Reply to GAP spur trails

I did a search on this forum and a google search, but didn't find the exact information I wanted. Which cities have spur trails off the GAP that are worth riding? Thank you in advance.

Well let's see. Starting in Pittsburgh itself you can cross the Allegheny River over the Fort Duquesne Bridge from Point State Park and connect with the paved Northshore Riverfront Trail that runs along the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers passing Heinz Field (Steelers), PNC Park (Pirates), Carnegie Science Center, Rivers Casino, etc.

In McKeesport you can leave the GAP Trail itself and continue on roads of the Steel Valley Trail which connects with the Montour Trail.

In South Connellsville, there is the Sheepskin Trail. This is a short, 2-mile trail to the small town of Dunbar. There is a small display of a rebuilt beehive coke oven similar to the thousands of such ovens in that region. There is also an interesting azure glass sculpture in the town's small historical center. Its history and path in getting to Dawson is quite interesting. If interested you should check with the Dunbar Historical Society to insure it is open at the day/time of your visit. Often they will open just for you if they know you are coming. Note the trail is a little rough as it passes along a railroad yard.

While groundbreaking has just begun, I understand there is/will be a short, 1.4 mile initial portion of the spur for the 9/11 Trail in route to the Shankstown Memorial of the 9/11 plane crash there. This short spur will pass through the small town of Garrett, PA.

That is the last "spur" trail on the GAP Trail to Cumberland that I am aware of. However, there are a number of opportunities to leave the trail and visit the small towns along the GAP Trail. Each has a particular history associated the the railroad and and the industries it served in its heyday.

While not part of nor spurs from the GAP Trail, there are numerous other rail trails in the the western Pennsylvania area (25 to 30 miles long) that are enjoyable rides as well.

If I can provide any additional information, I'd be happy to assist if possible.

Thank you so much for this information!! This is perfect! We are riding the GAP from Cumberland to Pittsburgh in mid October and am planning on taking our time to enjoy the history and the scenery and the towns along the way. We are flying over from Houston with our bikes. We cannot wait!! We rode across Missouri last year on the Katy Bike Trail. We love the rails to trails!

Since you have the luxury of time and are starting in Cumberland, you might look into taking a ride up the hill from Cumberland to Frostburg (~16 miles) on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. The GAP Trail between these two towns runs alongside this railroad. I don't know whether the COVID-19 crisis has resulted in the cancellation of the these fall excursion trips but you can call them to find out and what the schedule may be. I understand you can even put your bike on one of the railcars thereby avoiding the first 16 miles of the 23-mile climb up the hill to the Eastern Continental Divide. Even if you don't take the train up to Frostburg, it's worth the effort to ride up the switchback trail from the GAP trailhead at Frostburg to the railroad turntable at the terminus of the train just below the town of Frostburg.

Further on in Meyersdale, its worth a few minutes, if not an overnight stop, to visit the train station along the trail there. Further on, the small towns of Rockwood and Confluence are worth leaving the trail for a few blocks to cross to the other side of the river to get a cup of coffee or a bite to eat.

As you arrive in Ohiopyle, take a few minutes to check out the white water rafters and kayakers beneath the bridges.

I could go on and on about the small towns and villages further downriver to Pittsburgh. In general, just try to envision what those towns and villages looked like when the railroad ran along that route and the people and families who lived there toiling in the industries served by the railroad. In doing so, you will capture the essence of the GAP and Western Pennsylvania.

Please...go on and on as much as you want!! We are purposely only riding 30 miles or less each day so we can really explore each town we go through. We love off the beaten path places to see and to eat. We will have a full day and overnight in Cumberland on the front end of our trip as well as a full day and overnight in Pittsburgh at the end of our trip.

So...any info you want to post...we will happily read it and add it to our itinerary. We've been doing a lot of internet searching...but there's nothing like hearing it from the locals who love it! Thanks so much!!

Ok, but remember you asked for it! :-)

At last I mentioned the white water at Ohiopyle and further downriver (toward Pittsburgh) the Sheepskin Trail to Dunbar, PA. The next town is Connellsville. It is the largest town between Cumberland and Pittsburgh. It has a variety of restaurants and stores as well as a good bike shop that is right on the trail.

Leaving Connellsville, you'll reach the village of Dawson. You must ride up to and over the bridge to get to the village itself. It is just a shell of what it once was during the height of the coal mining and coke making era in the region. There you will find a large, beautiful church, restored estate home and remnants of a prominent bank in its time. Somewhere I read that in those days it had the largest per capita income in the world although it is difficult to imagine that in its current condition.

From Dawson to Boston, there are a number of small railside residential communities that were generally populated by the workers in these industries. Curiously, nearly every one has a baseball field and childrens' park that provide(d) recreation for the residents. You'll find various remnants of the coal mining industry along the way.

From Boston to Pittsburgh there are multiple former, large steel mill sites. With the exception of US Steel's Edgar Thompson Works in Braddock, PA, across the river from the trail as you approach Homestead, PA, these have all been closed and demolished over the years and now serve as regional industrial parks. There are but a few remaining visible vestiges of those spralling mills in those industrial parks. In two instances the former steel mills have been converted into large shopping centers (Homestead) and commercial districts (Pittsburgh's Southside area). IF you were want to seek them out there are several of the libraries built by Andrew Carnegie in these former steel mill towns, the largest of which is in Homestead PA a few blocks from the trail.

Well, so much for my travelogue this morning. If you don't already have one, the GAP Trail Guide book ($10) is a worthwhile resource and reference for your trip as well as this bikecando,com website,

Thank you so much (again)! I appreciate all your responses and we will add them to our list.