Reply to Directions from the point to the GAP

I have looked at Google Maps, the GAP website and searched this forum to find out how to bike from the Point to the GAP. Does the Three Rivers Heritage Trail connect these two? It appears on Google to do so. But, I have found directions which indicate that a biker needs to take Boulevard of the Allies to Grant to the GAP. Can any one offer more details?

The trails around Pittsburgh are like the roads in Pittsburgh. They change name every few blocks or miles. The link below shows the trails around downtown and Point State Park along the Monomgahela River in route to and are part of the overall GAP Trail to Cumberland. Sections of these trails a referred to as the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, the Eliza Furnace Trail, the Steel Valley Trail, the Youghiogheny River Trail, etc. You don't have to ride on the Boulevard of the Allies or Grant Street but the exclusive bike route leaving Point State Park is not particularly well marked. However, just ask someone in the park on a bike how to do so and you should be fine.


https://friendsoftheriverfront.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/FotR_SouthSideMap.pdf

Once you get to the trail headed for Homestead you're well on your way down the GAP.

Thank you for this clarification.

Each of my sources seemed to show a different discontinuity. As the PDF you provided shows (I had accessed it previously, perhaps from one of your earlier posts), there appears to be breaks in the trail just "upstream" from the park, at a point where the roads appear to be big limited access expressways. Looking at Google Maps satellite, there appears to be a break at the Smithfield Street Bridge. And then, from my search for directions, two different sources say to use the roads I mentioned above.

Again, thank you for the clarification. From what I could determine from all the sources, it looked like we could ride from the point to the Hot Metal Bridge on designated bike trails. But, I did not want to get surprised with a dead-end and have to back track to the park and take the roads.

Do you know why others suggest taking the Boulevard and Grant Street?

Until a couple of years ago, riders would indeed have to ride on the Boulevard of the Allies to get from Point State Park to Grant Street to get to the Three Rivers Heritage/Eliza Furnace Trail in route to the Hot Metal Bridge on the north side of the Monongahela River.

However a switchback bike/pedestrian bridge was built at Smithfield Street to get from the Mon Parking Wharf at river elevation up to street elevation to Grant Street via a dedicated bike/pedestrian lane.

The trick is to get from Point State Park to the Mon Parking Wharf. There is a bike path to do so and thereby avoid the city streets but it is not well marked. You can see it in the Google Maps satellite image as it is labelled Three Rivers Heritage Trail and passes under the highway and bridge overpasses as you approach the Mon Parking Wharf.

If you are anxious about getting out of town efficiently and safely, I'd be more than happy to meet you at the Point and guide you out of town. I typically ride through that Park each day anyway.

Rivnuts,

I always wondered why the signage is so poor coming in and out of Point State Park.

I realize there could be difficulties getting this done as it’s a state park and they likely have tougher guidelines and restrictions about the placing of public signs. The pinch point that goes under the Ft. Pitt bridge should be a focus of theirs. I could imagine how confusing it is for first time tourists. I live here and sometimes I get confused! :-)

Same with the C&O Canal. You get to the end of the “trail” in Georgetown but are still short 0.3 miles of the Mile 0 post. No signage at all to tell you. I had to rely on a YouTube video to get me there.

Do you know who could be asked or approached? Friends of the Riverfront? PA State Parks? Bike Pittsburgh? I would love to get the conversation started. I wonder if it’s been brought to their attention? I’m sure it has but you never know.

John

John W.

Some simple painted green arrows like the path from the Smithfield Street Bridge to Grant Street would be enough to get you headed into that narrow chute to the Mon Wharf from the Park. Likely too much bureaucracy. I know that various approvals were required to get the plastic mile markers installed in and about the city where the stone markers cannot be installed such as on walkways and bridges. Apparently the necessary approvals have still not been received because those mile markers have yet to be installed.

Maybe someone with a GoPro could shoot a short video of the route out of Point State Park that could be put on YouTube and referenced to those firsttimers needed assistance.

Rivnuts and John W.

Thank you for the information. Our plan is to be dropped off at The Point Park Tuesday morning. Any suggestions for drop--off? I assume we can do pull into the parking lot at Commonwealth Pl and Fort Pitt Blvd? Or in front of the Wyndham? There will be three of us unloading from a pickup truck.

From looking at Google Maps and the satellite view, I feel confident that once at the park we can find our way. It was helpful to read that there are two levels of bike path and we need to be on the lower level next to the river.

Again, thank you for the information. It was helpful and reassuring that if we follow the bike trail from The Point State Park, it does go through and is complete to the Hot Metal Bridge.

I am really excited to start our ride on Tuesday. And am excited to see the GAP Trail.


John W.
I agree with you on the end of the C&O Canal. I rode from Cumberland to Georgetown a couple of years ago, and ended up on a public street in Georgetown, not really knowing what happened to the C&O Canal trail. On this trip I hope to find the both ends of these trails. If not, I guess I will have to come back again...

Biker Dave, here’s the video I found years ago to get me from the “end” of the trail in Georgetown to the Thompson Boat Center and the Mile 0 marker: https://youtu.be/9kzs51zRsSY Once I saw this, it was easy to locate. Still bugs me that they don’t have any arrows or signs!

Also, you are correct about the drop off point at Point State Park. Anywhere along Commonwealth Pl or in front of the Wyndham will do, that’s where I was dropped off one time I did the trip. And with almost no one working downtown due to the pandemic, car traffic should be way down.

After exchanging remarks with John W regarding the lack of adequate trail marking to exit Point State Park in Pittsburgh to avoid riding on the Pittsburgh streets, I made a homemade video of that route. It illustrates the exit out of the Park, the ride along the Monongahela River, the new switchback bridge up to street level and the path to and across Grant Street to continue down the GAP. While it is certainly not professional quality, it does show that route as I rode it recently. Perhaps it will help those looking to do so for the first time. The video can be found at:

https://youtu.be/BkoObWQqrag

So nice Rivnuts!

Thank you so much for taking the time to record and post this video. This will be extremely helpful for those new to the area and those not exactly sure where to go.

John

Wow! The video is very helpful. I am not sure I would have taken the right turn under the interstate....

Thank you for your help and advice.

Indeed, finding and following that narrow path out of Point State Park onto the Monongahela Rver Wharf is the trick to getting out of town without commingling with city traffic. It should be much better marked. Glad the video helped.

Why don't riders use the Ft. Pitt bridge path which is nearest to the Point ? There is direct access from Ft. Pitt avoiding Pittsburgh center.

Roadrider:

I'm not sure I fully understand your question. You can indeed exit Point State Park by riding up onto the sidewalk portion of the Fort Pitt Bridge and avoid riding the streets of downtown Pittsburgh. (Note the downtown streets, notably the Boulevard of the Allies, are not unduly dangerous to ride. Whatever you do, don't get on the Fort Pitt Bridge roadway. That would be extremely dangerous for a cyclist.) Once across the bridge via the sidewalk you can wind your way down to the Three Rivers Heritage Trail on the south side of the Monongahela River and on through the so-called South Side section of Pittsburgh in route to the Hot Metal Bridge. This is not the formal route of the GAP on the north side of the river out of town but certainly doable. It can be a little confusing however as it winds around and through the Station Square shopping/restaurant area and adjoining industrial area. I've found many out-of-town riders lost and unable to find their way along this route. Its even difficult to describe this way out of town clearly enough for out-of-towners to do it successfully. That's probably the reason why riders don't use the Fort Pitt Bridge to exit the Park to get to the GAP Trail.

Roadrider:

I'm not sure I fully understand your question. You can indeed exit Point State Park by riding up onto the sidewalk portion of the Fort Pitt Bridge and avoid riding the streets of downtown Pittsburgh. (Note the downtown streets, notably the Boulevard of the Allies, are not unduly dangerous to ride. Whatever you do, don't get on the Fort Pitt Bridge roadway. That would be extremely dangerous for a cyclist.) Once across the bridge via the sidewalk you can wind your way down to the Three Rivers Heritage Trail on the south side of the Monongahela River and on through the so-called South Side section of Pittsburgh in route to the Hot Metal Bridge. This is not the formal route of the GAP on the north side of the river out of town but certainly doable. It can be a little confusing however as it winds around and through the Station Square shopping/restaurant area and adjoining industrial area. I've found many out-of-town riders lost and unable to find their way along this route. Its even difficult to describe this way out of town clearly enough for out-of-towners to do it successfully. That's probably the reason why riders don't use the Fort Pitt Bridge to exit the Park to get to the GAP Trail.

Rivnuts,
Yes, I agree with you. I was going to do the GAP ride this year until the virus struck and planned to use the Ft.Pitt bridge to the Three Rivers trail to the GAP. I followed the route from the Point start using google maps street view. My question is why a lot of posters on here don't plan to use the closest way out of the Point ?

Roadrider:

I can't speak for those riders that don't take the Fort Pitt Bridge to exit Point State Park to begin their ride on the GAP but I'll speculate on some reasons as follows:

1. Exiting the Park via the Fort Pitt Bridge is not the formal GAP route published in the various GAP Trail Guides and trail maps.
2. It is counterintuitive the head southwest out of town when the trail heads southeast.
3. They can't find the ramp to get up on the bridge.
4. The ramp to get up on the bridge is steep, albeit short, and may be difficult to ride up with a fully loaded bike for the casual rider.
5. The formal route is the shorter route.
6. They are afraid of heights. :-)

The exit out of the Park via the ramp to the Fort Pitt Bridge isn't any closer than the exit from the Park to the bike path that passes underneath the Fort Pitt Bridge onto the Monongahela River Wharf. Using that bike path out of town does not require any riding on streets or comingling with cars and thus avoids "downtown".

I've ridden both routes probably hundreds of times and exiting the Park via the Fort Pitt Bridge would not be my recommended route for new riders of the GAP. That said it is certainly doable if you choose to do so but you will spend a short distance on streets with motor traffic.

Rivnuts,
Thank you for your well detailed answer. I have only walked the paths in Pittsburgh center between trains and the closest bridge seemed convenient to the Point Park. I am saving your comments for my ride next year. Roadrider