northern terminus at the dam / power station as a detour from a longer road bike ride I was taking. Be forewarned: there are long steep stairs down to the trail at this end. Be prepared to carry your bike, stroller, whatever, ~40 steps.
For the first northernmost half-mile or so, there was a lot of big gravel on the trail. This was unpleasant and a rough ride and not like the reliable fine surface of other area trails (such as Mon River or Decker's Creek). But it was only 1/2 mile like that.
The worse problem was that ~2.5 miles south, the trail was gated and locked. This was a nice weekday, 330PM, late August before Labor Day weekend... I talked to another biker on the trail, and he said that the gate should've been unlocked by park staff. So unfortunately almost half the trail was randomly inaccessible this day. I did not go find any park staff and I do not know the gate locking schedule.
This is a beautiful trail though with lake-bridges and park amenities (restrooms, water fountains [not working], swimming beach, picnic tables, playground,...). I'd go here again to walk or swim but not out my way to ride here.
This has to be one of my favorite trails around, since they finished the lower, repaved it by Leetonia is is wonderful, I also rode the Washingtonville part today which I had never done before, that was a hidden gem!
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