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My buddy and I rode the entire lower section of the Armstrong Trail this past weekend from Rosston to East Brady and back and were well pleased with the trail. We started at the parking area at/near the Rosston Marina and headed south over the decked Crooked Creek bridge to a dead end .2 miles from the parking area and then turned around. Just a short ways up the trail you hit Ford City and the trail is paved. I liked this area. The pavement was pretty good with practically no heaves but there were some little ruts across the trail which were not bad at all. There is an old factory you ride by but it isn't trashy. The trail then turns back to crushed gravel/limestone sand for a ways before hitting Kittanning. Pavement again and there were some areas with root heaves but really not that bad - just stand up off the seat for a few moments. This area was pleasant also. After Kittanning the pavement ends and you're basically in the woods and alongside the river the rest of the way. You do go through the small town of Templeton but that's it till East Brady. In East Brady you pick up pavement again starting with Shady Shores Drive and then an actual trail by the park which dead ends at the intersection of 6th St and Purdum St. This is the last point I saw an actual "Armstrong Trail" sign but there were green and white signs with a bike image and the words "Bike Path" along the streets. We followed those out Purdum St to 3rd St to Kellys Way out to the Old Bank Deli and saw that they continued. This brings me to a gripe about the Armstrong Trail. Traillink and the trail's website list this section of the trail as 31 miles long so we thought we could squeeze in a metric century ride (62.13 miles) with just a little extra riding. However, I believe that the 31 miles includes this road riding because the trail signs along the way show the trail going through East Brady and continuing to follow Rt 68 across the Allegheny River and then turning north, probably onto Seybertown Rd. Our round trip mileage to this point with a detour to the park was 60.75 miles. Anyway, we grabbed some pastries at the Deli then rode back through town and down to the Riverside Park which was very nice. Paved trails, picnic tables and a very nice shelter with benches facing the river. We enjoyed our lunch there and then did the long ride back.
Pros of the trail - the surface where it wasn't paved was GAP level smooth. About as good as it gets. There were well spaced benches for resting. Plenty of historical interest with lots of signs with titles big enough to read without stopping if you wanted to. The Allegheny River is right beside you almost the entire time and it is a nice, clean river to look at. The Riverside Park in East Brady is a nice touch and a great place to stop. There are a lot of summer campsites along the river and they were very clean and well kept - a pleasure to look at.
Cons - beside the aforementioned root heaves in Kittanning there were a few short gravelly sections that could be fixed up and the smaller bridges with wooden decking were rough - they really need redecked. The biggest con in my opinion was the lack of trailside amenities. There were almost none. I saw nothing in Ford City or Kittanning. To be honest those towns were near the beginning or end of our ride so I went back to Google Drive through there (which doesn't cover a lot of the area) and there is a pizza place in Kittanning but that looks to be it right on the trail. There are places to be sure in Kittanning but they are off the trail a ways. After that there is nothing until East Brady and the pickings are slim there. Of course, you have to ride into town which wasn't bad and there is the Old Bank Deli with pastries, ice cream, coffee, etc. I also saw a pizza place and there was a gas station/food mart. That was about it. If you're doing the entire thing like we did bring your own lunch. We did and I'm glad.
Overall this was a nice trail and I suspect if/when the Erie to Pittsburgh connection is complete and through riders start using this that more trailside amenities may open. Until then, go knowing you might want to pack your own food (or ride off the trail a bit) and enjoy. Outside of the two larger towns we saw almost no one. On a sunny, pleasant Saturday over 60+ miles we saw less than a dozen bikers (some twice) and maybe one jogger. I was amazed by that. The middle section of the trail is quite isolated and even though there apparently was a trailhead at Rimer we didn't realize it since no one was there.
Go, enjoy the trail and maybe if enough people use it a few more establishments will pop up.
Our group did 2 different sections of the trail. Great ride, a lot of shade and great views. Will definitely come back for another ride.
August 11 -- arrived at Saylor Park as a morning rain subsided and the humidity rose with temps in the 80s F. The trailhead to Dilltown, near the vault toilet, was not immediately obvious. Be careful not to take the Hoodlebug trail by mistake. Spotting a large black snake was the highlight of our day. Saylor Park has a nice picnic pavilion where we ate lunch after our easy, somewhat downhill return ride from Dilltown. Rain started soon after lunch.
Considering the amount of rain in the days prior to and the morning of our ride, the trail was in excellent condition, even for our road bikes. No serious washouts or mud. Kudos to the trail crews who maintain this section!! A lot of shade made this a great trail to ride on hot summer days.
August 13 -- more rain last night and another day in the 80s F. A moment of confusion when we tried to find trailhead parking at Vintondale/Eliza Station. Trailhead parking is down the street and around the corner from the Eliza Furnace site. Again we were impressed by the excellent trail conditions (more kudos to the trail crews). The Hwy 422 underpass at MM4 (the confluence of the north branch of Blacklick Creek and Elk Creek) is the only tricky portion of the trail. Pay attention to the "Slow Down" signs or you could end up in the creek. The almost 26-mile return ride was our longest so far this year. Our legs were relieved to have a mostly downhill return ride back to Vintondale. There was plenty of shade, great creek views and lots of late summer flowers to add to the joy of riding.
First I will say this trail is very sunny and has very little shade.
The PA side of the trail is very nice. It's well maintained. The trail is wide and smooth; any issue are marks so you can easy avoid them. It has a number of benches along the path. It is also well mark when it come to miles trailed and miles to the boarder.
I would give this section 4 out of 5 star. The lack of shade and rather plain scenery bring it down but I would expect it to be nicer in the Fall.
The Ohio side was a disappointment. It looks like no one has done any maintenance to the trail since it was paved. The trail is very rough to the point I was afraid I would lose things off my bike from all the dips and bumps on the trail. The cracks in the asphalt have plants growing in them which hide exactly how wide the crack is. Part of the trails was covered with standing water that had been long enough for live to start growing in it. I didn't see any mile marker on the trail nor was it well marker change from trail to city street back to trail. I only saw one bench on this section and it wasn't as nice as the PA side.
I would give this section of trail 1.5 stars out of 5.
Overall I would not travel to use this trail again until the Ohio side of the trail has been repaved. While the PA side is nice and I would re-ride it, the hour trip to the trail doesn't make it worth it unless you can do the full trail.
My wife and I rode the section between Emlenton and the Rockwood tunnel.
The trail is fantastic with great scenery and lots of shade. Normally, I prefer a paved trail over crushed limestone. However, this paved surface seems to have deteriorated over time (bad drainage or tree roots). There are small, but very noticeable ridges (about 1-2") in the asphalt surface that run perpendicular to the trail. They're about 15" apart, so it's like riding down a washboard. Not just in one section, but the entire ride. By FAR the bumpiest trail we've ever been on. We turned around and left.
Nice trail. At Punxsutawney the trail is marked closed in the down town area. We found the trail signs and found the trail again. Other than that , it is a very nice shady trail for a warm summer day.
This is a very long trail. Only did a part of if , on a beautiful summer day. completed 28 round trip miles before it got super hot.
Started in Cumberland and headed west. Complete glide back to Cumberland
I feel other reviews and pictures tell the story but a couple notes from my 2 day trek on the entire trail.
1. From the north side by the airport until Library it is a dedicated trail that is maintained well and has picnic tables, benches, (towards the middle) 2 free primitive camping areas, and portajohns. Completely dedicated portion is almost 40 miles. After Library the trail bounces between dedicated trail and riding on the road. I turned around at Library…. (Bad reviews probably came from section after Library)
2. The Panhandle Trail Connector has a parking lot right beside McDonald and is exactly in the middle of the dedicated portion of the trail. Perfect spot to ride north section and back one day. And south and back the 2nd day.
3. This is an awesome trail! It has wooded areas, hillsides, beautified urban areas, industry, multiple tunnels, spectacular bridge overlooks throughout, and you’re never too far away from lunch or ice cream or cell service. What more could you want????
my son and i rode this trail over 3 days camping along the way at West Newton & Confluence. this trail is peaceful and quiet once out of Pittsburgh. The people in all the towns are social and glad to help in anyway needed. The trail has plenty of places to rest and relax. you follow rivers probably 120 of the 150 miles
Biked from Library to Hendersonville and back, mile markers 35 to 25. Trail surface is asphalt paved then goes to crushed limestone, then back to paved, then limestone. For the most part this trail section of 10 miles is in very good condition. Some wooded areas provided welcomed shade on a hot sunny day. Saw a few deer. At about mile marker 30 there is a storage place with awesome old signs, two old firetrucks, a restored caboose and interesting information on the former railroad. Trail services in Library just off the trail, a few places to eat. In Hendersonville along the trail there is a bike shop which offers bike rental and service also has pizza and cold drinks. In Hendersonville is a large trailhead with parking for many. Passed a few small trailheads along the way as well. Great ride on this stretch and will return to ride on more of this trail.
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