The trails around Pittsburgh are mostly surfaced with crushed limestone. This makes it a bit bumpy for a road bike (skinny tires), but very do-able. The most prevalent bike seen is a ‘hybrid’ or a typical mountain bike. The trails are clean, wide open and safe. They are also very peaceful and wend through some very rural stretches where one can often go for miles without seeing another living person. Other times, a trail may pass through small towns, where the remnants of an old train station is all that is left of a town’s once prosperous days.
One of the biggest benefits of these trails to recreational users comes from a scientific law of train travel – trains, for some scientific reason that I shall not explain here, do not like hills. As such, none of these rails have very large hills, other than gradual slight grades. This makes for very enjoyable bike riding.
There are 5 major trails in Western Pennsylvania:
Montour Trail
The Montour Railroad was built in 1877 and eventually linked the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad with over 30 area coal mines. Forming a 23 mile semi-circle around the western and southern suburbs of Pittsburgh, the Montour also connected with other railroads, including the Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh and West Virginia, the Baltimore and Ohio, and the Union. When completed, the Montour Trail's 55 miles will connect the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers, crossing numerous highways and creeks on a variety of bridges, including one almost 1,000 feet long, and three tunnels.Steel Heritage Trail
This trail, currently under construction, will connect the Montour Trail, the Three Rivers Heritage Trail and the Youghiogheny River Trail, running along the Monongahela River from Sandcastle Park, through Homestead, past Kennywood Amusement Park, across the Monongahela and then south through McKeesport and Glassport to Clairton, PA. The Steel Heritage Trail forms a crucial link in the 325 mile trail network from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C.Three Rivers Heritage Trail
This trail links some of the most dynamic, geographic, and historical features of the City of Pittsburgh. It begins at Washington's Landing, a 42 acre island in the Allegheny River. It then travels down the Allegheny to the Ohio River, past Roberto Clemente Park and the Carnegie Science Center. From there it crosses the Ohio and proceeds up the Monongahela River past Station Square and Southside Riverfront Park. There are presently three sections of this downtown trail completed, covering approximately 5.5 miles.Youghiogheny River Trail - North
Built in 1883, the Pittsburgh, McKeesport, and Youghiogheny hauled coal and coke from the rich Connellsville District to the steel mills of Pittsburgh. This trail winds for 40 miles from the mouth of the Yough River southward to Connellsville and is especially suited to long-distance leisure trips, since the rise in elevation is no more than 100 feet for the entire trail.Youghiogheny River Trail - South
This 28 mile segment of the Youghiogheny River Trail follows the abandoned Western Maryland Railroad, which was built in 1912. The trail meanders from Confluence to Connellsville along the scenic Yough river and through Ohiopyle State Park.No more excuses - get out and enjoy one of the Pittsburgh area's great rail trails today!
